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Saturday March 10th, Park West, Chicago, IL
Photo Gallery | Setlist | Band Members | Show Review | Download .shns !
Check out LukeW's post show poster!! The Mike Clark show was a huge success! Thanks to everyone for coming out. The vibe at the Park West was phenomenal.
Sugarman 3 got the party started right, Antibalas kicked the energy up, and Mike's Clarks group topped it off with
a precise prescription of old Herbie Hancock tunes and a host of grooving originals by Mike Clark. Talk about
funk medicine, the Prescription Renewal tour was just what the doctor ordered! Check out the review below!!
Setlist
Band Members
For more info on Mike Clark see www.mikeclarkmusic.com. Show Review As the crowd filed in to stake their spots, it was obvious that this was going to be a party done Silver Wrapper style. In typical fashion, people were donning their most funky attire: from beads and sparkles to sunglasses and boas. Dancing to the background music on the way to seats and dance-floor spots, the crowd was as energetic as the music was about to be. At exactly 9:30, the screens went up and lights went down as Sugarman 3 took the stage. A funky, boogaloo band from NYC, Sugarman 3 laid the foundation for the next five hours to come. With a powerful mix of sax and keyboards, the crowd dug the creeping funk that Sugarman 3 brought and screamed for more. A jazz/funk version of Dale Hawkins' "Susie Q" featured a crazy guitar solo, while the tune "Funky 16 Corners" presented a nice even blend of all four musicians, mixing the energy of James Brown-like soul with bluesy guitar riffs. "Soul Donkey," the title track from Sugarman 3's latest album, lent a hard snare sound to the strutting rhythm of high-pitched keys and left the crowding stomping. Adding flute to the mix with "Timberjack" and ending with some seriously tight funk, Sugarman 3 got the party started right for the next 2 bands. With as many people as Antibalas had to fit on stage, it is a wonder they could move the way they did on 3/10. The massive afro-beat band from NYC came out swinging for the Prescription Renewal Tour, picking right up from Sugarman 3's energy and taking it even higher with chanting vocals. Throughout the set the band would yell, "Yeah Yeah!" to be echoed by the crowd, spreading the infectious groove from the floor to the balcony. Every member wore a smile as the band yelled amongst each other and to the audience to get the energy levels flying. Synchronized beats and dance steps from the horn section were backed with snappy percussion and multiple shakers. Dueling congas played alongside an intense lead guitar and a heavy bass. Strong vocals professed lyrics about, "Feeling like you never let your conscience down," and the, "Underground Spirituality," upon which Antibalas is based. With every band member moving, the audience couldn't help but do the same, be it to the afrobeat sounds that Antibalas was producing. Their energy was contagious and the perfect lead-in to the vibes that Mike Clark and his band were soon to send. During set break, the kit was pushed to center stage in preparation for the funk that Mike Clark, original Headhunters drummer, would soon produce. The crowd was shifting, moving closer and tighter in order for a glimpse of the all-star line-up that was the Prescription Renewal Tour. With Mike Clark on drums and Skerik on sax, Charlie Hunter on guitar, Robert Walter on keys, and DJ Logic on turntables, it was a show that would have to be seen as well as heard. Just before the music began, the screens were again dropped to provide some extra viewing pleasure throughout the headlining act. The tune to get the ball rolling was, "Four String Drive," from Mike Clark's "Funk Stops Here," album. Both Clark and Hunter crept in slowly over Logic's steady scratching, with Skerik adding traditional jazz sounds. It didn't take long for this group to get funky, however, as traditional jazz saxophone quickly turned into short blasts of energy urging Walter and Hunter to strengthen the beat. Logic's funky hip-hop scratch plus Clark's cymbal and snare mix built the intensity to a chaotic level, leaving the crowd screaming in praise. A short break in the tune allowed Walter the chance to take over. His trickling keys created a wave that the band could ride. Hunter picked it up with heavy bass sounds and passed it to Logic who gave the audience a taste of dance-your-ass-off trip-hop that made people MOVE. Clark took the force of Logic's beat and put it into his rolling drumsticks, moving faster than the eye could see. Skerik regained control of the tune by turning his out-of-control blasts back to the traditional jazz feel to be given a heavy drum ending by Mike Clark. Slowing it down a bit, Logic began the next tune off by layering