Bootsy Collins @ Le Trianon, Paris - February 20th, 2014

Bootsy is the man. He's a cool, funky cat and his bass playing is a big part of some of the funkiest songs we all know and love. Sex Machine. Soul Power. Super Bad. P-Funk Wants To Get Funked Up. Funkentelechy. Bootzilla. Give Up The Funk. One Nation Under A Groove. Stretchin' Out (In A Rubber Band). This man is a groove machine and his shows are a funky party where The One reigns supreme. 

If you came here to sit on your ass and watch him play, you're out of luck pal. You're here to dance, motherfucker. It's not like you have a choice: your feet and your ass are moving whether you want them to or not.

For the past few years, our man Casper seems content to just play the role of singer/ringleader and leaves most of the bass playing to other people. Not that he puts his Space-Bass away, mind you. But he prefers to slap it with his fingers while his fretting hand palm-mutes the strings. The auto-wah effect still gives it that trademark funky popping sound but most of the actual notes are played by other players, disappointingly.

It's an odd choice, because when he does play, like on the Mutronic solo on I'd Rather Be With You, he rips. Like a Jimi Hendrix of the funk bass.

The gig was a celebration of all things funk, a great evening of legendary tunes and deep, deep grooves. It's jut a shame Bootsilla's bass playing wasn't a little more on display. After all, it's a big reason why the crowd had gathered here last night. But hearing all those great tunes played by those great musicians decked out in crazy costumes is always a party. And as we all know, there ain't no party like a P-Funk party.