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Grand Funk Railroad

B

BaditudeDude

Jan 26, 2011
43
2
72
Cincinnati, Ohio USA
#1
Just got home from seeing Grand Funk at a festival in Cincy. I hadn't seen them in over 30 years, and it was great to hear the old tunes that I grew up with again live. Mel is still the "God of Thunder" with his "bong rattling bass", now playing a Zon in front of a double stack of Ampegs. He is probably the bassist that really got me paying attention to bass. Brewer is still energic, and still....Don. :smug: I have to admit, the band is just not the same without its heart and soul, Mark Farner. Its very unfortunate that the power trio will probably never perform together again...unless they are finally awarded induction into the R&R HOF.

I was able to get close enough to grab some pics. Please excuse the so-so quality; I had to depend upon just the stage lighting and no tripod for my long lens. I also had re-size them, and not being very experienced in that area, didn't get them all equal size.
Mel-3.jpg

Mel-2.jpg

th_Mel-1.jpg
 
#6
BaditudeDude said:
Just got home from seeing Grand Funk at a festival in Cincy. I hadn't seen them in over 30 years, and it was great to hear the old tunes that I grew up with again live. Mel is still the "God of Thunder" with his "bong rattling bass", now playing a Zon in front of a double stack of Ampegs. He is probably the bassist that really got me paying attention to bass. Brewer is still energic, and still....Don. :smug: I have to admit, the band is just not the same without its heart and soul, Mark Farner. Its very unfortunate that the power trio will probably never perform together again...unless they are finally awarded induction into the R&R HOF.

I was able to get close enough to grab some pics. Please excuse the so-so quality; I had to depend upon just the stage lighting and no tripod for my long lens. I also had re-size them, and not being very experienced in that area, didn't get them all equal size.
Mel-3.jpg

Mel-2.jpg

th_Mel-1.jpg
Click to expand...

Hey there is Bruce Kulick, one of my fav guitar players. Wish he was still in KISS instead of Tommy. As far as Grand Funk's music. I always thought they had some cool bass lines!!! :bassist:
 
#8
rulyongo said:
Nice!!! He is one of my biggest influences!!! How was his tone?
Click to expand...
Seeing/hearing this current incarnation of GFR can't compare to my distant memories of seeing the band in their heyday, or YouTube video's currently available. They really miss the distinctive vocals of Mark Farner. Most of the song list came from later-day GFR; I personally preferred the songs from the first few albums. Exceptions were the highlights of the show, being I'm Your Captain/Closer to My Home, American Band, and Inside Looking Out.

Mel's tone was very present, though not the signature overdriven distortion from the early years. Musically the current band sounded tight, although the vocals appeared to be distorted to me; could have been the mixer's fault here. It certainly was worth seeing the band, I grew up with GFR being my favorite band in high school and Mel's signature tone was certainly a factor for that. I got a kick out of his introduction as the "God of Thunder", the crowd cheered, and he grinned at this point of the show. So overall, you'll possibly be disappointed if expecting the old sound, but hearing the tunes again by 2/3 of the original band will bring back pleasant memories. I enjoyed it.
 
#11
I recently saw a bootleg video of a outdoor concert in 1970 in cinncinati, the opening band was Grand Funk. Just starting their career at that point, other bands on the bill were Mountain, Iggy and the stooges and a very bizarre performance by the up and coming Alice Cooper band.
 
#13
First Concert I ever saw was at the Fabulous Forum in I think 1970, Grand Funk, Ten Years After & PG& E
We went to Anaheim Convention Center the next year to hang out and try to see them but didn't have tickets. My friend found two tickets on the ground in an envelope but since there were 3 of use he sold the tickets and we left to use the money to party. Huge riot ensued (sold out and crowds tried to rush in and I believe six surrounding police depts. called in to quell it. No Concert that nite. Mel is a solid great steady Bass player and Brewer is also great. However, Mark Farner IS Grand Funk.
 
#14
bassguitarthund--

The sound company I used to work for worked a GFR show about 7 or so years ago. I was pumped because I was a fan of Bruce Kulick and wanted to see the monstrous rig I was sure he'd have. I mean, after all, he had toured with KISS and all that. The backline company set up the amps they had brought for him, a couple of JCM 900s and one more as a back up, which they ended up needing. Kulick shows up, and I noticed he's carrying a small bag with him. He unzips it and pulls out a small board that looked about half rotten, spray painted black with a tuner taped to it, and a Boss chours pedal and some kind of overdrive and maybe a wah pedal or something. That was it for the "monstrous guitar rig". I mentioned it to him and he said that was all he needed. His tone was all amp.

I got some cool pics from the stage. If I can find some of them I'll try to post them.

BnB
 
#16
I heard that show (in Blue Ash, right?) was great. Blue Ash has had Farner there in the past, and he still destroys that parker fly. The GFR "red" album (their second?) is one of my all time favorites, and the bass on that album is the sound in my head when I think of bass! Its also the reason my Dad plays bass, and since he taught me I'm beyond biased. He has told me the story of them opening for Sabbath in the 70's out in Cali that he/my uncle/and my grandfather went to (first family J pass!) a zillion times, and they all still claim to this day that GFR destroyed Sabbath that night. Which I hear they were famous for (destroying headliners, not just sabbath).

I assumed it was just Don playing that night and elected to catch 311 at riverbend instead. While P-nut destroyed all of us with his warwick and dancing, I seem to have made the WRONG call (aside from paying money to see a band, beer prices, etc). One day Mel, one day.

Appreciate this post very much good sirs. And good lord Don/Mel/Mark take it back to the gymnasium in flint one last time FOR THE PEOPLE!!!!!!
 
#18
Grand Funk will never get into the joke RRHOF because Jann Wenner and Dave Marsh don't like them. End of story. The RRHOF is pathetic. It's clearly a gag to sell merch, and Jann Wenner rules with an iron hand. If he says they won't get in, they won't get in. It's a very dubious honor to be in the RRHOF.
 
#19
JimmyM said:
Grand Funk will never get into the joke RRHOF
Click to expand...
+ a Trillion!!
It is a joke. If you look at the list of people and bands not in it and look at some of the people and bands inducted into it that will prove it right there. It really enraged me they didn't induct the DC5 until right after Mike Smith died, and he's just one of a huge list
 
#20
I know Mark Farner personally. He is a great guy. A good friend of mine was Grand Funk's road manager. He is very close to Mel and Don Brewer. Don also plays with Bob Seger. I have heard the story about how Mark left the band and to be honest, I feel that he got screwed. However, I also feel that he is jealous because their biggest hit was "We're an American Band" and he didn't write it. In fact, he doesn't even sing it live. His bass player Lawrence Buckner does. It's funny how they needed 3 people to replace him. I am going to see Grand Funk in August and Mark Farner in October.
 

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