I miss funk music, and always wondered as a genre if it would come back. My current theory (confirmed by watching any old videos of Sly and the family stone) is that, at its best, it is just too difficult to play. This is why you never see covers or bar bands playing old funk songs. You need a lot of good musicians talented in multiple instruments/disciplines and most importantly, they have to be tighter than a very tight thing. Not to mention the stage presence. There was one exception (I've seen) and it was the "house band" at the B.B. King blues club, back when that existed in Orlando. Also, there was a blues band back in Tampa/St. Pete that "could" do a good funk cover, but were too much blues purists to do that except on rare occasions. Not that there aren't talented musicians around, but getting enough of them together and playing as a live act is an expensive proposition. But, I'd definitely go to a "classic albums live" thing that was a funk medley. Kinda like more guys vintage racing old 4-stroke twins and singles than old 500 GP bikes and Moto Guzzi V8's.
Tower of Power is still touring, and there are some bright spots occasionally, but they seem to only show up on TikTok. Look for some german kids called Funky Times and a Maryland guy called Fulton Lee. Giacomo Turra is also worth a listen for guitar heavy stuff, and some cool covers. Not grim, but you kind of have to hunt.
One of the most talented band leaders of his generation. Pioneer of the drum machine as well. First guy to make a drum machine beat have feel. It's really too bad about what happened to him. Drugs, paranoia and record label pressure is no joke.
If I ever won the lottery, I’d was gonna hire some guys to walk around with me for like a month playing my own funk-ish theme song whenever I walked. think like the theme from shaft or pusherman inspired song with a 4piece behind you playing live. Everywhere. Why? Because funk is cool and lotto money bitches. F$&@ yo couch!!!
You missed Prince on later albums and touring with Maceo Parker. I have a recording somewhere off the FOH sound desk. Words cannot describe.
Yeah, I was going to mention Prince. While Prince is Prince, and difficult to categorize, he is definitely like a funk band in the "don't see many covers/bar bands" category (for the same reasons). I am genuinely sorry to have missed Prince performing live back in the day (or even today if he was still around).
