Photos: George Clinton’s ‘Symphonic PFunk’ takes over Detroit Opera House – Detroit Metro Times

Everything about George Clinton’s “Symphonic PFunk: Celebrating the Music of Parliament Funkadelic” concert at the Detroit Opera House Saturday night was more about what it wasn’t than what it was. This wasn’t a legacy artist simply cramming the first verse of his biggest hits into a 90-minute performance. This wasn’t an aging performer candidly going through the motions of his catalog for the sake of his cult following. This also wasn’t a swan song for Clinton (84), who promised he’s not going anywhere.

This was a well-curated, high-octane, get-out-ya-seat celebration of P-Funk, 50 years of the landing of the mothership, and the CEO of it all: Mr. George Clinton.

“Symphonic PFunk” featured not only Clinton himself but a 44-piece orchestra, soul-funk pioneer Nona Hendryx, R&B singer Rahasaan Patterson, Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid, and about a dozen of Clinton’s regular bandmates. It was the first time Clinton’s music had ever been orchestrated and celebrity conductor Ray Chew arranged the 15-song score and presided over it all from a podium. 

From the beginning of the night you knew this wasn’t going to be a typical George Clinton concert. A bit past 8 p.m., a digital avatar of Clinton appeared on a LCD screen on the back part of the stage and Clinton walked out as the band played “P-Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up).” 

The most unique aspect about the concert was that it felt like a good ole P-Funk jam session rather than this layered ensembled event. The orchestra was more of a background accompaniment while Clinton and his crew provided the funk. At times Clinton performed songs, other times he played hype man to his fellow bandmates, and he sat down during times while his special guests did the heavy lifting. Hendryx conjured up the funk spirits singing “Mothership Connection,” Patterson powered through “Flash Light” and “Aqua Boogie,” and both Reid along with Garrett Shider were spectacular on guitar. 

The night ended with a dynamic rendition of “Atomic Dog” (considered Clinton’s biggest hit). The performance featured several shirtless stepping and stomping members of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, who pretty much took over the stage.  The frat made “Atomic Dog” their theme song back in the 1980s. 

The show ended at about 10:30. Clinton said he was going to tear the roof off the Opera House, and that’s exactly what he did.

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