RSS 2.0 FeedThursday, November 17, 2011, Bellmore Life
Have a Happy Funksgiving
A tradition returns to the area...
GETTIN’ FUNKY ONCE MORE: In no particular order, band members are Lee Finkelstein, Brent Carter, John Scarpulla, Ron Fox, Dave Lavender, Jack Knight, Steve Finkelstein, Gary Schleich, Tom Bowes, Ozzie Melendez, Chris Karlic and. Vinne Cinquemani.
It helps that many members of the 26-year-old band Funk Filharmonik, which started in a small Bellmore comedy club run by Gary Smith, are working these days with The Blues Brothers, Billy Joel, Mark Anthony or Gregg Allman. Funk band members have been friends for decades, and when Thanksgiving rolls around these musicians all get the urge to be with one another again.
“Two years after we began playing at the club in Bellmore someone in the band, perhaps Alex Stewart, decided to create a ‘Funksgiving’ concert for everyone to go to after they had reveled in their Thanksgiving dinners,” remarked Lee Finkelstein, founding member of the Funk Filharmonik.
“People move away from their Long Island roots but they come back at Thanksgiving to be with family and friends,” he continued. The Funksgiving concert became that place to go to after Thanksgiving dinner.
During those first years people lined up around the block to be part of Funk Filharmonik's Funksgiving extravaganza, and it became a tradition at the comedy club to have Funksgiving for the fun of it – and for a place to go.
Tradition returns
After years away from Bellmore – where it all began, the tradition finally returns to Bellmore once more as Funk Filharmonik play its traditional Funksgiving concert on Friday, November 25, with two shows, at 7:30 and 10 p.m. at the Bellmore Showplace on Pettit Avenue.
“We had our regular jobs too, like everyone else did during those early years” when giving the Funksgiving concerts, Mr. Finkelstein continued. “So, for us, it was great that the band could get together and meet one another and play some fun music at Thanksgiving.”
After tours with top-flight recording artists, band members will have a reunion on stage at the Bellmore Showplace that promises to highlight fan favorites from the bands Tower of Power; and Earth, Wind and Fire, to selections from their latest CD.
“At the show in Bellmore we will strive and stress our originals as well as play all the favorites our fans have come to know us for,” Mr. Finkelstein said.
“People will be coming home for Thanksgiving to be with family and friends, and to have some fun. It will be the same for us,” Mr. Finkelstein said. The band hopes Long Island joins them once again for a night of music.
He said the band doesn’t play that often together anymore, because many live farther away and have other obligations, such as family.
But, “Within the band we have great times when we meet to play,” and the band promises a great reunion at the Bellmore Movies with lots of great music.
They have had other Funksgivings around Long Island since ending their play at the comedy club. They were all set to play a 25th Anniversary Holiday show at Morelli’s in Westbury last December 26, “but it snowed hard” that day and cancelled the show, Mr. Finkelstein remembers.
Last April they tried a 25.5 Anniversary at the now-defunct Crazy Donkey “just to help people recognize the roots of the Funksgiving spirit,” Mr. Finkelstein said.
As a Long Island performer for decades, Mr. Finkelstein said he was saddened to see the Crazy Donkey close, because it was one fewer venue to showcase Long Island talent.
He thanks promoter Gary Smith for tapping into entertainment venues such as the Bellmore Showcase, which still permit up-and-coming Long Island talent to flourish – and give Funksgiving a new home to play to its fan base.
“Gary has always been about the music,” he said.
For information on the band, visit www.funkfilharmonik.com. For tickets and information on the Funksgiving show visit www.nyentertainmentclub.com or call 785-4234.
