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Funk musicians seem to have a propensity for making up words. It began with Parliament Funkadelic, who emerged in the 1970s and frequently sang about getting “funked up.” Funkadelic is not a word, nor is funked.
Seacoast band Funkfoot is keeping the tradition alive. On the band’s Web site, they claim that their music contains elements of funktonium, jazzuminium and roxygen. Put your chemistry book away—these are not real elements. And although the word “funkfoot” sounds like a fungal disease of the lowermost appendage, the condition has never been diagnosed by any pediatrician.
According to Merriam-Webster OnLine, the word “funk” has several meanings. Definition 1: a strong, offensive smell. Definition 2: to become frightened and shrink back. Definition 3: a depressed state of mind.
Listen closely to definition 4: music that combines traditional forms of black music (as blues, gospel or soul) and is characterized by a strong backbeat.
About three songs into their first set at Bourbon’s on Jan. 19, Funkfoot burst into one of the most highly recognized beats known to humankind: Stevie Wonder’s 1972 hit “Superstition.” As the deep bwoump-bwoump of the bass line rattled the walls, it became apparent that Merriam-Webster’s fourth definition applied.
Armed with two electric guitars, drums, keyboards, bass and a singer with a remarkably funkified voice, Funkfoot has all the ingredients necessary to cook up a stew of head-bopping beats. At Bourbon’s, they kicked things off with a cover of Stevie Ray Vaughn, whose growling, bluesy vocals were well-mimicked by lead singer/bassist Berns Cote. They followed with three sets that mixed decades-old covers with original tunes.
But Funkfoot has more styles in its arsenal than funk alone. Strains of jazz, blues and rock weave through the songs, amalgamating a variety of influences. Cote said his musical goal is to do for funk what Sublime did for reggae in the 1990s, implementing fresh musical ideas to hook a new generation of listeners.
The musicians themselves are members of that new generation, but are well versed in funk history. Cote, drummer Ashley Rowe, keyboardist Eric Strathmeyer, and guitarists Jeremy Grob and Aaron Johnson would not look terribly out of place in a college dorm room. But each is exceptionally skilled with his instrument, and they meld their music as well as a band that has played together for decades.
......the members of Funkfoot are very comfortable on stage and obviously enjoy what they do. Cote’s deft bass work and bluesy vocals ground the music while other instruments flood in from all angles. Rowe’s pervasive drumming adjusts seamlessly to shifting styles. Switching between his red keyboard and synthesizer, Strathmeyer continually stimulates the audience with music that blends the jazz fusion of Herbie Hancock with the funk and rhythm of Stevie Wonder.
....The band began playing together seriously in 2004, and as they look ahead to 2007 they have an opportunity to truly distinguish themselves from other funk-driven groups.
-Matt Kanner,
The Wire
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