Big Sam’s Funky Nation Bring the Party to the Streets of New Orleans With “PokeChop” (PREMIERE/INTERVIEW)

When you think of New Orleans, the city’s foremost flambeaux-lit traditions of Mardi Gras, Bourbon Street, voodoo, Po’ boys, beads, gumbo, and second line undoubtedly come to mind. You can also count Big Sam’s Funky Nation amongst those NOLA treasures.

Known for a boisterous blend of funk, jazz, rock, and hip-hop, nothing short of seismic live “experiences,” and a whole lot of Southern charm, Big Sam’s Funky Nation might very well be The Big Easy’s best kept secret. In fact, no other place could birth such an undeniable, unpredictable, and downright unique collective.

On May 4th the group will release their aptly titled 2018 sixth full-length, Songs in the Key of Funk, Volume 1. Spending just five days at The Parlor Recording Studio in New Orleans, Big Sam’s Funky Nation emerged from the studio with an album tailor made for singing, dancing, and, of course, partying. The resulting album is perhaps the band’s most fully realized work to day, a simmering melange of the many styles of music that make New Orleans the heart and soul of American culture: funk, jazz, brass bands, bounce, rap, R&B, and even rock and roll. In a time when politics have become one giant dumpster fire and the news is an endless stream of sadness, Big Sam’s Funky Nation aim for the heart by using their music to urge us to take a breather and celebrate being alive.

Today Glide is delighted to offer up an exclusive premiere of music video for “PokeChop”, one of the album’s lead singles. Filmed on the colorful streets of New Orleans, the video jumps back and forth from a streetcorner where the band holds it down and stays true to their brass band roots, and a grafittied wall where Big Sam himself is accompanied by dancers embracing the bounce style of music and dance that originated in the city with acts like Big Freedia. The song oozes with thick funky grooves and heavy beats with that loose brass flowing the whole time, like what would happen if George Clinton and P Funk teamed up with Juvenile and started a brass band. This is music for getting down to, not music to get you down. 

Watch the video for “PokeChop” and read our chat with Big Sam below…

Can you talk about the inspiration behind this song? It seems to bring together funk, second line, and bounce.

When I wrote this song, I wanted to make sure that it was funky, fun and danceable, which is everything you think of when you think about New Orleans and Big Sam’s Funky Nation. New Orleans’ music and culture is so rich and influential to the world. New Orleans music isn’t just traditional jazz. We have a plethora of styles and I’m just doing my part to bridge the gap between the genres. All New Orleans music has one thing in common: an infectious groove! A lot of mainstream artists are even starting to incorporate all things NOLA into their music now, too. They know what’s up! You can’t deny that feel!

Who helped with the video and can you talk about the idea for it?

My homie Black Dragon is the videographer. He directed the shoot and it’s everything I wanted it to be. He’s a BEAST! I wanted the video to reflect the song. The dancing, the colors, the vibe…everything is how it should be. This is my first video ever, so I’m pretty excited about it! Please, share it with the everybody! Funk is well and alive!

Is there an overall theme that you were going for with the new album?

Yeah…it’s all in the title. “Songs in the Key of Funk.” I want people to feel the funk! We’re diggin’ in and giving you some 70s, 80s, today’s funk. You can listen to any track and you’re gonna dance. Anything else would be uncivilized.

Part of what makes Big Sam’s Funky Nation so special is the explosive live performances. How do you go about capturing that lightning in a bottle in the studio setting?

I’ve been doing this for a minute now and one thing that I’ve learned is that I’ll never get that live feel in the studio. We have to take a different approach. It’s more about what’s happening behind and underneath the music that gives it the right vibe that we need to produce.

Were there certain albums or artists you were listening to a lot going into this recording?

Well…I already listen to a lot of Morris Day, Prince, George Clinton, James Brown, Meters, Lakeside, Zapp and Roger. The list goes on forever, but I was actually listening to more Trap music around the time of the recording.

Your music has always been so joyous and positive. How do you keep such a positive outlook in the lyrics and music when the world is in such turmoil these days?

Music has the power to make you feel any kind of way. I chose to make people smile, dance, laugh and enjoy themselves through it all. For example…in one song I say: “Don’t give a damn about Donald Trump, Everybody just shake ya rump.” No matter how messed up things are right now, you can’t let that keep you down. I’m not saying ignore the issues, but don’t beat yourself up about it, so let’s have a good time right now. Life is too short.

In your opinion, what is the New Orleans music scene like these days compared to other times in history as far as the kind of original music being made?

Well, the scene has been changing ever since Katrina. I hate to have to go back that far, but it hasn’t quite been the same. It’s evolved into a lot of bands being forced to play mostly covers. Don’t get me wrong, covers are cool, but when are people going to realize that you’ll never have the next Prince, James Brown, Michael Jackson, etc…if they keep requesting that bands only play songs by their favorite artist. Remember that your favorite artists’ songs were “originals” at one point. With that being said, there are a few bands playing originals. Cats are keeping the culture thriving and always elevating it to the next level. A few places I like to check cats out at: Blue Nile, DBA, Snug Harbor, Spotted Cat, Maple Leaf…just to name a few.

Songs in the Key of Funk, Volume 1 is out May 4th. Check out tour dates below and pre-order the album here

Upcoming Shows

April 20 Dallas, TX @ The Kessler

April 21 Austin, TX @ Antone’s

April 22 The Woodlands, TX @ Dosey Doe

May 3 New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

May 4 New Orleans, LA @ Zoo To Do

May 16 Hermosa Beach, CA @ Saint Rocke

May 17 Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl

May 18 San Diego, CA @ Winston’s Beach Club

May 19 San Luis Obispo, CA @ SLO Jazz Festival

May 21 Irving, TX @ Big Beat Dallas

May 23 Mobile, AL @ The Merry Widow

May 24 Gainesville, FL @ High Dive

May 25 Tampa, FL @ Crowbar Live Music

May 26 Boca Raton, FL @ The Funky Biscuit

May 27 Jacksonville, FL @ 1904 Music Hall

June 1 Amagansett, NY @ The Stephen Talkhouse

June 2-3 Augusta, NJ @ Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Festival

June 7 Charlotte, NC @ River Jam – U.S. Whitewater Center

June 9 Asheville, NC @ Xpand Fest

June 15 Albuquerque, NM @ ABQ BioPark Zoo

June 16 Taos, NM @ Taos Mesa Brewing

June 22 Norfolk, VA @ Bayou Boogaloo & Cajun Festival

June 23 Washington, DC @ The Hamilton Live

June 24 Ann Arbor, MI @ Ann Arbor Summer Festival

July 12 Tyler, TX @ Stanley’s Famous Pit Barbecue

July 13 Arlington, TX @ Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts

Aug 3 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent

Aug 4 Mammoth Lakes, CA @ Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza

Aug 11 Belden, CA @ For The Funk of it Fest

Aug 12 San Jose, CA @ San Jose Jazz Summer Fest

Aug 31-Sept 1 Charleston, RI @ Rhythm and Roots Festival

Sept 14 St. Louis, MO @ Old Rock House

Sept 15 Lawrence, KS @ Lied Center of Kansas

Sept 21 Atlanta, GA @ Venkman’s

Sept 28-Oct 1 Queensland, Australia @ Caloundra Music Festival

Nov 30 Stillwater, OK @ Oklahoma State University

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