beatbox sounds with trippy, spacey voices. The stage turned a milky yellow color as heavy drums and sax added to the smooth groove. For a little on-stage comedy, Skerik played an invisible accordion to match the sounds that Logic produced, while Hunter added pitch-bending sounds from his guitar over Clark's steady rhythm. Robert Walter stepped in to speed the tempo with funk-laden keys, while Logic and Clark began a conversation between instruments. Focusing on Logic's hand movements, Clark began to mimic the sounds of the turntables with his drums. Whatever sound Logic would make, Clark would either add to it or repeat it, adding a new development each time. With closing sax blasts from Skerik, the improvisation and experimentation in this piece earned its title, "Power House." The varying tempo of the next song, entitled, "Stingers," off of Mike Clark's newest album, "Actual Proof," incorporated equal energy from all of the band's members, prompting Clark to add some personal comments at the end. "I'm really proud to be here," he said, "And I'm really glad to be here," as was apparent from the smile that encompassed his face. The Park West show being the 10th night of a 14-day tour, the energy was truly amazing. Bringing the crowd some of what they came to see, the next tune came from Clark's days with Herbie Hancock. "Watermelon Man," was fun for all. Skerik moved his body to the sounds that his instrument emitted while Walter worked hard to emulate the master. Hunter gritted his teeth in a wide and ecstatic smile, Logic danced, and Clark nodded approvingly. Entering an afro-beat sound during the tune, Skerik even beatboxed a little to Logic's turntable magic. Walter created a general feeling of playfulness with his keys while Logic dropped some urban sound to the well-known hit. Mike Clark was left reeling as he pointed to Skerik and Walter asking, "Are they getting funky or WHAT?" Mike Clark's next tune, "Bacon Phat," gave Charlie Hunter the opportunity to show what he can do. His solo was long and much awaited. It was intense and soulful, mixing blues with jazz. Skerik assumed his most famous role as "Music Catalyst" by pushing Hunter to the limit. As Hunter played, Skerik demanded the blues, screaming, "What?! WHAT?!" Leaning closer to provoke Hunter's fingers into flying, Skerik's in-your-face style worked well, encouraging Hunter to emit pure genius. Mike Clark's heavy beats allowed Hunter the perfect platform from which to jump. "After living in New York for 23 years, I've spent a lot of time living in lofts," explained Clark as the band jumped into "Loft Funk." Hunter and Walter complimented each other well amongst the spacey undercurrent of Logic's beat. After erupting into a powerful solo of his own, Logic set up for another killer solo from Mike Clark, who took the tune out with a bang. Switching to a bluesy/jazzy feel, Hunter's "Al Green" was the next song to be performed. Backed by orange lighting and mesmerizing imagery on the screens, Hunter and Skerik produced impressive sounds for this more laid-back tune. Logic remained a factor in the background while Clark lay heavily on the snare. Leading into a cover from Chuck Jackson, "Is There a Jackson in the House?" let Skerik make it funky this time. He even prompted the crowd to chant "Logic" to Logic's impressive spins. A Silver Wrapper highlight had to have been the tune just before the encore, as the band honored a certain Birthday Boy on 3/10, they gave the perfect b-day present: Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon." Following Clark's, Walter's, and Hunter's lead, Skerik was on fire during this one. Blasts of high-pitched notes played with the intensity of the moment. The crowd was electrified, dancing as hard as they'd danced all night, hoping the night wouldn't end. It was a powerful rendition, Logic's inclusion in the mix adding new elements of fusion and funk to an already classic example. Allowing the audience once more chance to dance (trance), the encore consisted of only one song, but a long and incredibly funky one at that. "Viper," also off of Clark's new album, allowed Clark to reintroduce the band in a calm, cool, and jazzy way, erupting eventually into the funk that they'd brought all night. All 5 members were still moving and dancing through the encore, obviously having fun themselves knowing that the crowd was digging it. Clark did individual jams with each member as if to say thank you, and after it was all over, jumped down into the crowd to say thanks to the fans as well. Ending just before 3 am, Silver Wrapper and the Prescription Renewal Tour put forth over 5 hours of invigorating and energizing music.
"We had a great day...partying, hanging out...Silver Wrapper always treats
us well." |
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