Movie fans who caught “Independence Day” may have been blown away by the film’s gargantuan flying saucer, but if you want to see a real Mothership, check out the upcoming George Clinton/P-Funk All-Stars shows.
That’s right! The Mothership is back!
Logistics permitting, Clinton will attempt to land his legendary interstellar funk module on stage at the Riviera and Star Plaza theaters.
“It’s the 20th anniversary of the Mothership, but we’re still learning to fly this new one,” relates Clinton with a laugh. “A lot of these new venues aren’t big enough. So, the FAA told us we have to come in flying real low.”
When Clinton introduced the huge spaceship facsimile 20 years ago, it was simply the most extravagant element in a stage show already renowned for its flamboyant theatrics, satirical humor and unmatched duration. Two decades later, not much has changed.
Except now Clinton is acknowledged as one of America’s most colorful, imaginative and brilliant artists. With Funkadelic, Parliament and the merged P-Funk ensemble, Clinton has fused rock, rap, psychedelia, funk and an offbeat mythology into an utterly unique sound. Compare it to the Dead, Hendrix, Sun Ra and James Brown, but ultimately it’s like nothing else.
So, why, after 20 years, is the Mothership returning?
“I predicted long ago that the only way P-Funk would make it to the new millennium was if the Mothership returned,” explains Clinton. “The planets align in a weird way every 2,000 years, and when they do, you don’t want to be driving around in any old spaceship.
“In 1996, there’s some bad Nozes (a Clinton term for negative individuals) out there with a bad bag of tricks. They try to make things disagreeable for everyone. But the Mothership has an agreeable mechanism, like a cloaking device. With it, we can navigate our way through the snot and asteroids the Nozes put in our way. It’s going to be one planet under a groove!”
Riviera, 4746 N. Racine Ave. 312-559-1212. They also perform on the 22nd at Star Plaza.
All items by Rick Reger unless otherwise noted.
AC/DC, Saturday at the New World Music Theatre: Before punk, critics slagged these guys as hormone-addled morons with the musical aptitude of bullfrogs. Since punk, they’ve been hailed as earthy keepers of the true rock flame. As the band’s latest record, “Ballbreaker,” proves, AC/DC is both. Heavier than a bulldozer and less conflicted than its alt-rock colleagues, AC/DC triumphs by keeping rock stupid. I-80 and Harlem Avenue, Tinley Park. 708-614-1616.
Isley Brothers, two shows Sunday at the Arie Crown Theatre: Normally, the sight of musicians trying to stay hip in a changing pop landscape is as painful as watching a Cubs’ pennant drive. But the Isleys have adapted to the winds of change for over four decades with a stream of astounding records. On their new hit, “Mission to Please,” Ronald Isley’s honeyed tenor and Ernie Isley’s piquant guitar lines take on ’90s slow-jam soul and conjure up aural ambrosia. Gladys Knight headlines. 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive. 312-559-1212.
Neil Diamond, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at the United Center: OK, so the C&W duds Diamond donned for his most recent record, “Tennessee Moon,” were about as flattering as golf knickers and a tam o’shanter on Coolio. But in an age of lame performers, Neil Diamond still puts on an all-out show. Go for the early hits and wander the halls of Wirtz World when Diamond revs up the schmaltz machine. 1901 W. Madison St. 312-559-1212.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Friday at Jackhammer: Though Jett’s hard-rocking solo career won her some grudging respect, since her fiery comeback album, “Pure and Simple,” and 1995’s “Evil Stig” project, Jett’s been embraced by punks, metal-heads and pop fans alike. Based on last year’s ferocious performance with Evil Stig, Jett sounds as enthusiastic and inspired as ever. 1450 E. Algonquin Rd., Schaumburg. 847-397-7000.
Burning Spear, Saturday at the Cubby Bear: One of reggae’s most revered performers, Burning Spear (aka Winston Rodney) has been crafting a blend of sublime grooves and Rastafarian ideals for over 20 years. While he has always kept his music fresh, Burning Spear has never forsaken the power of rock-steady rhythms or the travails of the world’s oppressed. 1059 W. Addison St. 312-327-1662.
The Melvins, Monday at the Double Door: Though the Melvins can boast past and present members who played with Nirvana and Mudhoney, the trio’s 16-ton ooze is darker, uglier and more unpredictable than anything on “alternative” radio. Somewhere between the lumbering sludge of Black Sabbath and the twisted psychedelia of Syd Barrett, the Melvins play rock like acid-blasted Visigoths. 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave. 312-489-3160.
Luther Allison, Saturday at Buddy Guy’s Legends: If you believe that playing the blues should be more like an exorcism than a genre exercise, Luther Allison is your man. After years on the periphery, Allison has reclaimed his position at the forefront of American blues. His guitar licks are scalding. He sings with the conviction of a master soul shouter. And he writes songs with genuine messages instead of the usual “hey, bartender” tripe. 754 S. Wabash Ave. 312-427-0333.
Neurotic Outsiders, Saturday at the Double Door: Like debauched scions of nobility, the Neurotic Outsiders turn heads for the wrong reasons. Made up of Steve Jones (Sex Pistols), John Taylor (Duran Duran, Power Station), Duff McKagan (Guns n’ Roses) and Matt Sorum (Guns n’ Roses), this “supergroup” scatters lackluster hard rock like wastrels at a gaming table. 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave. 312-489-3160.
J.J. Cale, Friday at the Park West: Though not a household name, this reclusive guitarist has written some of the most recognized pop standards of the last 25 years (“Cocaine,” “After Midnight,” “Crazy Mama”). And his muted, folk-blues sound provided the blueprint for Dire Straits’ signature style. Cale’s new record, “Guitar Man,” gracefully weaves programmed rhythms and keyboards around his pellucid guitar lines, ingratiating hooks and lazy drawl. 322 W. Armitage Ave. 312-559-1212.
The Nomads, Tuesday at the Empty Bottle: These Swedish greaseballs pour out searing riffs with so much ardor and insolence you’ll believe that Vikings brought garage rock to America. Since forming in 1980, the Nomads have evolved from one-dimensional Sonics junkies into torrid, multifaceted rockers. 1035 N. Western Ave. 312-276-3600.
Loud Family, Friday at the Empty Bottle: Like Canadian bacon and pineapple pizza, experimental-pop music sounds like a combo conceived in hell — at least until you try it. With his first band, Game Theory, and now with Loud Family, Scott Miller has brilliantly merged Beatles-worthy pop melodies with odd meters, tape effects and so on. Loud Family’s dazzling new record, “Interbabe Concern,” merits a spot in the trophy case for its heady, charming and totally rocking pop chamber works. 1035 N. Western Ave. 312-276-3600.
His Name Is Alive, Saturday at Schubas: Though he once played for the unforgettable Elvis Hitler, Warren Defever now performs as His Name Is Alive. With his hermitlike habits and studio savvy, Defever is a kind of low-budget Phil Spector, concocting eccentric, minutely detailed pop songs fetchingly sung by bandmate Karin Oliver. HNIA’s new record, “Stars on E.S.P.,” is a haunting sprinkle of pop dewdrops in homage to Brian Wilson, Alex Chilton and ’60s AM radio. 3159 N. Southport Ave. 312-525-2508.
