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George Clinton &
the P-Funk Allstars



Review 10/08/99
From: Clement Pappas

[Electric Factory in Philadelphia, PA]                                    

Went to the show, a quick review, as I am short on time-                  
Unfortunately, I missed much of Star Cullars opening act, so I can't      
really comment on it.                                                     

Anyhow, as far as the Funk Mob was concerned... I start off by saying that
a lame P-Funk show is better than most any other show you could possibly  
attend today.  With that said, those of us who have seen a great P-Funk   
show are truly spoiled, and hold some pretty damn high expectations.      

I felt this how was average to slightly below average for P-Funk.  This   
was my 19th show, and I would probably rank it around 14th if I really    
thought about it hard enough. For me, the highlights were Flashlight, Knee
Deep, Atomic Dog, Cosmic Slop, and Red Hot Mama.   Low lights were One    
Nation, Booty, and yep, believe it or not, Tear the Roof Off The Sucker.  

The band just didn't seem to come out smokin.  While they were excellent  
as always, they didn't come out with that super-tight sound they have when
they are dead on.  After the intro tunes, they lit it up with Cosmic Slop,
but then failed to keep it up with Tear the Roof and Mothership           
Connection. (George came out around this time) To me, they sleep walked   
through this classic number.  Coupled with this was the uncooperative     
crowd, which started off strong as George came out, but seemed to lose    
interest after Mothership Connection.  Bottom line is that it was tough   
crowd, bit the band failed to totally capativate us, like I know they can.
Booty was a total flop.  No audience participation, no laughter, nothing. 
As much as I hate to admit, this tune was better with Louie.  He's more of
a clown, and makes it a little more fun with George bobbing his head.     

Maggot Brain was great as always, but not particularly special.  I agree  
with the previous review that other instruments (violin) take away from   
the tune.  Dog Star was excellent as always.  One Nation, for me, was the 
low point of the show.  The band played an average version of the tune,   
but the crowd was thoroughly out of it.  Garry BEGGED for participation,  
and got none.  He wouldn't stop begging, and IMO, begged for too long- he 
should of let the band impress for a while before begging soo much.  He   
actually got down on his hands and knees.  He even mentioned that P-Funk  
used to sell out the Spectrum and tear the roof off the sucka at that     
joint.  But the crowd really wasn't with it.... eventually George came out
and got hings fired up again.  He roused the band into the best part of   
the show-- Flashlight and Knee Deep.  Flashlight was a great version- I   
love the horn solo's towards the end of the tune.  Knee Deep into         
Sentimental Journey was great as well.  By this point George was able to  
somewhat pull the crowd back into it, but the show had already lost some  
of its steam... ended on a high note with Hall of Fame (always            
unbelievable, but not as long as some ofther versions I have seen in the  
last year or two.) Radio Friendly DJ's was good as well.  Another tune was
thrown in, but I didn't reciognize it.  White guy with a cowboy hat was   
rapping.  Anyone know what this was??  Quick version of the Funk Mellow   
Tip was also thrown in.  Finally, Red Hot Mama tore it up after half the  
place was gone...                                                         

Random notes: No Shonda??  Who is that Cowboy dude??  George was          
particularly quiet on this night, he didn't say much at all and wasn't    
singing as much as usual.  I wonder, was he feeling alright?              

All and all an a good show- as I said even a sub-par P-Funk show kicks the
shit out of most any other live acts- but definitely not their best.  The 
combination of the band not being completely into it at times, George     
keeping pretty quiet, and the crowd being a little less forgiving, stopped
the show from getting that monster P-Funk vibe that takes control of the  
joint at a great show.  I felt like it never quite reached that all out   
frenzy where everybody in the whole damn buidling is singing and dancing  
and lost in the Funk.  Just never quite got there.  I was pretty close to 
the front, and at times I would look around and notice people not dancing 
or singing or clapping or anything.  Some of them weren't even watching.  
Definitely the sign of less than great show.                              

Oh well, it was still by far the best way to spend my Friday night, I'll  
be seeing them Nov 9th at the Stone Baloon in Delaware.  Last time I saw  
them there, it was the BOMB!  Probably the smallest venue they play these 
days, so the equipment is way too loud for the joint, and place gets      
mobbed.  I would highly suggest going if you're anywhere in the area.     

Later,                                                                    
Clement