An updated tour list is available at pfunkarchive.com

-P-Funk Tour List-


George Clinton &
the P-Funk Allstars



Review 07/04/96
From: Mike Theiss

The Aftershow                                                             
[from rec.music.funky]                                                    

...and the P-Funk party continued at Tramps in New York City on the       
evening of the 4th.   The advertisements said it would start at 10pm, but 
if it would have, we would have missed the show, so I know it didn't.     

But, having taken a cab to the club slightly after the Central park show  
ended, I didn't find myself waiting around much before the show started   
off.                                                                      

I can't say I remember all that were playing, or the set -- especially    
cause I ended up leaving the show before it was over (Believe me I WANTED 
to see the show -- but I had the oppurtunity to go backstage and meet some
very funky people -- you can't have everything!)                          

But the show started off with in Michael "Clip" Payne's words "some garage
funk".   It was a freestyle jam session in which Clip played DRUMS!!!!!   
He was accompanied by a bass player (Mark Woodard?), guitarist (Ron       
Smith?) and keyboardist (Sterling Anderson?) who weren't touring members  
of the P-Funk All Stars.   I don't know anything about these musicians,   
but they sounded tight.   It was a totally free form jam session,  they   
were just  playing it by ear.  It was cool.    Clip's a half-way decent   
drummer too.                                                              

After 6 or 7 minutes of jamming Clip introduced Funk Mob member Steve     
Boyd, who did a 40 minute or so set of his own.   Steve has an upcoming   
album on Westbound Records.  They were playing songs off his album before 
and after the Central Park shows, and throwing HUNDREDS of cassettes of   
his material out into the audience.  (I didn't get one though).           

His material is very R&B oriented.   It's sort of funky, but not really --
pretty typical contemporary R&B stuff with a tight live band.    His set  
also included a few covers by Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and maybe one or 
two others.                                                               

Overall the set was very mellow and commercial -- not really terribly     
funky, but pretty solid.                                                  

After Steve's set, the band changed a little bit.  Clip gave up the throne
and was replaced by Muruga Booker on drums.   The keyboardist left and I  
think a new bass player came out.   They did some free form jamming for   
awhile, which heated up the room and got the crowd warmed up for what was 
coming up.                                                                

After probably 10 minutes or so of jamming Lige Curry, Blackbyrd McKnight 
and Gabe Gonzales took the stage.   They kicked off with a SMOKING        
rendition of "Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On" featuring an insane 
solo from Blackbyrd McKnight.  The P was unleashed!!!                     

From the start the lineup was very trimmed down.   Clip sang the lead for 
Standing On The Verge solo at the top of the tune, then Dawn Silva came   
out, and then several others vocalists followed who and which order I     
can't remember.   But, before the song was over there was a full, but     
trimmed down All Star lineup, including Dr. Funkenstein himself.    One   
thing that was interesting, is they performed "R&B Skeletons In The       
Closet" over the vamp from "Standing On The Verge..." it sounded great.   
That's the first time I think I've ever heard THAT one at a show.         

They then dove into a medley of songs from the early Funkadelic era       
including "Music For Your Mother", "You And Your Folks", "Can You Get To  
That" and probably others.    A scorching version of "Red Hot Mama"       
followed, once again with a long uncut all out INVASION from guitarist    
Blackbyrd McKnight.                                                       

Next up was a song which doesn't get played in P-Funk sets much lately "I 
Bet Ya".   It was great to hear the old jams, and this one in particular  
sounded beautifully stanky.                                               

They then mixed in a little of the new school.  This started with Clip    
*SINGING* "Rhythm & Rhyme" on top of an extended feedback demonstration   
from Blackbyrd.   Then Trey Lewd came out and performed a series of raps  
which included "Niggerish" among others which I didn't recognize.   Trey  
Lewd has a great voice, but I wish he'd learn to pronounce things a bit   
clearer so I could understand what the funk he's saying more often!       

Next George started singing "Way Up".    Midway into this song I was      
sucked in by the temptations of backstagedom, and therefore I cannot say  
what exactly what went down in the rest of the set.   (SORRY!)            

I'm sure that another funkateer will come along shortly with a complete   
report though (Rob????).