Who Are the new funk bands?

Geddyfleaharris · #1 03-26-2009, 07:40 PM

I have been a metal/hard rock guy all my life. I have always listened to other types of music and RHCP are one of my fave bands. Although I guess you might put them in a hard rock category at times. I have always had a soft spot for Parliament/Funkadelic even at my rockinest most. Mothership Connection is a brilliant album.

Lately, after reading about some of the bassists in Bass Player mag, I have branched out (never leave my metal roots behind entirely) and am really starting to appreciate bands like Earth Wind and Fire and Tower of Power. Now sometimes I will admit the ballady stuff bores me a bit but even some of that is very good to my ears. The tunes with a full on, slammin' horn section have just as much oomph as my metal faves although in a different way (if you know what I mean).My question is who are the new bands doing high powered funk? I have no idea as I have never really followed the genre.

GrooveWarrior · #2 03-26-2009, 08:11 PM

You MUST buy the album Rage by Lettuce. While you are at it, get Outta Here and Live in Tokyo by Lettuce as well. It simply doesn't get any better than these guys for slammin' funk and butt movin' tunes.

Other albums you should check out are:

The Clinton Administration - One Nation Under a Re-Groove -- It's a P-Funk instrumental tribute that slams.

George Duke - Face the Music -- Christian McBride on Bass. Sick.

The Greyboy Allstars - What Happened to Television?

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe - The Bridge

Liquid Soul - Here's the Deal

Maceo Parker - Roots & Grooves:Back to Funk (Live)

Nils Landgren Funk Unit - 5000 Miles

Oz Noy - Fuzzy

Robert Walter - Giving up the Ghost -- Just buy any Robert Walter album and you won't be disappointed.

Soulive - Soulive or Breakout (or just about any Soulive album)

Stanton Moore - Stanton Moore III, Flyin' the Koop, and Emphasis! (On Parenthesis)

Lazylion · #3 03-26-2009, 09:34 PM

Mingo Fishtrap, I think they're based in Texas.
Papa Grows Funk, and Big Sam's Funky Nation, both from New Orleans.

bassist15 · #4 03-26-2009, 10:25 PM

Definitely try out
Poets of Rhythm - Discern/Define
Antibalas - Security
Budos Band- Budos Band II
Karl Hector & The Malcouns- Sahara Swing
Mulatu Astatke- Ethiopiques Vol. 4
Menahan Street Band-Make the Road by Walking

These albums and bands are funk with a little bit of African and soul influence
but all have awesome horn sections and can funk with the best of them

Geddyfleaharris · #5 03-27-2009, 10:31 AM

Thansk guys. Made a list in my crackberry. I have a habit of going to CD stores and then forgetting the names of cool bands I have been told about. Must be age.

JmJ · #6 03-27-2009, 11:20 AM

Dumpstaphunk, has two bass players.

iamlowsound · #7 03-27-2009, 06:43 PM

Prince has a new album coming out, although it might not be the type of funk that you are looking for, but buy it anyway.

lowsound

Lazylion · #8 03-27-2009, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JmJ

Dumpstaphunk, has two bass players.

+1, can't believe I forgot them! Both Ivan Neville and his cousin Ian Neville are members. Multiple Nevilles,
funk is guaranteed!

cultrvultr · #9 03-27-2009, 08:07 PM

Orgone from LA is pretty cool. Great live show too.

Larz48 · #10 03-29-2009, 01:40 AM

http://www.iclips.net/content.php?content_id=21760

Geddyfleaharris · #11 03-29-2009, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larz48

http://www.iclips.net/content.php?content_id=21760

That's what I am talkin' about!

That was great.

RCCollins · #12 03-29-2009, 10:06 AM

there are more talented funk players then ever, but everything I've seen referenced in this thread bores me. I guess a lot of what I like about the funk is the classic 70s (or even 80s) feel... and I just don't hear that from today's bands, no matter how great the players themselves are... the parts just don't add up to much - you get a lot of open-ended jams, but rarely a tight funk song.

I would LOVE to be corrected

Lazylion · #13 03-29-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

there are more talented funk players then ever, but everything I've seen referenced in this thread bores me. I guess a lot of what I like about the funk is the classic 70s (or even 80s) feel... and I just don't hear that from today's bands, no matter how great the players themselves are... the parts just don't add up to much - you get a lot of open-ended jams, but rarely a tight funk song.
I would LOVE to be corrected

And your recommendations are?

Larz48 · #14 03-29-2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geddyfleaharris

That's what I am talkin' about!

That was great.

Hope you watched the jam cruise video too. I was listening to this today and my son says, "WHAT are you listening to?" He said it sounded "wierd". LOL. I just told him I was soaking in some soul. He didn't get it but he's 12 and plays guitar. lol. I would almost trade my bass for the Rhythm guitarists job. Pretty cool!

Oh and Dumpstaphunk rocks it too! Like JmJ said.

GrooveWarrior · #15 03-30-2009, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

there are more talented funk players then ever, but everything I've seen referenced in this thread bores me. I guess a lot of what I like about the funk is the classic 70s (or even 80s) feel... and I just don't hear that from today's bands, no matter how great the players themselves are... the parts just don't add up to much - you get a lot of open-ended jams, but rarely a tight funk song.

I would LOVE to be corrected

If you can't at least get on board with Lettuce, I worry about you very much. Rage is one of the best albums I have ever heard, and Live in Tokyo makes my entire band want to quit playing because we will never live up to that standard.