Dumpstaphunk: the funkiest band to visit Tigerland

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By Kristina Stafford

Ivan Neville's (son of the ever-popular Aaron Neville), Dumpstaphunk (pronounced Dumpsta-funk) has been shaking up the funk scene since 2005. With dirty, nasty funk, and unbelievable talent, Dumpstaphunk - who hails from New Orleans - is entertainment at its finest.

Drawing off of some unorthodox inspirations, Dumpstaphunk produces an unforgettable live performance. Their love of funk shines through their instruments, and creates a great party atmosphere.

"Our music has a special feel. We are the funkiest band that you will ever see. You will not be able to stop yourself from moving. We are an absolutely all-around fun band. A lot of surprises and spontaneity are in store at each show," Neville explained.

Dumpstaphunk even trade instruments during shows, and sometimes the band has two bassists going at once. Add to that the fact that all four band members produce vocals, and it is apparent that talent, not trash, oozes out of this dumpster. This may help explain how, in an era where funk seems to be fading out, Dumpstaphunk just keeps getting bigger.

"What sets us apart from most funk bands is that we are sticking it out. It doesn't hurt that all four of us can sing, either. Our vocals, in my opinion, are killer. The music is also extra funky given that we have two bass players. The double bass really adds to the funk sound. We also know each other very well, which helps. We have great chemistry," Neville said of the band's success.

No funk band could be complete without outrageous inspiration and material to go along with those quirky beats. In addition to their pleasantly outlandish instrumentals, the subject matter of their songs adds a whimsical layer to their music. "Meanwhile," one of Neville's favorite songs right now, shows just how bizarre the song-writing process can be on the funk scene.

"'Meanwhile' is one of my favorite songs, and has a pretty funky meaning. We wrote it about a year after Katrina. We were angry, but we wanted to make fun of the situation. Basically, the song says that sh*ts f*cked up, so you might as well have a good time. We had no idea what we were going to do when we went into the studio. We put a couple ideas together to produce 'Meanwhile.' We played the song once or twice, at the most, and then it was recorded," Neville admitted.

Another of Neville's favorite songs, "She's Music," is also particularly funky.

"We wanted to write a funky ass love song about the perfect girl. The song is about if music was the girl, she would be the perfect girl," Neville laughed.

Dumpstaphunk shows can quickly turn into small riots, as the band feeds off of the fans, and vice versa. With the explicit goal of "ushering in the new age of funk," as the band fervently proclaims, each show is bursting with super-wild, contagious energy.

"The energy is from the fans, the funkier the fans are, the funkier we get," Neville explained.

Get ready for some crucially nasty funk this weekend, as Dumpstaphunk takes the Bogie's stage Friday, November 6. For more information on the show, call Bogie's at 225-766-4241.

Originally Published: Issue 822 - November 4, 2009

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