As this popular internet meme so adeptly illustrates, there is a big difference between what a touring band actually does, and what society and the band members' mothers and lovers think that they do.
Some members of society may be even more prone to projecting fantasies onto a band named Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band. No doubt, they are living the fun life, right? Right.
Also though, they are working their asses off. "There is a little bit of a myth that being in a band on tour has all this glamor to it," says saxophonist Greg Hollowell. In reality, says Hollowell and the meme, the band spends lots of time doing stuff other than playing music, which is the activity that keeps their personal wheels rolling down the road.
"I can definitely speak for everybody," Hollowell continued, "when I say that we really love performing, playing music. We love interacting in that way with each other and our audiences."
Funk musicians make an especially friendly offering as they perform. There is something inherent to that particular style of music that wants everybody it touches to loosen up, let go, and have fun. There is something healing about that.
"People have stress in their lives," says Hollowell, "I have stress in my life. It's cool to just get together and let loose. You know, that kind of thing."
He went on to quote Dr. Funkenstein himself:
"I think George Clinton said it best. He said 'Funk cannot only move, funk can remove.'"
In order to keep the healing funk flowing, Booty Band does what it has to do, which is hard work in addition to loose playing. Both of these complementary activities shine through on the band's recently released sophomore album, appropriately named Doin' It Hard, which is available on a pay-what-you-want basis over on their Bandcamp page.
The album is full of life, and shows a band that is dedicated and disciplined, as well as fun spirited and genuinely...funky. As to what it is to be funky, or what The Funk really is, that may be a subjective thang, as James Brown may put it. Hollowell's response to the question of what the funk is suggests that for him and his band, it is something elusive, yet essential.
"I don't know what to say about what the funk is. It's kinda how we talk."
If you feel generous enough to offer your booty some shake time, you ought to head to Funky Biscuit Thursday to join in the funkalicious conversation with these cats, a group of true funkernauts.
Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band. 8 p.m. Thursday, April 5 at Funky Biscuit, 303 SE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. Admission costs $12. Click here.
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