It had been quite a while since I last saw Leeds Funkateers Flat Moon. In fact it was back in August 2021 when they stepped in to replace YouVee supporting TommyRot at the Vaults in York. So have they got better, stayed the same, got worse? Read on to find out dear reader, because first I need to tell you about the two rather splendid support acts.
First up it was the always delightful Gents and Ginger. I reviewed their album ‘Githerments In Groove’ 18 months ago. Sadly it was just the Gents as Ginger was unwell. But they didn’t let that deter them. They were still cranking the funk dial up high with some dirty, lowdown, bluesy bass heavy jams. I love how this lot are not afraid to use the space between the notes too. At times they reminded me of the early days of iconic Scottish funksters the Average White Band. Their cover of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” really got the whole room grooving.
Next up it was No Cameo from Leeds. This was funk rock with a hard edge or perhaps math rock on speed. I sensed an occasional nod to the Red Hot Chili Peppers too. The band’s new single “Win A Fortune”is a sonic nuclear explosion with the power to wipe out a small country. No Cameo signed a record deal earlier in the day with the same label that Flat Moon are signed to. Their music won me over easily, but the band chanting “fuck the far right” sealed the deal!
Finally it was time for Flat Moon. This was a fiery, funky mix of the likes of Parliament, Funkadelic and Pigbag. A truly funkbustible combination. Flat Moon can move, they can groove and they can fucking party too! They played a new song (something about a layby I think) which was very special indeed with elements of James Brown and Sly Stone. Can white boys sing the blues? (To paraphrase Deacon Blue). Possibly but this bunch can outfunk the best of them! But it is not just the funk, their salsa and Latin beats are so authentic I thought that I was back in Cuba. The band did a great ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ skit in the set and it was on a par with classic US comedy show Saturday Night Live from the 1970s. Has there ever been a funk mosh circle before? I have no idea, but there fucking is now!
It was also good to see so many members of great bands past and present in the audience. I bumped into members of Sweeping Statement, Heartsink, Punk Ass Kids, Vagabond and the now sadly departed Everything After Midnight. What a fantastic night!
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