Funktion
Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States | SELF
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One thing that always impresses me is when a band shows great range in their sound. What I think of as range is the ability to either, a) bring influences from many genres together in one sound or, b) play songs coming from a variety of genres over the course of a show. I guess one could see switching genres from song to song as a lack of focus. But not me. I enjoy when a band can shift gears and introduce a completely new sound at every junction. And that is exactly what Funktion does. Ironically enough, the last show I experienced like this came from another Michigan band, The Ragbirds, at the same venue, The Elbo Room. There must be some kind of kickass music potion in the water in Michigan.
he Elbo Room carried a nice number of people for a Thursday night. And in spite of the short 60 minute set, Funktion brought a diverse bunch of jams. Obviously funk is a huge part of what this band does. Funk is the sinew that holds this band together, but it also showed up in bursts all over the show. The beginning of the set brought an original tune called "Step Into It." During the middle of the set they nailed a cover of James Brown's "Sex Machine." Then "Funk Year" landed in the end of the set. These songs were all very, very funky. There was even a song that I knew was original, but it felt like it was a cover of a 70s funk standard. "Whatchu Gonna Do" had that perfect boogie energy with a throwback sound that not many bands are pulling off these days. From every angle, Funktion are masters of The Funk.
But like I said, it wasn't all funk. There were a couple of songs that had just a thread of funk left after being slowed-down and sexed-up. Both "All My Love" and "Do For You" were so seductively funky I'd say it reached into R&B territory. Shrock and Massey took a lead vocal each and offered up buttery smooth vocals as well as some easy-going raps. There's no doubt about it, these songs should definitely get bedroom play time.
Dirty funk, sexy R&B... shreddy space jams?! Oh yes. The highlights of the set for me were two songs that also maintained the funky undercurrent but generated intense jam sections. My favorite song of the night was "All I Got." It was the 3rd song but it could have been the finale for me. It had a gut-rumbling bassline, spacy squelching synths, and an aggressive guitar element that generated powerful energy. An explosion in the funk-chemistry laboratory. It was a true rager. Like The Twin Cats or Euforquestra, when Funktion does this explosive-funk thing, they do it incredibly well and get people shredding the dancefloor. They brought this energy back with the final song, "Jerk Out." Sean Reisig laid the foundation for this jam with a rhythm that felt like it belonged on the Autobon. The cadence of his beat was almost impossible but Conway dumped a load of slapbass over the top to round out the rhythm. All the while Heymoss was busy blasting off some fiery guitar licks. But that wasn't even the best part...
To end the song and the set, Jeremy Reisig stepped to the front of the stage and went completely apeshit. I have no idea how this guy has this much energy. He was behind his plethora of percussion devices the whole show, bouncing & bounding around while singing along with all of the lyrics. It's like he was in the crowd of his favorite band. But somehow, even at the end of the show, he had enough juice left to erupt in a downpour of hand drum rhythms. Dude threw down ridiculously hard. Red Bull should probably sponsor this guy, I think he's got wings.
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- Chicago Jam Scene
Smooth as silk and funky as it gets. Kalamazoo's Funktion -- Andrew Schrock, Nate Heymos, Rob Hodge, Randy Gist, Terrence Massey, Sean and Jeremy Reisig -- strides confidently out of the box on its debut like a seasoned veteran.
- The Grand Rapids Press
What's the deal with Kalamazoo?
The city can't seem to help itself when it comes to providing musical talent: 2009 West Michigan Idol winner Cassandra Weekley, season 8 "American Idol" fifth-place finalist Matt Giraud and success-bound funk/soul/jam band Funktion all claim Kalamazoo ties.
Seven-member band Funktion, whose kinetic live performances are fueled by an upbeat, dance-inducing vibe that includes hints of hip-hop and jazz, will celebrate the release of its debut CD, "Funk Prelude," Saturday during a release party in Billy's Lounge.
Lead vocalist Andrew "Schrockalicious" Schrock said each of the band's shows is unique.
"There (are) a lot of different things that happen on stage," he said. "We're just sincerely having a good time. We're not trying. We hope that's infectious."
Added percussionist Jeremy "Brotha James" Reisig, who joined the lineup in May: "I think our live show has elements to it that are more about the energy from each individual person ... (and) you'll get a good taste of high-quality musicianship."
Schrock's vocals range from speaking voice to a singing style that calls to mind a mixture of Jamiroquai's sassy, clean funk and even Giraud's soulfulness.
The group is rounded out by Sean "Spoony Love" Reisig (drums), Nate "Nasty Nate" Heymoss (guitar), Terrence "Trademark" Massey (trumpet), Randy "Randroid 3000" Gist (alto/tenor sax) and Rob "Big Bottom" Hodge (bass).
The members, who played with now-defunct Deep Blue Underground or The Wealtherly Band, were looking for another project after their groups disbanded.
What followed was primarily a funk cover band, formed in 2007. A horn section was added to the mix in 2008.
And since then, they've been honing their sound with mostly originals now played at gigs.
Typical shows might consist of 70 percent originals and 30 percent funk covers performed their way.
"It's funk music. It's a combination of all the musical elements we're all influenced by," Schrock said, adding there also is a strong sense of rock 'n' roll influenced by a rhythm section. "Dance music. It's dance music, when it comes down to it."
