Funk, rock and hip-hop architect George Clinton waves farewell to Parliament Funkadelic

Photos by Andy Argyrakis

For more than 50 years, George Clinton served as the captain of the “Mothership,” but following the “One Nation Under A Groove” Tour, this funk, rock and hip-hop architect says he’s retiring from the road. Thankfully, the Aragon Ballroom got an additional opportunity to catch the 77-year-old singer/songwriter/producer front Parliament Funkadelic, who alongside jam band extraordinaire Galactic, ska/punk/alternative veterans Fishbone and new funkers Miss Velvet & The Blue Wolf, ensured he went out with a bang.

As “Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)” kept the grooves flowing, it called to mind George Clinton’s impact on the varied likes of Prince, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar, while also being the original source for surely the most sampled catalogue in all of rap and hip-hop.

Given the plethora of albums recorded across all his trendsetting career, it was surely a challenge to whittle down into a single evening, but after ironing out some muted microphone issues, Clinton and company managed to land on many of the vital touchstones that still sound like they’re from another planet. There was of course the command to “Get Off You A** And Jam,” show’s unity-focused namesake, the unforgettable “Flash Light,” the call-and-response craziness of “(Not Just) Knee Deep” and the psychedelically-charged “Maggot Brain.”

Although the Clinton of today isn’t quite as outrageous or energetic as the days of days of “Dr. Funkenstein,” he exudes tremendous star power and charisma even when pulling up a chair. And the now cross-generational Parliament Funkadelic (stuffed with both lifers and younger relatives) had no problem keeping the party lit whenever he took a break, exploding with trippy sounds and eye-popping presentations such as an appearance by classic P-Funk character Sir Nose.

Though Clinton is absolutely irreplaceable, the band is capable of continuing in his absence as so many do nowadays and even unveiled selections from “Medicaid Fraud Dogg,” which marks the first new project to bear the Parliament namesake in 38 years. It’s still too soon to tell how the double album will rate amongst the classics, but with the bulk of material penned by the longtime leader and his son Tracey Lewis, it’s a fitting coda to an exceptional career.

As “Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)” kept the grooves flowing, it called to mind Clinton’s impact on the varied likes of Prince, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar, while also being the original source for surely the most sampled catalogue in all of rap and hip-hop. And despite ending well after midnight following what was more like a mini-festival than a single show, the man who orchestrated it all had everyone barking like an “Atomic Dog” as he waved goodbye with abundant bite.

Click here for more photos of George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic at the Aragon Ballroom.

For additional information on George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, visit GeorgeClinton.com.

For a list of upcoming Live Nation concerts, visit LiveNation.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Aragon Ballroom include Wu-Tang Clan (Jun. 1); Machine Gun Kelly (Jun. 11); Blackbear (Jun. 15); Panteon Rococo (Jul. 19); The Psychedelic Furs and James (Jul. 23); Sad Summer Festival (Jul. 24); Lost 80’s Live (Aug. 8); Comic Book Hero (Aug. 10); Drama At The Disco (Aug. 11); $uicideboy$ (Aug. 16); Papa Roach (Aug. 23) and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard (Aug. 24). For additional details, visit LiveNation.com.

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Funk, rock and hip-hop architect George Clinton waves farewell to Parliament Funkadelic

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