George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic at the YouTube Theater

The master of funk, George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic (a.k.a. P-Funk) took over the YouTube Theater on August 18th as part of the One Nation Under a Groove Tour. The name comes from P-Funks’s album of that same name released in 1978 and was the group’s 10th album. Clinton’s last L.A. show was three years ago at the Greek Theater as part of a farewell tour, however this time it could really be the last L.A. show. Opening the show was Dopapod, which I would call a progressive rock jam-band,The Motets, Rolling Stones sax player Karl Denson and his band Tiny Universe, and Blue Eye Extinction. It was an unforgettable night of funk and jam-band music.

P-Funk is known for their extravagant stage and outfits among their many band members. In recent years, P-Funk has had simple stage setups, but always has a whole entourage of friends and family onstage which sets the perfect vibe for the evening. When the group got inducted into the Rock N’ Roll of Fame a total of sixteen members were inducted. In 2019 Parliament-Funkadelic received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Although the stage was simple with just a big flag in the back with One Nation Under A Groove spelled out, some of the members had classic P-Funk style outfits. Clinton had come out with Blue Eye Extinction briefly then for his grand entrance with P-Funk, Clinton and the party train of his back-up singers came out together.

Through all the lineups of P-Funk, Clinton has been there from the start and keeps the band’s legacy going to this day. At one point there were two seperate groups Parliament and Funkadelic which both included Clinton and as Parliament-Funkadelic included Clinton and members of both groups like fellow funk icons bassist Bootsy Collins, guitarist Eddie Hazel, keyboardist Bernie Worrell.

Although Clinton’s colorful hair is gone, he is the same funk master who has been influencing generations of artists and was a huge influence on the Red Hot Chili Peppers producing the group’s second album Freaky Styley in 1985 then on March 31st was one of the presenters for their Hollywood Walk of Fame induction as well joined the band onstage for their show at the Fonda Theater for “Give It Away.” To describe the show, it's almost on one continuous loop from song to song. There three guitar players and bass players, horns, a number of backing vocalists and at any given time 15-20 people on stage performing not including guests off to the side. P-Funk brought out the hits with “Flashlight,” “Atomic Dog,” “Maggot Brain,” “Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof off the Sucker),” and ended the magical evening with “Mama Told Me.” The set was made up of Parliament and Funkadelic songs and a cover of House of Pain’s “Jump Around.” In 2020 Clinton became an honorary member of Omega Psi Phi and was sporting the fraternity’s shirt. Clinton, now 81 and having 60+ years in the music industry and performing as part of Parliament, Funkadelic, and Parliament Funkadelic at one point or another since 1968 couldn’t have looked happier being onstage.

Setlist from Setlist.fm