concert_goer | Parliament Funkadelic feat. George Clinton @ Calvin Simmons Theater, Oakland, CA, USA, 04/25/2025

George Clinton does not want to retire so his circus is touring again, making a stop at the recently reopened Calvin Simmons Theater near Lake Merritt in Oakland. The band opened with (Not Just) Knee Deep, unfortunately the sound close to the stage turned out flat, muddy, and even somewhat cacophonic. Hopefully it was better further back. I don't think the venue was a good fit for P-Funk. I would love to see them in a small club, like at the Independent in 2017 and 2018, though that is not very realistic these days, so I would have preferred an outdoor space like last year in Napa.

The band's energy, though, was great. They delivered a set of more than two hours, similar to the Napa show, though this time the collection of songs felt less enjoyable because of the sound issues. There were highlights, including solid versions of Pole Power and Get Low, a fantastic Maggot Brain with a great guitar solo by Michael Hampton, the electrifying anthem Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker), and Atomic Dog.

It was fun overall. And the freaks did not disappoint either. Though honestly, I feel like I could have skipped this show.