GEORGE CLINTON & PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC: Instant Live: State Theater Portland, ME 03-19-04

George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic

Instant Live: State Theater Portland, ME 03-19-04

© 2004 George Clinton Enterprises

CD permanently out of stock. Sorry!

Live 3 Disc Set. PFunk ... Uncut Funk ... the BOMB...

notes

CONCERT REVIEW

By AIMSEL L. PONTI
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD

"WHOLE LOTTA PARTY GOING ON A CLINTON SHOW"

This was not your ordinary concert. It was a party and a celebration of decades of music mastery by living legend George Clinton, who was joined by an extensive cast of musicians, including members of Parliament and Funkadelic, two acts created in the '70s.

Surprisingly enough, most of the audience was born in that decade, if not the early to mid-'80s. It seems Clinton, a/k/a Dr. Funkenstein, has caught the attention of the younger jam band set.

These fans were bursting at the seams with energy and were eager participants in arm waving and singing along, beginning with a "We want the funk" chant that was started by a band member and taken to new levels by the crowd.

Keyboardist Bernie Worrell also started the night off with a punch with his instrumental, soul-shaking version of the Beatles' "Come Together."

The next thing you knew, a dozen musicians were on stage and the magic really started to happen. Original band members Garry Shider and Michael Hampton, among many others, were on hand to deliver the goods.

Shider donned his signature garment for the evening, a large white cloth diaper. Initially it was shocking to see a middle-aged man with a significant gut so scantily clad, but by the end of the night it seemed perfect.

Everyone, in fact, had his own unique style. There was black leather, colorful tracksuits and everything in between.

More eclectic than the wardrobe choices, however, was the music. Just about everyone sang lead at one time or another, and at least three of the guys blew the crowd away with their electric guitars. The keyboards and percussion added further funk to the circus-like stage. Musicians roamed off and on stage all night.

It all, however, revolved around one person, and that of course would be George. At 63, honestly, he really doesn't sing all that well anymore, but that was almost irrelevant. He is still revered, he is still in charge and he still knows how to throw one heck of a party.

Clad in a blue warm-up suit with his famous Technicolor hair, Clinton is cool to the bone and clearly still quite passionate about his music. Through classics like "Cosmic Slop," "Atomic Dawg" and the brilliant "Flashlight," Clinton was at the top of his game as ringleader, cheerleader and rock star.

His granddaughter Shonda Clinton, who goes by the name of Sativa, joined the fun on stage and took lead on the best song of the night: "Somethin' Stank and I Want Some."

The elder Clinton took over toward the end of the song, but not before we heard some rather X-rated lyrics, a crowd-pleaser for sure. George got everyone singing along on this one - and speaking of odor, well, let's just say that there was something being smoked that wasn't tobacco by more than a few fans.

It seemed that most concertgoers, though, were high on the music and the moment more than anything else. It never let up for a minute, the deluge of extensive jams that incorporated funk, hip-hop, screaming guitars and dance-inducing rhythms.

Clinton and company skipped the obligatory stage exit and encore and just blasted past 11, when perhaps 800 fans spilled out onto Congress Street.

With ears ringing and hearts pounding, it's a fair assessment to say that a good time was had by all, at least most. This was one of the highest-energy, most electrifying shows I've seen in a while.

Although I started to drag toward the end, George Clinton and his incredible cast of characters from the past, present and future, looked like they could have kept going until dawn.

Aimsel L. Ponti is a free-lance writer who lives in Portland.
Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

reviews

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  • good thoughts,bad thoughts,let's march to the witch's castle!!!!
    author: jpikeroad n deep monkeytown

    I was awaken from a dream that only THE MAGGOT OVERLORD and his MAIN INVASION FORCE could bring to reality therefore Fantasy Is A Reality. May The Funk Always Be With MR.G.CLINTON and the Whole PFUNK FAMILY !!!! THINK IT AIN;T ILLEGAL YET?????????

  • author: win g. christ

    "P"knutt butta mutha funker 2 time-in be itch, i been hooked 2 the funk since 79, it's 2005 and i still need a hit!

