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Related: 75+ Portland Weekend Events & Parties | July 16-19

Update: The first 50 people who email thelist@thegoodfoot.com with your name/friend’s names get in to Saturday’s show for $5 instead of $8. Not bad.

Posted by Nathalie Weinstein

If Prince could rap…

Southern funk is coming to Portland Saturday night in the form of Entropy Funk, whose  singer, keyboardist and guitarist Ron Williams describes as a mix of funk, hip hop and R&B.

“We’re like what Prince would sound like if he could rap,” said Williams, who got into funk after reading the back of a Parliament Funkadelic album.

“I saw that George Clinton played every instrument on the album, and I thought I could do something similar.”

In 2000, Williams hooked up with EntropyFunk, who were playing as an instrumental trio, and became their lead vocalist, as well as contributing to the song writing.

This will be the band’s first time in Portland (they hail from Atlanta, GA) so I hope to see everyone out at the Goodfoot Saturday night making them feel welcome (and hopefully convincing their unique, booty-shaking sound to hang around awhile).

“I don’t think funk music comes like this comes through Portland much,” said Williams. “Funk is usually watered down, but this is the real thing.”

EntropyFunk
Saturday, July 189 p.m.
The Goodfoot Lounge
$8 21+
2845 S.E. Stark St.

Ron was nice enough to give me a call before his band’s show in San Francisco. Here’s his take on MJ, George Clinton and the best ways to pass your free time.

Who influenced you to start playing funk music?

Prince. The eighties are full of funk and that was what was on the radio when I grew up. Everyone was either a funk band, or produced by a funk band. I was also influenced by James Brown. Listened to a lot of Otis Redding. His voice was the template for most funk music. People just stole from that and made different variations.  Funk has that big band thing, there’s a lot of sound.

What do you do when you’re not playing music?

I like women. I hang out with women.

Have you met any women on this tour?

I’ve met then briefly.

What was it like playing with Parliament Funkadelic and George Clinton?

It was a weird thing. We know some of those cats. We see them all the time. So it was like going on stage with friends. To me, it feels like the music is being handed down from generation to generation. The new school and the old school pioneers. George is just weird. He knows you but he doesn’t. When I met my idol he really acted like I wasn’t there. I’ve been seeing him for years and I don’t think he knows my name. He’s definitely in his own world.

What do you drink?

I’m Makers and ginger man, but I like Bloody Marys for the morning after. I’m having a Bloody Mary right now. We’re in Northern California. We’ve been camping out and hanging with some friends. My phone doesn’t work so I feel like Grizzly Adams.

How is the new album going?

We’re still recording the new stuff. We have six tracks so far. When we’re touring so much it’s hard to finish an album. We’re going to take a break on the album after this and let it fan out a little bit, then release it in a couple years. We’ve been playing our new at shows. The crowd is the best way to tell what you’ve got. In between the songs, if people are screaming, that’s when you have it right.

What are your thoughts on the outpouring of praise for Michael Jackson after his death?

It was sad and it ticked me off too. All my friends called and told me he was dead like he was my cousin. It affected me. Michael Jackson formed a lot about what pop music is today. Many musicians wouldn’t be in business today without the moon walk. He was a great guy, but when you have had allegations made about you and kids, then Ron is done with you. It sounds harsh, but I was like, OK people die, get over it. It’s one of the certain things in life, you’re going to die.

Portland, OR / Good Foot Lounge
July 18th @ 10:00pm
Tickets are $8 in advance, available @ www.thegoodfoot.com
Uprise & Cornflower supporting

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Pipeline Posse: Nathalie Weinstein is an editorial assistant at a local paper as well as an event promoter for Back Fence PDX and a lover of Portland arts and social media. Her work can be found in the Daily Journal of Commerce and right here at PDX Pipeline. Keep up with her on Twitter by following storymakerupper.