- The Grand Rapids Press
Out of Kalamazoo, Funktion offers soul-tinged blues on this, their debut release. Andrew Schrock does a nice job with the vocals, sometimes doing it soulfully, such as on "Hypnotyze" and sometimes doing it hip-hop style, such as on the title track. Horn solos abound, but are kept tastefully short, such as Terrence Massey's trumpet solo on "#4". Funky soul can be had on the track "Funk Spot" and on the slightly slower "Make You See". All in all, this is a fine debut album of dance floor-filling, radio-friendly blues. Rebecca Ruth
- WYCE 88.1 FM
Discography
"Step Into It" - Sophomore Album Released in May '11
"Funk Prelude" - Debut LP Released in August '09
"Live on Some Kind of Jam" - Two Live Sessions Recorded in Kalamazoo's WIDR studios
Photos
Bio
Funk is an amorphous substance, able to mold itself to a variety of emotions and environments. It consists of all the things we know and composes all the things we feel. It’s the stuff that jiggles in our spine, the thing that rumbles in our belly. It’s the stuff crammed between our toes and the matter jammed between our ears. Funk lives in all of us—its path traces the globe and its roots dig back to traditional campfire rhythms and primal soul vibrations. If you’ve experienced life at all until this point, you’ve come across at least one mutation of the entity of funk.
Luckily for us there is a band that can show us all the branches of funk. No matter what frequency your eardrums vibrate at, the sonic eruption from Kalamazoo based Funktion will dose them at the right waves per second. It could be the silky smooth R&B that gets you. Or maybe it’s the cool island dub rhythms that grab your ears. Then again it might be the rowdy hip-hop flavor that seizes your attention. But if none of that snatches your marbles, the unhinged, guitar-fueled fireball of funk will surely do the trick. Any way you slice it, if you’ve got a pair of ears, Funktion will unwrap something for them to chew on.
But don’t show up to a live show unless you’ve come to get down; this stuff is additive-free, high-octane dance fuel. And due to the fact that Funktion’s sole mission in life is to make you shake your booty, trying to stand still might cause you a few problems. You see, the human body simply isn’t equipped to deal with this much raw musical energy in the stationary position. The only way to withstand this tidal wave of sound is to get loose, get down with your bad self, and feel that groove out on the floor. Ride that funky wave out, because the only thing that could bring it to an end is last call. But then there’s always the next night’s last call in another city just down the road…
"Funktion has the incredibly ability to light up any room they play. Their watertight funk is the ultimate blend of skill and soul, and is sure to rock you inside and out."
– Meg Alexander, West Michigan Noise
(Review of Live show….) "Funktion came out and brought the heat. They broke open the cage of a genetically modified creature of funk. It had that classic 70s Funk vibe with a distorted electric & bass guitar edge. It was a dangerously funky dance party."
– Jeremy Frazier, Chicago Jam Scene
(Speaking of “Funk Prelude”)… "The jazzy, hip-hop-laced funk from this Kalamazoo/Grand Rapids eight-piece flows like musical honey on this stellar debut."
- John Sinkevics, The Grand Rapids Press
"In Funktion, one can hear the classic elements of great funk music. Tight syncopated rhythms, playful upbeat grooves, soulful vocals, jazzy overtones, sophisticated arrangements, expressive solos, and contagious horn parts are all there…"
- Sean Conlon, IN Michiana Magazine
"Funktion lives up to their name with a setlist and sensibility influenced by many of the biggest names in - what else? – funk."
- Kristi Kates, Northern Express
"An electrifying mix of soul, jazz, rock and hip-hop."
– Beth Milligan, MyNorth.com
"Funktion is one of the newest, most promising acts to come out of Kalamazoo. They are talented, energetic, and really know how to get the crowd going. Attending one of their live performances isn't just a live music show, but a live music experience."
– Amy Hoffman, Booking Agent @ Bell’s Brewery
"Kinetic live performances are fueled by an upbeat, dance-inducing vibe that includes hints of hip-hop and jazz... with soulful vocals reminiscent of Jamiroquai's sassy, clean funk."
– Racheal Recker, The Grand Rapids Press
“Take one part intricate R&B-esque melodies over six parts funky music, add a dash of lyrical pizazz and stellar musicianship and what do you get? Kalamazoo's premiere funk group, Funktion….
– KalamazooNoise.com
"Funktion, the 7-man band based in Kalamazoo, MI, delivers their dare-you-not-to-dance blend of funk and soul with a hip-hop beat that isn’t afraid to straddle genres – including rock and jazz. This lends to a gritty and some times flat-out rambunctious flavor in their live shows. Whether they’re entertaining in a small basement bar or a Chicago club, the rhythm section lays down a skillful, yet simple groove, while up from the center comes a shockwave of energy from the driving percussion and soulful vocals. Don’t worry, the horn line isn’t just for show. They provide slinky, yet powerful grooves, subtle vocal harmonizing and when the mood strikes, some dance moves that beg the audience to join them. Funktion’s high-energy performances are as intoxicating as whatever’s on tap. Night after night their live shows bring the kind of soul-stirring experience usually reserved for Sunday mornings."
- Emily Haines, Freelance Writer Kalamazoo
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