2006-10-07T18:25:00.000-05:00

FunkFest: Greetings Funky People! Now that the dust has settled post FunkFest, I'd like to share some of the highlights! First, a very heartfelt thanks to Papa Mali for helping me to put together the Papalactic AftaBlasta and also for being my friend and advisor on this project. Next I want to send big luv to all the artists who contributed to these series of aftershows in Austin Texas during the 2006 Austin City Limits music festival. Working with you all was an incredible experience.

The line up was stellar, in order of appearance over three nights: Big Sam's Funky Nation, Topaz, A Papalactic AftaBlasta w/ Stanton Moore (drums), Papa Mali (guitar), Rob Mercurio (bass), Rich Vogel (keys) and special guests: Cyril Neville, Scrappy Judd, Topaz, Ari Dvorin,; The Greyhounds and the grand final w/ The Stanton Moore Trio w/ Robert Walter & Will Bernard, Special Guests: Ivan Neville, Papa Mali and Trombone Shorty....Needless to say, it took my breath way. Now somewhat recovered, I ponder the next possible projects! Someone...please help me find my sanity....?

How FunkFest started: Once upon the 2005 JazzFest I was visiting with our krewe's grand pu pah, Robb Barker. Over a cold beer, we wished for more late-night funk-groove oriented shows in Austin Texas around ACL. Katrina hit, a year went by, and many musicians sought solace and work in Austin. Austin Texas known for its blues, roots and a hub for creativity on so many levels, embraced this renewal in the genre. Unknown to me at that time, funk had made its mark in Austin many years before and sort of waned except for the occasional road shows. What happened was an influx of funk influence, a sort of resurgance in light of the rebirth beginning to happen in New Orleans. Perhaps it isn't 'official' but I see Austin as a sister city to New Orleans and vice versa when it come to musical collaborations and sharing of talent.

So, when ACL went mostly the Alt/Rock/Indie/Folk/Pop route, our krewe agreed this would be an opportune time to roll out FunkFest as a complement to ACL. Although largely sparse in the funk, groove, boogaloo, swamp hoodoo flavors of music, a few favorite bands still performed at ACL such as Galactic, Greyhounds, New Orleans Social Club and more.

The lights went on, the Excel spreadsheets evolved and the idea was to recreate the magic of the late night shows that ocur during the New Orleans Jazz Festival. The next thing I new we had built a FunkFest around a nice lineup of professional sponsors. Essentially I produced and promoted my first ever live music shows. You can view the FunkyBatz Electronic Press Kit at http://amfmstudios.com/funkybatz/

As luck would have it, the shows were widely attended and we even sold out the PapalacticAfta Blasta on Saturday night!

Now....to top this!

2006-07-10T21:46:00.000-05:00

Greetings to the Reader

It is amazing how ideas materialize and end up being typed on a blog website. This is my first attempt to blog. What is a blog to me? At the 2006 SXSW Interactive Conference I sat with hundreds of other folks probably asking this simple question. To blog or not to blog? If I blog, who will read my blog and do I really care if anyone reads my blog?

So, I will use this blog to help create and materialize the vision for FunkyBatz. What is FunkyBatz? At first, it was me dressed up as a bat chick with a vinyl fetish on Halloween. Little pasties covering my little boobies, black vinyl, platform boots and funk in my soul. Galactic was performing at Stubbs that night and of course I was headed for the show. Yes, I live in Austin Texas where the roots of blues runs in the veins of all, even hard ass metal freaks and those they spawn... Funk has its origins,Wild Tchoupitoulas, The Meters.... but of recent, the genre has begun to grow, birth and create a groove that doesn't quite end. "Groovin All Night" is the way I feel when I witness Funk. The way I feel when my booty is shaking and grinding. New Orleans Funk, Mardi Gras Indians, Africa, Jamaica, rhythms and tones, electrifying jazz and most very danceable. Funk should be capitalized, literally. A capital "F".

Funk for me started at my first MOFRO show at the Old Point Bar in New Orleans at least 5 years ago. My friends popped my Jazz Fest cherry that year and since then, I was hooked like an addict. Like carbs to a person on the Adkins diet. Each night after the Fest, resting just enough to rise and grab a cab, a cocktail and a friend, we rally to the 'late night' and afterparty shows. Funk wasn't lost on this Texas girl. The greasy grooves, trade off of lead between sax, Hammond B3, jazz guitar, bass and drums in the most melodic grooves, down and dirty rifs, create a sense of "please don't stop" feelings in my soul. If only I could play that way, but in reality I'm happy to be a professional fan. So night after night we repeat this drill, crash and burn just to do it again night after night. So, what just is Funk one may ask? Well, you just gotta experience it to really know what Groovin All Night is. Most people learn about it at the New Orleans Jazz Fest, some are lucky and have local grooves. I aim to bring more Funk to the world.

Tonight in Austin Texas I'm typing this blog after finishing an accounting project. Not too long ago I read a tidbit written by a famous promoter. One word of advice he offered "Skip advanced accounting and go for your dreams".... Well, I did not skip advanced accounting and went as far to make a living doing accounting, but I also had a love for entertainment and music. I want to make a difference and somehow it will relate to Funk.

Living in Austin Texas makes us all kin to millions of migratory bats. They actually live under the Congress bridge in downtown Austin. I envision these bats to love Funk. They come out at night looking for the groove; to feed, mate, love. Not unlike us who love Funk. FunkyBatz is about Funk, spreading the love of Funk and being Funky in every way. FunkyBatz is about creating more Funk for others. To love Funk is to be Funky.

Groovin All Night will be continued as FunkyBatz flys into the world to report on the world of Funk.

Goodnight you Batz!

FunkyBatz Groovin All Night