Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Stub Stories #5


GEORGE CLINTON AND THE P-FUNK ALLSTARS

1993. Mike Snee and I met up after work to drive to Greensboro to see George Clinton. I was living in Raleigh at the time so I had to leave straight from work. Greensboro was an hour and a half drive. We made it to the show in time to get our seats before the show started. George Clinton and the P-Funk Allstars took the stage at 8. There were no openning bands. The band was huge. Maybe 10 or so members. One guitarist was wearing a diaper and another was wearing a wedding gown. Clinton had his colorful mane of hair. Every song was an extended jam. Sometimes up to 10-15 minutes long. They played all the hits, "Maggot Brain", "Chocolate City", "Flashlight". 

It was a sort of homecoming for Clinton because he is from North Carolina. At one point he brought members of his family on stage to honor them. It was a party atmosphere and there seemed to be nothing stopping the party. At 11pm the band had been playing for 3 hours and there were no signs of slowing. Finally, at midnight Mike and I threw in the towel. We could not give up the funk anymore. It was time for us to head back to Raleigh. As we walked out of the auditorium George Clinton and the P-Funk Allstars were still playing with no signs of stopping. I don't know how long they kept playing but for all I know they could have still been playing by the time I made it home around 2am. 

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