By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 12:09 pm: |
Hey Gang:
This past Friday night I was at the Funk Bros concert at the Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC. The show started around 8:45-9:00pm, kicking things off with "Uptight" and kicking tail for TWO sets! Jack Ashford & Allen Slutsky shared the emcee-ing duties (Jack's story regarding Marvin Gaye was priceless) while guests Joan Osborne, Darlene Love & Maxi Priest mixed it up nicely with the Funks. Joan did a SEXY version of "Don't Mess With Bill" and came back later to sing "What Becomes Of the Broken-Hearted". Darlene Love was wonderful on "My Baby Loves Me" while Maxi Priest did justice to "My Cherie Amour" and a medley of Marvin's "Mercy Mercy Me"/"What's Going On". Kudos to Carla, Delbert & company for taking lead on several Motown classics and keeping the crowd revved up. Finally, the Funks - THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Joe Hunter gave the term "got the Holy Ghost" a whole new meaning on "Pride & Joy" while Babbitt was dead center with his Fender bass (encore of "I Was Made To Love Her" anyone?). Eddie & Joe nailed "It's A Shame" (with no Clavinet) while Uriel held the beat. The support musicians were great as well & kudos to Allan Slutsky for conducting the Funks show. I did get to meet all the Funks after the gig, which I have to say was exciting and emotional as well for me because I meeting my musical heroes. They were - and are- ALL nice and genuine people. Babbitt recognized my name from the Forum postings (thanks for the kind words, Bob!). I bought the SITSOM DVD because I ain't gonna wait for it to come to retail. Also saw HW and Andrew Skrukow at the gig (great seeing both of you, guys). The concert has several in attendance and Pat St. John (who is now at WCBS-FM) was there with Scott Regan to intro the Funks (a taste of Detroit radio in the Big Apple from two "Keeners"). Overall it was a great concert and if the Funks come to your town - BUY THAT TICKET AND GO!
Kevin Goins - KevGo
By STUBASS (205.188.209.38) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 12:30 pm: |
9 DAYS AND COUNTING KEVGO...L.A. IS GEARING UP "BIG TIME" FOR THE "FUNK BROTHERS"...AND I'M SURE THEY'LL TAKE OUR TOWN OVER THE EDGE!!!...BRUCE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HIS LONGTIME FRIEND AND MENTOR JOE MESSINA AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE GUYS!!!...NOW...IF WE CAN JUST GET THOSE TERRANA BROTHERS DOWN HERE!!!...STU
By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 12:32 pm: |
Stu:
I'm sure Ralph & Russ will go voluntarily....
Kevin Goins - KevGo
By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 12:34 pm: |
My brother (who's going to the Detroit show) asked me if I had tickets to the show at the Paramount. Alas, I had to tell him it's the OAKLAND Paramount, not Seattle.
I'm insanely jelous of all of you.
By STUBASS (205.188.209.38) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 12:38 pm: |
HEY DOUG: A TRIP TO STARBUCKS SHOULD SETTLE YOUR NERVES...PLUS...A FEW CUPS OF COFFEE...AND YOU WON'T HAVE ANY MONEY LEFT FOR TICKETS ANYWAY!!!...STU
By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 12:44 pm: |
Thanks....i think.
By HW (12.110.192.128) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 12:47 pm: |
Kev - hee hee - did you miss the two-keyboard-setup on the left side of the stage, including a Kurzweil synth that probably was playing those same lines that sound like a clav (but aren't) on the record?
By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 12:58 pm: |
HW:
I did catch both double keyboard set-ups (including the Korg C-30 "Hammond" prototype - nice touch) and did hear something that sounded like a Clavinet but I also heard Joe play the same part as well.
Kevin Goins - KevGo
(PS - Any luck with the "It's A Shame" tracks - was there or was there not a clavinet?)
By Eli (151.197.184.19) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 01:26 pm: |
On "I'll be around,the intro and recurring figure that is the embodiment of the song, was played by Thom Bell on clavinet and yours truly on a Gibson Les Paul, a tad lower in volume than the clav, but mixed in as one sound. The Gibson "rounded the sound out" a bit as it was tried both ways, with and without the Gibson.
Thom liked the Gibson and what a doozy it was to get the tuning of my guitar to match perfectly with the clav to make it sound as one!!!
By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 01:48 pm: |
Kevin,
Hmm, so did you hear the keyboard playing a clavinet-like line or not?
It's G.C. Cameron who firmly believes Stevie was playing clavinet on the track. There isn't a keyboard on the raw tracks Harry has so our best guess is that Stevie showed the guitarists what he wanted played on the clav, and G.C. is remembering those initial sessions.
The lead line is so Stevie-like, it sounds clavinetish. G.C. was adamant, and I'll let him remain adamant by saying "G.C. remembers ..." in what I write. Similarly, some who were at the session remember Stevie playing drums, but it's clearly Uriel.
Some of these Motown sessions are like the Japanese film Roshoman, which tells a story from the wildly differing viewpoint of each participant ...
By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 02:12 pm: |
Sue:
I did hear a clavinet-type keyboard line play along with Joe Messina's guitar at the concert. When I said in my initial post "no clavinet" I was referring to the actual instrument.
Kevin Goins - KevGo
By DF (208.27.111.121) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 03:38 pm: |
I made the choice to see Kenny Garrett at the Iridim. I thought about seeing the Funks, but: 1) my date wanted to see Kenny, too, and 2) I made reservations long ago, so I had to keep the commitment. Kenny was wicked, though. I am disappointed that I missed the Funks. Peace.
By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 03:46 pm: |
DF:
If you and your date had shown up at 10pm, you would have caught the second set with the Funks. They did two "acts" with one intermission (a "pill break" as Jack Ashford called it! ). I'm sure Kenny is great but if it were my choice, knowing that time is precious and we've lost at least three Funks to "Rock & Roll Heaven" in the past year, I would've gone with the Funks - date or no date.
Kevin Goins - KevGo