Rock and Roll Hall of Famer George Clinton and his Parliament brought their brand of funk to the people of Niagara Falls, NY this past Tuesday night. Their free flowing set started off with the first two numbers without Georges presence on stage. When he did appear for Atomic Dog, it was inconspicuous, as he was missing his long colorful hair. He tended to blend in with all the other performers, while one of the vocalists introduced him by saying, You didnt come here for the hair, you came here for the funk! George lets his band do most of the singing as he conducts the show based on his mood and crowd reaction. There is no pre-planned set-list, making it hard for reviewers to get an accurate documentation of what was played.
The band consisted of approximately 20 people coming in and out for various songs at various times. There were 3 on guitar, 1 on trumpet, 1 on saxophone, 3 on keyboards, interchanging drummers, and multiple vocalists. With all performers having their unique style of dress, all blended beautifully to produce an entertaining night that lasted about 3 hours and 10 minutes. Vocalist Belita Woods and guitarist Ray Thomas have been with George for over 30 years and showcased their talents throughout the set. Another vocalist, Mary Griffin, wowed the crowd with her killing it on Dr. Feelgood. A funny part of the evening worth noting was during Something Stinks and I Want Some, where fans threw what looked like joints onto the stage, which George then attempted to smoke. He immediately started coughing and passed it onto another vocalist. Georges granddaughter, Shonda (Sativa) Clinton, handled the vocals on this track and sounded like the late Left Eye Lopez from the R&B group TLC.
A representative from the city of Niagara Falls presented George with a proclamation to declare it George Clinton Day halfway through the set. He accepted the honor on behalf of his band.
The chilly evening didnt keep the people from heating up inside from a long night of amazing retro funk. The three hour plus performance was a straight through affair with no encore. Besides the sporadic feedback, it was an enjoyable experience for all who did brave the weather.
Set List (Incomplete):
Bop Gun (Endagered Species)
Undisco Kidd
Atomic Dog
Flashlight
(Not Just) Knee Deep
Maggot Brain
One Nation Under a Groove
Something Stinks and I Want Some
Dr. Feelgood
Up from the Downstroke
Bounce 2 This
Red Hot Momma
We Want the Funk
We would like to thank Rafael Castro from the Rapids Theater for helping BackstageAxxess to review the show and Frankie Kash Waddy for helping with the set list to the best of his recollection.
