Before I even stepped in to Stella Blue the night was buzzing with energy like a noisy street lamp. Under the glow a hoard of participants and spectators gathered for the Friday night drum and dance ritual at Prichard Park. The park nearly overflowed into the streets with sweating bodies. It was one of those nights that reminds you that you live in a special place that people from all over come to visit and taste the culture and the uniqueness that founded the saying “Freakin Asheville”.
As I entered the small club, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band was doing a sound check. My friends had told me that these guys rocked and often toted a “stripper’s pole” with them to their shows for the audience. I was disappointed not to find the stripper’s pole but I could tell from the band’s get up that they were serious about the funk or came prepared to fake it. Fortunately it was the first and not the later.
I was amazed to watch them trade off instruments throughout the set playing mostly originals that raged from dub to full on party funk. The room continued to get packed as more and more patrons drifted in. By the end of their set Yo Mama’s had primed the room for what was to be the best Mike Clark’s Trio I have ever experienced.
I would even go so far as to say that it rivaled many of the members other side projects such as Garage A Trios, and the many other Prescription Renewals that I have been so fortunate to hear and see.
The stage seemed almost empty after Yo Mama’s five plus member’s equipment had been removed. But the sound filled every corner of the room. Yes, Mike Clark had brought the funk and was not going to let his originals fade behind the covers of Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters that had facilitated his journey to the present.
Mike had spent many year touring as the drummer for the Headhunters. Tonight he had bought heavyweight support for his Collective sound.
Skerik manned the horn and a world of effects pedals that warped his wind instruments like Hendrix’s guitar on fire at the Monterrey Pop Festival. As far as I can tell Skerik is known for living outside the box. With his last visit to Asheville with the Dead Kenny Gs I had decided to term his stylings “destruco-jazz”. Tonight that would not hinder the neck breaking rhythms that pulsated from the Trio.
Then there was Mr. Walters. That’s Robert Walters to be exact. Robert to me is one of the few virtuoso organists that stand out today. With one hand often keeping the base rhythm he rules with the right.
Dipping into covers from Herbie to James Brown (and this trio would have made James proud) they really got the place hopping. Sweat poured from my face and by the time the end of the show came I noticed that I hadn’t stopped dancing the whole time and that only one button held my shirt partly closed. As a closer to let you know exactly how masterful these guy are of their instruments I saw throughout the night members of the Yo Mama’s front row hypnotized by skillz. Yes, the Trio had put school in session and funk was the lesson.
