George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic
Neptune Theatre, Seattle, WA
04.12.16
Since the late 1960’s, George Clinton and the rotating crew of his interplanetary starship have explored the musical galaxies, spreading their funk across the universe. Clinton has been sampled by artists such as Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg and has appeared in movies with Jeremy Piven and Jon Favreau. However, at nearly age 75, he his still tearing the roof of all suckas, and on this night, the roof of the Neptune Theater wasn’t safe at all.
From the first note of the P-Funk set, it was apparent that the Seattle crowd was about to be covered in a deluge of rhythm. Mr. Clinton came out in a light brown suit, fedora, and the energy of youth, evident by the dance moves he brought to the stage. Opening up with “Mothership Connection,” Clinton’s band of two guitarists, one bass player, one trumpeter, one drummer, one keyboardist, four back up singers (including his daughter), one side kick singer, two freestylers, and two hype guys showed their musical chops from the beginning. Tight and the opposite of trite, Parliament-Funkadelic still has the chops of yesteryear, with a modern hip hop twist.
The beginning of the set was filled with older hits, with “Flashlight” being at the center of the party. With gold and purple lights shining bright on the stage, Parliament started a dance party that spread all the way up to the balcony. Clinton’s influence was shown in the crowd, from young first-timers to funk veterans. “Atomic Dog” gave us the familiar beat that is sampled in Snoop Dogg’s, “What’s My Name,” throwing the crowd into a ruckus.
By far, the WOW moment of the night came with the arrival of “Nose,” a veritable giant contortionist break-dancer wearing a full length white fur suit (without a shirt) complete with a bedazzled belt buckle exclaiming “NOSE.” During “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker,” he engaged with Clinton, the crowd, and performed a handstand on top of one of the speakers. No other show will you find a breakdancing clown prince.
As the show went on, it turned from the funk of 60’s & 70’s, to a freestyle rap battle that shook the walls of the theater. Clinton sat in the middle of the stage, holding court over his band and his droves of loyal subjects in his kingdom of funk and soul. He may be in the twilight of his career, but Clinton’s twilight is gold and his funk has proven to live on throughout the generations. Heads up, the Mothership’s journey continues and the Captain is still at the helm.
Review and photos by Phillip Johnson
George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic
