From doo-wop to cosmic funk
This collective grew from a 60s doo-wop group into twin engines of funk and rock under a single vision. In recent years, after a supposed retirement in 2019, the founder returned and now steers a family-heavy lineup that treats the stage like a handoff. The show moves like a revue, flipping between rubbery bass, psych guitar, chant-ready hooks, and comic relief.
Songs that anchor the night
Likely anchors include
Flash Light,
Give Up The Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker),
One Nation Under a Groove, and
Atomic Dog. You will see longtime crate-diggers, young musicians, street dancers, and casual fans, moving in loose clusters and trading grins. Fun note: the original
Flash Light bassline was a Minimoog part by Bernie Worrell, not an electric bass. Another bit: guitarist Garry Shider was famous for a diaper stage look, a signal that theater and humor sit inside the music. All set and production details here are educated projections, and this band often rewrites the plan from night to night.
The Mothership Tribe: Parliament Funkadelic feat. George Clinton Scene
Dress codes of the groove
You will spot vintage logo tees, sequined jackets, bright hats, and a few platform shoes pulled from the back of the closet. Younger fans mix in streetwear and thrifted flare pants, a nod to the
Mothership Connection era without full costume. Chants kick off fast, with a call of we want the funk answered by a full bar of claps.
Rituals in real time
Circle pockets open for pop-lockers and housing steps, and people cheer solos like they would at a jazz set. Merch leans classic, with bold album art, patches, and caps that reference characters and slogans from the catalog. Before the main hits, folks trade stories about old shows and compare which band members they have seen cycle through the ranks. It feels welcoming but not quiet, more like a block party that moves room to room as the groove shifts.
Pocket Science with Parliament Funkadelic feat. George Clinton
Built on the one
The vocals work like a section, trading chants and hooks so no single voice has to carry the load. Drums sit deep on the one, with hi-hat chatter that leaves room for thick bass. On many nights the bassist doubles the old
Flash Light synth line with an octave pedal and a touch of filter, which makes the low end feel rubbery without losing punch. Guitars favor wah and fuzz for a psychedelic edge, while horns snap in with short bursts that cue the band.
Little live tweaks that matter
Arrangements stretch, turning outros into vamps where soloists rotate and the groove breathes. Mid-tempo numbers may drop a touch slower live to let the crowd sing the hooks cleanly. Lighting rides bold color washes and UV touches that match the costumes, but the mix keeps vocals and kick clear so the pulse stays obvious.
Funk Kinfolk for Parliament Funkadelic feat. George Clinton Fans
Kindred grooves on the road
Fans who enjoy
Lettuce will find the same clipped, on-the-one grooves and horn-forward jams.
Dumpstaphunk brings New Orleans grit and dual-bass heft, a feel that mirrors the heavier side of the P-Funk songbook.
Galactic blends funk with hip-hop guests and extended breaks, which echoes the revue format and dance-first pacing.
Why these acts click
If you like exploratory bass lines and oddball humor,
Thundercat scratches that itch while staying melody-minded. These artists share a live emphasis on pocket, call-and-response moments, and room for players to step forward. They also draw mixed-age crowds who care more about the groove than the genre tag.
