George Clinton will headline the Major Activities Board (MAB) Summer Breeze concert to be held Saturday, May 20 in Hutchinson Courtyard. Hip-hop artist RJD2 and folk singer Dar Williams will also perform.
The acts were announced at the Hype event “An Evening of Art” last night at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
George Clinton, by far the most seasoned act on the bill, has performed for more than 50 years. His first group, the Parliaments, achieved minor success by recording conventional R&B.
But Clinton’s legacy lies with his other groups—alternately known as Parliament, Funkadelic, and, most memorably, the P.Funk All-Stars. Clinton and his fellow musicians revolutionized soul music with their psychedelic and theatrical influences, contributing invaluably to the new genre of funk.
His singles include “Loopzilla,” “Nubian Nut,” and ’70s-compilation favorite “Atomic Dog.” His latest release, 2005’s How Late Do U Have 2 B B 4 U Are Absent?, asks a salient question, as it was Clinton’s first studio album in nearly 10 years.
A MAB member said that Doc will be showing 1994 cult comedy PCU—featuring a memorable cameo by Clinton as himself—as the Movie on the Quads before Summer Breeze.
RJD2 may sound like a mixed-up Star Wars character, but the instrumental hip-hop artist was born Ramble Jon Krohn.
His discography includes 2002’s Dead Ringers and 2004’s Since We Last Spoke, but he has worked behind the scenes as a producer for other acts, most notably the Megahertz.
In the grand tradition of producers forging their own successful music careers, RJD2 first appeared on 2001’s Def Jux Presents compilation before debuting as a solo artist with the limited-edition Your Face or Your Kneecaps later that year.
RJD2’s most recent work, 2006’s Magnificent City Instrumentals, contains the instrumentals from Aceyalone’s Magnificent City (2006), which RJD2 produced.
Dar Williams is currently signed to Razor and Tie Records. She released her first album, 1993’s The Honesty Room, on her own private label and on the small indie label Waterbug Records. Her music—described as a lyrical blend of folk and pop—includes 2003’s The Beauty of the Rain and, most recently, 2005’s critically acclaimed My Better Self.
Williams will play at Schubas’s Tavern in Chicago the night before Summer Breeze. She is currently on tour, performing at venues ranging from the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas to a peace forum at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.
The eclectic mix of artists recalls last spring’s Summer Breeze, when country singer Julie Roberts, indie-pop stars Ted Leo/Pharmacists, and rapper Nas shared the bill.
The show starts at 6 p.m., with doors opening at 5 p.m. Tickets, on sale starting May 10 in the Reynolds Club, are $15 for students; $20 for faculty, staff, and lab students; and $20 the day of the show. (Tickets may also be purchased online for $15.) A University ID is required for all purchases, and only cash is accepted at the box office.
