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In: Aisle 5, BLOG POSTS, City Winery, GroundUP Music Festival, Lettuce, Smith's Olde Bar, Suwannee Hulaween, Terminal West, The New Mastersounds, Variety Playhouse, Whippersnap Music and Arts Festival

This year was epic for my live music journey having seen well over 200 sets of music and recorded over 80 live performances. The first half of the year had an incredible run of live shows starting with the recording sessions for Snarky Puppy’s album with the Metropole Orkest, “Somni” in Utrecht, Netherlands. That one was recorded professionally by a dozen or so cameras and the videos are being released one by one. After that, I had an mammoth string of music starting with the GroundUP Music Festival in Miami Beach, rolling right into my first Jam Cruise and thenContinue Reading

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In: Aisle 5, BLOG POSTS, City Winery, GroundUP Music Festival, Lettuce, Smith's Olde Bar, Suwannee Hulaween, Terminal West, The New Mastersounds, Variety Playhouse, Whippersnap Music and Arts Festival

Here’s my 1st ever annual video recap of 29 live sets that I recorded this year. This is a sampling of the more than 80 videos I posted on YouTube this year, which is a subset of the videos that I recorded (some are not public), which is yet a further subset of the sets that I’ve actually seen or heard this year (since I don’t record every set). The videos are notable in one way or another, perhaps based on the quality of the recording, the circumstances of the recording or the uniqueness of the set. I’ll give aContinue Reading

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In: Aisle 5, BLOG POSTS, Lettuce, Snarky Puppy, Terminal West, The Motet, Variety Playhouse, VENUES

Coming off of a great year for FunkCity.net in 2019, this year was starting out looking even better with a bunch of great shows lined up in the Winter and the fantastic festival kicking off in April.  There was no waiting as I rolled up to Greenville on January 2 to see Lettuce and I was off to the races. The first two months were fantastic and then it all came crashing to a halt at the end of February.  I had been anticipating writing this article somewhat in jest as the pandemic drew on, but ultimately realized that inContinue Reading

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In: Aisle 5, BANDS, BLOG POSTS, Lettuce, Lotus, Snarky Puppy, Terminal West, The Budos Band, The New Mastersounds, Variety Playhouse, VENUES, Voodoo Visionary

For FunkCity.net, 2019 was a remarkable year that is recapped here.  I apologize in advance for the self-serving nature but it was definitely a year like no other in my experience based on a combination of personal music achievements and fantastic music events.  It was a huge year for four of my favorite groups, Snarky Puppy, Lettuce, The New Mastersounds and The Budos Band! Here’s the nineteen top happenings in 2019 – Snarky Puppy 17 Compilation: The year started with my proudest musical moment – Snarky Puppy came out with a limited edition, 4-vinyl recap of their 2017 world tour. Continue Reading

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In: BLOG POSTS, Terminal West, Variety Playhouse

What kind of mix is this? It’s some great new releases from Bokanté, Jungle, and Rubblebucket, some great shows we’ve been to including Moon Hooch, Dumpstaphunk and Bumpin’ the Mango, and some cool classics. 1. Jungle – Beat 54 (All Good Now) – For Ever Jungle is kind of an under the radar band that released their first eponymous album in 2014 and was a global club sensation for the next couple of years. We had the good fortune to see them twice during that initial release.  For Ever, the second album, just released is just as cool, characterized byContinue Reading

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In: BLOG POSTS, Smith's Olde Bar, Terminal West, Variety Playhouse

This week’s playlist is a feast of eclectic mix, past & present, past shows and upcoming shows. It spans straight up funk and downright spacey jams. It features tunes from Papadosio coming into town for two nights this week as well as their opener, Higher Learning.  Also highlights local favorites Funk You and Grut. Rebirth Brass Band – I Feel Like Funkin’ It Up – Extended Mix – Do Watcha Wanna Thirty five years and these dudes still throw down the funk.  This past Saturday they brought it to two sold out shows at Smith’s Olde Bar.  You can catchContinue Reading

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In: BLOG POSTS, Variety Playhouse

Tank and the Bangas hit the Variety Playhouse on 5-18-18 in Atlanta and the witnesses will never be he same.  Hit is the operative word because this act kills it on every level.  First and foremost, the music is great – Tank is one of the most energetic, personable performers you’ll see anywhere.  She ranges from rap, hip hop, and soul to beautiful poetic ballads.  Her connection with the Bangas and the audience is real and can be felt throughout the show.  Each Banga member is extremely talented and their show is a nonstop whirlwind of frenetic energy. The crowdContinue Reading

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In: BLOG POSTS, Variety Playhouse

Atlanta just can’t get enough of Arizona’s Spafford these days. Just 3 months ago during their red-hot “For Amusement Only” tour Spafford sold out the 600 capacity venue Terminal West in a matter of minutes. Then Spafford turns around and sells out Variety Playhouse, a 1,100 person venue, in a matter of seconds for an afterparty for Atlanta’s Sweetwater 420 Fest. By the time 4/20 had come tickets could be found at a resale value of close to $100 and sometimes more. Needless to say expectations and a need to see the young band continues to soar and man didContinue Reading

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In: BLOG POSTS, Snarky Puppy, Variety Playhouse

Snarky Puppy’s second night at the Variety Playhouse was stellar, as usual.  The enthusiastic crowd was treated to a special Ready Wednesday encore featuring a couple of special tricks.  First, Bill Laurance, who penned the tune, opened it up with a dark, gothy Shofukan intro leading into the tune.  Then, at about the seven minute point, Mark Lettieri crushes an extended bluesy, psychedelic guitar solo. Third and unbeknownst to much of the crowd Robert “Sput” Searight was on the drum.  The tune closes out with Bill’s beautiful outro which is also featured on his solo album “Live at Union Chapel”Continue Reading

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In: BLOG POSTS, Naughty Professor, Variety Playhouse

Naughty Professor lit up the crowd, as usual, in Atlanta opening on New Years Eve for TAUK.  The headliner also featured the Naughty Horns.  Here’s a 40 minute segment from the show: Partial set video from setlist below (*not recorded): Without a Trace* As They Say In The Biz Prune Juice* Knockwurst “Fiends”* Three Wise Men* Chef’s Revenge Psycho Switch ix Paper Joint Naughty Professor are: Ian Bowman – tenor saxophone John Culbreth – trumpet Bill Daniel – guitar Nick Ellman – alto and baritone saxophones Sam Shahin – drumsContinue Reading