  • Funky like doodoo yo
    author: funk musician taki76

    Love this 3 disc set.Check out my creative funk as well http://cdbaby.com/cd/taki76

  • it's the p-funkiest, knee-deep fo-sure.
    author: douglas edmondson

    brings back old highschool days the funk is still strong in this one of his best work.

  • Super Hypnotic Transafonic Mobilastic And Superfantastic!!!!
    author: Tracy Wagoner

    One hell of a compilation of the BEST Funk on this planet or any other that the Mothership can reach. George still has plenty of Funk to go around. Can't wait until they come to NC!!!!!

  • author: Michael "KidPfunk KidMajic" Love

    THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE BEST 'LIVE' CONCERT EVER DONE! GEORGE HAS OUT DONE GEORGE! SO I'M WRITING "GEORGE IS THE THEORY" (C)2005______ Aka KIDPFUNK I WANT TO JOIN THE PARLIAMENTAL ‘P’ Featuring the FUNKADELIC III_______ George has a '7' Birth Path Number, and born on a Master 22nd birthday birth number: UNUSUAL ABILITIES; knows esoteric or technical information at a young age; very motivated in all endeavors; analyzes and takes apart everything; wants to save the world through technological advancement; may love cartoons, science fiction, occult reading; may remember past lifetimes; could be significant healer, teacher, or builder; may suffer emotional breakdown if combined with Karmic 16 Birthpath. "745"= "16" thus ='7' _______745 IS THE NUMBER HE WAS GIVEN, REV. 2:17 __ "FOR EACH ARE GIVEN A NAME AND NUMBER" _____ Karmic 16th: May have had unusual hardships in childhood, especially if combined with Karmic 16 birthpath; very old soul; psychic; has unusual ways of solving problems; may have disability; has a special mission in life.______ BIRTHPATH 7: DIFFERENT OBSERVANT INTELLIGENT ANALYTICAL BORN TO BRING A SPIRITUAL DIMENSION INTO EVERY WALK OF LIFE. THEY OFTEN SUPPLY LIGHT TO COMPLEX CONDITIONS, AND THE ANSWERS TO TECHNICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, OR SPIRITUAL PROBLEMS. IN EARLY LIFE, THEY MAY UNDERESTIMATE THEMSELVES, ARE OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD BY THOSE CLOSEST TO THEM, BUT GREATLY APPRECIATED BY THOSE WHO WORK ON PROBLEMS WITH THEM. NOTHING ESCAPES THE NOTICE OF A SEVEN. THEY STAY AWAY FROM MASS MENTALITY OR ACTIVITIES. EXPERTS ON ANY SUBJECT, THEY ARE OFTEN CRUSADERS THROUGH THEIR WRITING. NOTHING GONNA STOP THEM FROM DANCING.

  • Two thumbs up for the P!
    author: Chris

    The highlight of this CD had to be the Bernie Worrell solo on track 2 of disc 1. That truly showed how much of a genius BW is. The sound quality is impressive for a live album, as well.

  • Like being at a concert - without the aromas
    author: Kool Kay Karter

    Love this idea, love to listen to George live in concert. Listening to this CD set is a treat!!!!!!! The only thing missing is Sir Nose.

  • THIS CD REALLY SMELT BAD
    author: TONY GRANT

    LIKE I SAID THIS CD REALLY STANK BECUSE THE DESIRE EFFECT IS WHAT I TRULY GET WHEN I INPROVED MY INTERPLANETARYFUNKSMANSHIP!!!!

  • Introduced the funk 2 a friend!
    author: JJFunky

    Brings back memories of another great P-FUNK night! I took a friend who was a funk virgin and they now want more. It amazes me how the general public are driven by the media 2 what they should b listening 2. All those virgins would definately want more after witnessing the great artists and performers of George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic! THANK U!!!

  • DUH BOOOOOOOMB!!!!
    author: tAKi76 (son of the "P" ) o(+>

    Love this 3 disc set.Check out my creative funk as well http://cdbaby.com/cd/taki76

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