Tag: maceo parker

Elvis went nuts, and so did Michael Jackson. In her own low-key, tasteful way, Barbra Streisand might be crazier than entire lunatic asylums. But no one–no one at all–went bull goose starkers like James Brown did.

This is not, Enthusiasts, a legendary and historic performance; it’s just a 1980’s night in New York, but it has its charms. What, you ask?

• The robot from Rocky IV introduces the set.
• The band plays for 20 minutes before James decides to show up.
• Holy shit, is he high.
• I would say “high as a kite,” but kites honestly do not fly all that high.
• Maybe if you brought a kite to the International Space Station, then James Brown would be as high as that kite.
• James Brown: Hardest Working Man in Show Biz.
• James Brown’s corset: Hardest Working Support Garment in Show Biz.
• Are…are…are they playing the Entertainment Tonight theme song?
• Jeff “Skunk” Baxter on guitar, for some reason.
• The band is literally wearing Sexual Chocolate’s tuxedos.
• The most half-assed “Put the cape on the Godfather and then he comes back” routine you’ve ever seen.
• And–tell me if I’m lying, I dare you–James Brown is so high he cannot open his eyes the entire show.
• So much fucking Jheri Curl.