Muscle Shoals Meets the 70s rewind

Part 12: Whole lot of rhythm going 'round

Remember that time the Godfather of Shoals hip-hop sauntered across the historic Shoals Theatre stage and gave us what we wanted? GMANE gave us what we needed, too. In true George Clinton fashion, GMANE/Geoffrey Robinson parked his Mothership in Florence, Alabama and got busy funkifying the Muscle Shoals Meets the 70s audience, y'all. I move that we vote GMANE our Secretary of Fine Arts – who here will second that motion?

After a whirlwind tour of the 70s featuring every genre imaginable, this last song of night two, set one of MSM the 70s had us happily mustering all of our energy to obey Parliament and “Give Up the Funk.” Are you with me out there?

GMANE led the house party and the Shoals Theatre balcony had the Mothership connection, no doubt. That balcony crowd was feeling the funk, friends – they were definitely turning it out and the rest of us were hustling to keep up. What a glorious celebration, friends. Mercy, though, we needed an intermission break after that groovy workout. Turning the mother out is hard work these days for us old people.

Y'all! Angela Hacker was giving up the funk singing backup with the Shoals Sisters! Angela, Marie Lewey, Cindy Walker, and Andrew Granlund were funking it up stage left then across the way, we had those funky Polyester Horns – Brad Guin, Drew White, and Ricky Burks – tearing off the roof. Those funky Fiddleworms were funking up center stage with GMANE in his sunglasses – it’s the law, don't cha know – out front leading all the funky people. This prolific member of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame is a Shoals native and is the OG rap and hip-hop authority in North Alabama. Not only is GMANE a valuable member of the Shoals music community and an incomparable talent, we can always count on him to bring the funk.

Let's get one thing straight – if I don't do anything else of note in this lifetime, I will absolutely stand tall and give up the funk. Radio raised me and every Friday as far back as I remember, has been Funkadelic and let it be so until the end of time. P-Funk is perhaps my oldest and dearest friend, y'all. I was 6 years old when P-Funk first found me via a compilation album. By the way, "Flashlight" is still on repeat in the soundtrack of my life. A week rarely goes by that George and I don't commensurate and funk it up.

Oh, hey … Shoals music scene lore teaches us that Parliament-Funkadelic performed at the University of North Alabama back in the day. That's right, P-Funk at UNA. So cool. Who was there?

Put your hands together, y'all. Party! Hey Bootsy! Hey Sly! Everybody! Life is too short, friends. Always give up the funk.

Now, that’s the way to close out a set, y’all. I love you, CC. Let's do it again.

Stay tuned ... more to come.

Dig Worms.

Photo by Devona Hawkins