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The World Is Getting Smaller is Snarky Puppy’s second album, released in 2007, and it’s the first that has some bona fide ‘hits’ that are still being played live today including Intelligent Design and Alma, which were both resurrected for the Immigrance Tour in 2019. The title track has also been played live but not in the last few years. The album really shows the early development of the signature Snarky Puppy style with unusual time signatures and changing melodic arrangements. The second studio album from Snarky Puppy, The World is Getting Smaller features two live drummers (Rob Avsharian andContinue Reading

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Like everyone, 2021 started in a dubious lockdown of live music for me.  I was hoping and looking for some sore of “all clear” signal to come out of hibernation and the Covid protocols of vaccination or negative test along with mask mandates and pod concerts developed. Starting April 2, the day I got my second shot, I ventured out again and the first show I attended was SunSquabi at the Coca-Cola Roxy in Atlanta, and I ended the year seeing them three times. That show was the first of 44 days (that I can count) that I attended liveContinue Reading

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This year was stranger than any other and for FunkCity.net was demarcated by the before live music was back and live music returns periods. Normally, I’d split time between listening and writing about recorded music and watching and recording live music fairly evenly – this year I did that, but it was really split by the 1st and 2nd halves of the year. I’d really like to recap my top albums of the year, but to be fair, it’s really the top from the 1st half based on how thinks shook out. By first, let’s cover what the year inContinue Reading

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Saturday might as well be called ‘Soulday’ as this may be the strongest single day soul lineup ever with The Original Nth Power, Cautious Clay, Durand Jones and the Indicators, and Leon Bridges. By the time Saturday rolls around, everyone’s fully in the groove and the vibe is amazing.  On top of that list for soulful souls, there’s some special treats for the funksters and blues crews as well. I’ll jump into my target schedule right here – The Original Nth Power as the name implies brings the band back together with their original 5 – Nate Edgar (bass), NikkiContinue Reading

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Hulaween, held in Live Oak, Florida at the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park is one of the biggest, most magical and musically diverse fall festivals in the Eastern U.S.  The heavy hitting lineup is always headlined by String Cheese Incident and a rotating group of additional headliners leaning toward jam band and electronic music. Prior to 2015, Bear Creek was a funk festival held at the same location a few weeks later in the fall and was a favorite of that fan base.  ‘Hula’ took the baton from Bear Creek starting in 2015 and I’ve attended every Hulaween since asContinue Reading

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Snarky Puppy is my favorite band and for me the most innovative and unique sounding over the last 25 years.  I got hip to them ‘late’, back in 2013 when they were already barnstorming around the U.S.  I had a chance to see them at Bear Creek Music and Arts Festival back in 2010, but somehow didn’t make it.  But back on September 12, 2013, I got pulled hard into the Snarky Puppy vortex at a show at Terminal West in Atlanta. After I left that show not quite sure what I had just witnessed and became fully ‘puppified,’ IContinue Reading

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Just learned that the great, great saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis has passed. I’d been a lifelong fan of his work and back in 2010 I was looking around to see how to catch one of my new favorite bands Lettuce for the first time.  At the same time I was checking out Maceo Parker’s live shows and saw that both were going to be in Live Oak, Fl.  I looked it up and thought, “What the hell was in Live Oak?” and then found the fantastic Bear Creek Music Festival! Lo and behold, Maceo and Lettuce were gonna both beContinue Reading

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Candler Park’s Music and Food Festival has been going on for thirteen years and has evolved from a small Atlanta neighborhood affair to a full blown regional music blowout with nationally famous touring acts. The fest traditionally held in late May-early June has been pushed back due to Covid-19 and this will be the first held since 2019.  Each day is packed with some great acts and here’s the rundown that we’re looking forward to. Friday Highlights Galactic is one of my favorite all-time New Orleans funk bands, on the scene for nearly 25 years.  Their mix of skill andContinue Reading

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Brass Lightning are a New Orleans-based, soul-brass quintet. At FunkCity.net, we’re all about the horns and love bands that are heavy on that end especially those that make the horns the ‘lead’ centerpiece.  In that respect, Brass Lightning belongs in a tight group including Naughty Professor, Moon Hooch, and too Many Zooz.  The group released their Debut Album “Consonance” on July 5th 2021. The 10-track album sways from bombastic and horn-heavy to carefree and lush, and features Mike Dillon (Mike Dillon Band, Garage A Trois) on vibraphone and Percussion, as well as Nick Ellman (Naughty Professor) on baritone saxophone. “Consonance,” paysContinue Reading