Newspaper Page Text
March 19, 1979 .
The Maroon Tiger
Page 7
Entertainment
“Never Learned To Swim”
The Brides of Funkenstein, Lynn Mabry, left, and Dawn Silva,
right.
by Keith Harriston
Entertainment Editor
No one really knew what to
expect. All that was known was the
Parliament-Funkadelic would be
performing. “How are they gonna
be underwater?” was a frequently
asked question by the crowd enter
ing the Omni.
Well, Parliament/Funkadelic
weren’t actually underwater, but
no one in the crowd seemed to
mind very much. After an opening
set by the Brides of Funkenstein,
which the audience was very recep
tive to, George Clinton’s mob
began their thing.
The curtains opened to a larger
than life skull with spooky orange-
colored eyes and a very sinister
grin. Then it all started. Drummer
Tyrone Lampkin pounded the now
familiar opening to “Cosmic
Slop,” lead guitarist Mike Hamp
ton churned out the first of his
many sizzling solos, and the crowd
went berserk. Almost as soon as the
initial insanity was over, the huge
skull’s mouth opened and out came
Gary Shider, without his infamous
diaper, along with two super sexy
brown-skinned women.
The group moved through this
number, then went directly into
“Tear the Roof Off.” Clinton made
his appearance on this number. He
is onstage much less now than he
was in the past and Shider seems to
be more than ably taking control.
By the time the group played its
third song, “Night of the Thumpa-
soras Peoples,” Clinton had the
entire crowd in the palm of his
hand. There was full audience par
ticipation on chants such as, “Bur-
nin’ Down the House,” “One
Nation Under A Groove,” “Shit, —
-damn, Get off Your Ass and Jam”
and “Funk Gettin’ Ready to
Roll.”
Funkadelic moved through
many hits, including “Cholly,”
“Good to Your Earhole,” “Into
You,” “Standing on the Verge,”
“Maggot Brain” and a medley of
others. On “Maggot Brain,” Mike
Hampton was at his very best. Fol
lowing an introduction by key
boardist Bernie Worrell, Hampton
gave the audience a treat that Black
audiences rarely receive—a truly
great rock guitar solo.
This was only the beginning.
After Hampton’s “Maggot Brain”
the curtains closed and the lights
came on. No, the show wasn’t over.
The group was changing into their
bathing suits. The time was filled
by one of Parliament-Funkadelic’s
many philosophical membrs—J.
W. Jackson. Jackson, who calls
himself an environmedien, enlight
ened the crowd with many witty,
but meaningful words.
After Jackson was through the
curtains reopened and the appear
ance of the stage was that of being
under water. Mr. Wiggles was there,
as well as his ladies Giggle and
Squirm. Sir Nose was there too,
along with Rumpofsteelskin.
Now Clinton and company were
really ready to trip the audience
out. After the opening number in
which there was controlled chaos
onstage. Parliament went into
their current hit “Aqua Boogie.”
Unlike just listening to the record,
however, when the sound of the big
bird echoed from the sound system
the real thing appeared over the
stage. Of course this delighted the
already delirious audience.
They continued churning out
hits including “Flashlight,” “One
Nation Under A Groove,” “Rum
pofsteelskin,” “Pussy,” “Mother-
ship Connection” and bits and
pieces of many others.
If anyone was disappointed
because Parliament-Funkadelic
was not actually underwater, then
they must have spent the whole
night in the restroom. Otherwise,
like the capacity crowd in the
Omni, they would have been too
tired when George Clinton gave
Atlanta his thanks for the last time
to care.
George Clinton, left, and Gary Shider lead audience in a medley of chants.
Why doe the price of
records increase stadily,
while ther quality does
not.
♦Tiger’s Top Ten LPs
Album Review
George Duke, Keepin’ Up With The Funk
By Keith Harriston
Entertainment Editor
George Duke’s latest release,
“Follow the Rainbow,” shows
Duke moving further into the vein
of music referred to as funk. Even
though many jazz patrons have
been disappointed by Duke’s and
other jazz musician’s move to the
funk, those who love the rhythmic,
danceable music popularized by
George Clinton’s Parliament/ Fun
kadelic group will be more than
happy with this record.
Luckily there are no exact sound
alikes to Duke’s earlier hits
(“Reach For It,”“Dukey Stick”) so
he doesn’t bore us with the same
sound. Instead, there is a good
mixture of funk with fusion jazz.
“I am For Real,” “Funkin’ For
the Thrill” and “Pluck” are songs
on which Duke delves deeply into
funk in a style that to some ears
may sound similar to other artists,
but is really uniquely George
Duke’s. No one can play as he
does. Listen to the several key
board interjections throughout the
album. Only Bernie Worrell of
Funkadelic plays with as much ver-
sitility, but his is of a style all his
own too.
“Say That You Will,” “Straight
From the Heart” and “Sunrise”
show Duke’s steadily improving
vocals on tunes ora slower tempo.
At least two of these should get at
least minimal airplay.
Duke jazzes it up on “Festival”
and “Follow the Rainbow.” While
these cuts are the only two jazz cuts
on the album, they probably won’t
satisfy Duke’s earliest fans. On the
other hand, Duke may convert
some funk fans over to jazz with
It may be interesting to see
George Duke’s music three years
from now. By bringing his level of
sophistication to funk he’ll keep
from becoming repetitious. After
all, his last two albums have been
certified gold. This should be three
in a row.
1. C’EST CHIC
Chic
2. MOTOR BOOTY AFFAIR
Parliament
3. CHAKA
Chaka Kahn
4. SHOT OF LOVE
Lakeside
5. BOBBY CALDWELL
Bobby Caldwell
6. FLAME
Ronnie Laws
7. LIVIN’ INSIDE YOUR LOVE
George Benson
8. REED SEED
Grover Washington, Jr.
9. ONE NATION UNDER A GROOVE
Funkadelic
10. AMII STEWART
Amii Stewart
*The Tiger 1 op ten is oased on a survey of 150 students
at Morehouse. Be prepared with your choices of the top
current LPs when you’re asked.
ease.