George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic Land at Stage AE; Pens vs. Jets (Thurs., 2/16/17)

1) George Clinton has been on a musical journey of exploration for many years. He started out in a doo-wop group called The Parliaments, modeled after Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, while working in a hair salon. Then he became a writer, arranger, and producer for Motown Records before working for other Detroit musical companies. As the leader of Parliament-Funkadelic, he was one of the top innovators of funk music, along with James Brown and Sly Stone. Combining music like that of Brown, Stone, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, and others with different sounds and lyrical arrangements and a big dose of funky bass and drums, Clinton came up with an outline for his sound. This led to massive success for him in the ’70s with “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)” and “Flash Light,” among others.

It would also be remiss if Clinton’s creativity with shows, lyrics, titles, and costumes was not mentioned. He even had a spaceship that he called his Mothership, which descended to the stage at concerts. Parliament-Funkadelic also had an album called The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein, which later spawned the Clinton-produced female funk group, The Brides of Funkenstein. His concerts are fun events. Clinton has been primarily a solo artist since the ’80s but periodically collaborates with others. His latest release, 2015’s P-Funk Live at Metropolis, is remarkably his fifth live album. Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic will usher in Mardis Gras at Stage AE. A George Clinton Mardis Gras party, bon ton roulet! Doors open at 7 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. 

2) The Pens are playing a home game at PPG Paints Arena tonight against the Winipeg Jets. Next up is an away game tomorrow against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Pens are currently residing in third place in the NHL Metropolitan Division behind the Washington Capitals and the Columbus Blue Jackets.  7 p.m. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown.

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