Bootsy Collins & the Funk University @ Tipitina’s – 6/15/11

Bootsy Collins @ Tipitina's - Photo © Julia Pretus

We Gonna Funk This Motha To The Ground

There simply, and unfortunately, is only one Bootsy Collins. If the man were cloned and multiple funk robots roamed the galaxy, we may have something to worry about. Things may just get a little too weird and bippity-bop-bop-you-don’t-stop noise might oversaturate the airwaves and turn this world into a funked-up land where everyone wanders the earth with stars in their eyes and funk in their heart (this is actually starting to sound ok to me).

I digress – luckily for us, the possessor of THE FUNK himself Bootsy Collins currently running around with his latest incarnation – Bootsy Collins & the Funk University – touring in support of a new record aptly titled Tha Funk Capital of the World (should be the title of the tour if it isn’t already), enrolling fans nationwide in his Funk University on a nightly basis and bringin’ the kind of triple-bass funk action seldom seen anywhere else. His stop at Tipitina’s on the heels of a buzzed-about Bonnaroo set marked a long-awaited return to THE Funk Capital of the World and it was clear from the get-go that even a place largely built on funk music was poorly equipped to handle this kind of ruckus Bootsy and Friends were bringing, covering Jimi, Sly and of course, the set was packed full of George Clinton and Parliament/Parliament Funkadelic favorites – nearly bumpin’ the yellow house on Napoleon & Tchoup into orbit.

Bootsy arrived to the stage after a good 7-8 minutes of Funk U delivering the hotness instrumental. The man of the hour came dapped out in black and gold, immediately letting it be known that this wasn’t gonna be your ordinary Wednesday night affair. Even familiar hits were given a little bit of weird, and a run through a Jimi-styled “National Anthem > Purple Haze” was immediately followed by the always smokin’ “Red Hot Mama,” a song appropriately led by Bernie Worrell. Digs on Parliament staples “Flash Light” and the “Mothership Connection” turned the packed house on it’s side – one that was notably filled with the likes of Big Sam, Leo Nocentelli Papa Mali & Ian Neville – always a sign that you’re in the right place when local musicians are in attendance, acting like wide-eyed fan boys for a night. The funk was red hot, the joint was transformed – here’s hoping that Bootsy and Co. will come back from their galaxy for a Jazz Fest late night in the not-too-distant future. Now that would really be something.

Continue on for a full photo gallery and extensive video from the show.