George Clinton live - is he still any good?

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Thread title says it all - thinking of going to see the man himself in London, but have been disappointed before in going to see musical legends past their perceived 'prime'. So, anyone recently indulged in the P-funk live experience?

baboon2004 (baboon2004), Friday, 24 June 2005 15:26 (twenty years ago)

saw em a couple years ago and yeah, it sucked. washed up dudes with bookoo studio hacks behind em. Clinton barely made it to the stage. missable.

Another Allnighter (sexyDancer), Friday, 24 June 2005 15:32 (twenty years ago)

I only stayed for the first 45 minutes of a Portland show, but it was lots of bad guitar solos (not anything even approaching Funkadelic) and bad rapping... was it his niece on the mic? I can't remember, don't want to remember.

Smoke a doob and listen to "Hydraulic Pump" instead.

Rob Uptight (Rob Uptight), Friday, 24 June 2005 16:00 (twenty years ago)

I do know of someone that saw him live a few years ago and has mentioned more than once it was terrible.

Tokyo Ghost Stories (Tokyo Ghost Stories), Friday, 24 June 2005 16:50 (twenty years ago)

If you've never seen the PFunk, it's probably worth it, but there are diminishing returns on seeing him repeatedly; he's had the same shtick for 30 years.

He often tours with longstanding members of the band, like Michael Hampton aka Kid Funkadelic, Blackbird McKnight, and the guy-who-wears-the- diaper-whose-name-I-can-never-remember, but then there are some ridiculous moments with guests like his granddaughter rapping about her nether parts and the tour manager rapping about booty, etc. I don't know if he pays for his entourage to travel overseas--It would be a very different show without the 15-20 band members (no exagerration).

The worst time I ever saw them they played at the Minnesota Zoo. They started late and Clinton didn't show up until about an hour and a half into the set. THat's fine when they do their typical 3 hour set, but the zoo doesn't allow people to play past 10:30 p.m., so it was quite an abbreviated appearance--I think he was on for about a half hour.

HonkyD-Mpls, Friday, 24 June 2005 20:53 (twenty years ago)

seven years pass...

free in NYC tomw night, at the west end of Chambers St:

http://rivertorivernyc.com/node/1143

Pangborn to be Wilde (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 20:52 (thirteen years ago)

He was great in W. DC near the Washington Monument for free a little while ago. Discussed here:

George Clinton - What the Hell is he on about?

curmudgeon, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 21:19 (thirteen years ago)

but then there are some ridiculous moments with guests like his granddaughter rapping

This is true too, but I overlook it. I also saw and enjoyed Original P a few years ago (that's some former P-Funk members).

curmudgeon, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 21:21 (thirteen years ago)

one year passes...

saw him two or three times and honky-d's note from eight years ago upthread is basically still right on.

Strangers look on with a discernible, barely contained ‘wow’. (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 26 December 2013 23:37 (twelve years ago)

ten years pass...

They did a free show at Lincoln Center that was a lot of fun - it was actually part of a show Nona Hendryx created so she joined him at the end and it was wild to see jazz great David Murray (who recently did another terrific run at the Village Vanguard) also there enjoying the show. Not sure who else as it was packed. Michael Hampton still with them and he sounded amazing. Show was actually shorter than usual - 85 minutes instead of the 120-150 they’ve been doing on this tour - possibly because of the threat of thunderstorms. It actually rained not long after they finished so well timed!

birdistheword, Sunday, 30 June 2024 16:21 (one year ago)

To clarify, Murray was watching the show, not in it.

birdistheword, Sunday, 30 June 2024 16:25 (one year ago)

Looks like the guy who was standing next to me at last year's John Cale show in Brooklyn was also at Lincoln Center last night and recorded that show too. From the last half hour:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EjbNo34GuI

birdistheword, Sunday, 30 June 2024 17:10 (one year ago)

watched Trolls World Tour this afternoon when i couldn't be arsed to do anything else, (was on TV).
proper grinned when i realised that GC was part of the vocal crew.

mark e, Sunday, 30 June 2024 17:40 (one year ago)

phenomenal stuff in that vid birdistheword, thanks

J Edgar Noothgrush (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Sunday, 30 June 2024 23:14 (one year ago)

You're welcome! FWIW, here's another one from that account - posting it because it starts with "Biological Speculation." It looks like it's been in the setlist for a while, but the way Clinton delivers it, you get the sense that he's consciously thinking of the last few days (with the potential impact of the debate, and the lasting consequences of the Supreme Court decision).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sniDfdRy5Lk

birdistheword, Monday, 1 July 2024 05:34 (one year ago)


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