The weather is perfect, concession attendants are setting out the kettle corn and Kuncocshun staffers are yelling into their walkie-talkies as the Theory of Funkativity drives across the field. Two beat-up compacts and an SUV roll right over the power cords before coming to a stop, and Theory’s four members step out to face a beefy, belligerent and bald technician with a rock star’s nonchalance.
Student vocalist Pat Cleary, guitarist Michael Perl, bassist Kyle Burkle and drummer Sean Brust aim beyond stardom: They sat down and told me they want everyone to ‘start listening to good music again.’ No more machine, they said, cranking out hits you’ll forget a month later.
Apparently, Theory’s up-tempo funk-rock is the good music that’s going to save the world. As technicians sound-check with No Doubt’s ‘Hella Good,’ a funk revolution sounds pretty good.
Confidence isn’t an issue for Theory ‘mdash; equipment is. When they arrived to Koncocshun, they were told there were no drum mics, no extension cords and that they would need to move their equipment off the stage afterward so the student orgs could dance.
With his right hand hidden from the bearer of bad news, drummer Sean Brust pulls the wanker.
They’ve got good reason to be confident: Their self-titled release is a bona fide groove, with choruses aspiring to the freshness of idols the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Hip-swinging joints ‘Something to Say’ and ‘Clean Cut’ have plenty of attitude, and could easily be local-radio staples. Pulling out blistering solos whenever the rest of the band unchains him, Perl makes good on the band’s promise to follow in the footsteps of Jimi Hendrix.
Live, though, that confidence is a vice. Perl thrashes and tweaks like Scooby-Doo on meth instead of snacks, unloading so much energy through the speakers that the groove is easily lost. For his part, Cleary refuses to leave the spotlight, and spends the solos leaning on Perl’s shoulder like Axl and Slash.
But they have their moments: At Kuncocshun, their cover of the Peppers’ ‘Give It Away’ drew everyone on the field, and when Cleary held the mic out to the crowd for the chorus, they yelled just as loud as if for the Peppers themselves.