George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic

Saturday, January 15, 2005

Promowest Pavilion 

Review and photography by Rob Kern 

On my way home from witnessing George Clinton and P.Funk Saturday night, one thing kept creeping back into my thoughts; I need to get on that damned clothing-makeover show on TLC.  Man, I need some new threads; that’s right, not The Gap or Abercrombie and Fitch, I’m talking serious “get up and party” duds.  Right about now you are probably thinking, “Hey, is this a concert review or a fashion show?!?” relax, it is a little of both, funk ain’t just about the music. 

It had been nearly fifteen years since I’d witnessed Dr. Funkenstein and the P.Funk gang live and time had come to get my funk back on.  My first experience with the Mothership was during my “metal” phase; a young punk sporting a Slayer tee and long hair, trying my best to comprehend what the devil was going on up there on the stage.  I was used to 75-80 minute rock shows and the four hour funk trip left a lasting image in my mind and helped open my ears to something other than metal and rock music. 

Present day, the long hair gone and my old Slayer shirt well beyond the point of fitting around my beer-swelled middle, I slap on my favorite jeans and bowling shirt and head to the show.  After a chilly wait in the cold night air (security check, this is Columbus, ya know, imagine the shakedown for a metal show now…) I make my way to the front and grab a prime spot before P.Funk takes the stage.  The various components of the band come to the stage, pick up their gear and begin to funk up the crowd.  The first sign it’s a Parliament/Funkadelic show is when Garry Shider hits the stage wearing nothing but his guitar and a large cloth diaper.  Yes, ladies and gents, Mr. Shider has my dream job, diaper-clad guitarist-extraordinaire.  As I look on with glee, two things cross my mind: 1. Can I get an apprenticeship for the position?  2. Does he have a diaper tech? 

After a couple of extended jams, the Doctor himself, George Clinton took the stage and the near sellout crowd voiced their desire to Get The Funk Out.  The jams took on a life of their own as George shared the stage with a staggering number of performers.  A spotlight hog Mr. Clinton is not, as he led the band through extended jams of “Bop Gun”, “Atomic Dog” and others.  Each member of the band was given time to showcase their brand of groove; some jams clicked while others missed the mark.  Most in the crowd kept the funk alive, even during extended drum and bass solos.  Which brings us to the second attraction of a Parliament/Funkadelic show, the fans. 

My idea of fashion sense is wearing something without a mustard stain.  Needless to say, I was in the minority at Promowest this evening.  P-Funk is a night out on the town for many, an occasion to dress up and get down.  Not only could most in attendance dress better than me but they also had moves that I could never duplicate.  Not even if Denny Terrio took me under his wing for an advanced multi-year tutelage. Even after the extended improvisations wore me down, the faithful kept dancing: up the stairs, in and out of the restrooms and eventually out the door into the cold evening. 

Fifteen years after my first P-Funk abduction George and the funky faithful are still laying down the groove.  Not as focused as I remember all those years ago but moments still shone through enough to get a godly portion of the crowd up and shaking in their styling threads.  Now if you will excuse me, I’m going to stain stick this mustard off my hockey jersey and hunt up a fashion designer.