Holidelic brings P-Funk Sound to the Holiday Concert
Bradley: It’s like a little homecoming
The New Yorker calls his show “A flashy, bass-heavy, retro-futuristic take on the holidays,” and on Friday night Everett Bradley brought his Holidelic holiday show to the Paramount Theatre on the Asbury Park Boardwalk.
This was a return home of sorts for Bradley [at right].
“When I pulled up I saw the Stone Pony and it brought back all of these memories with John Eddie, with meeting Jon Bon Jovi for the first time, and writing with great writers like Marc Swersky and Charlie Midnight,” the showman also known as Papadelic said in an interview prior to the performance. “I even played with Dan Hartman, when he was still alive, here. In this theater, the last time I was here, I rehearsed with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, so this is monumental to be coming here and headlining with my band. I’m very excited and I’m nervous because I want to represent and do it well. But it feels good; it’s like a little homecoming.”
Everett opened the show with the band’s signature DysFUNKtion, donning a blue Christmas Tree patterned suit, his white afro and white platforms.
“Oh yeah it’s funky,” Bradley said. “We do not discriminate. We celebrate all shapes, sizes, cultures and beliefs. It does not matter baby, exactly who you are. Your only requirement is to bring an open mind, an open heart, and a promise to shake your rump.”
In the audience Tom and Diane Smith of Eatontown, who came out to see back up singer Ramona, were making their return to the theater for the first time in many years, Tom Smith said.
“Ramona is good friends with our daughter,” he said. “This is the first time we will be experiencing this.”
The sentiment was the same for Asbury Park native Jacqueline Owens of Neptune who hadn’t been inside the Paramount Theatre since she was a teenager.
“I’m celebrating my birthday this month,” the 60-year-old P-Funk fan said.
Bradley’s blend of P-Funk, James Brown and Sly Stone sound turned the most recognizable holiday songs into dance grooves and it didn’t take long for the audience to turn the theater into a dance hall; rushing to the front of house and taking over the seated VIP area to dance alongside ‘Papadelic.’
Show surprises came from guest performances by local vocalist ‘Mr. Ray’ Andersen and Layonne Holmes, sax player Tommy LaBella, and the audience favorite – ‘Dr. Elmo’ Trigg, who performed his iconic ‘Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer’ with Bradley.
The audience again stood on their feet when Dr. Elmo returned with a bottle Jack Daniels to accompany his “Down the Hatch” duet with Bradley.
Bradley’s vocal range never faltered and his transition to ‘Sugar Daddy’ mid show rejuvenated the early 20-something to late 70-something audience following a balladic take on ‘Frosty the Snowman’ that elicited audience participation.
Written, produced and directed by Bradley, a singer/songwriter, producer, actor and dancer, Holidelic debuted at New York’s Joe’s Pub in 2002. Following a few seasons of sold out shows, Holidelic moved its annual NYC performance to The Highline Ballroom but continues to perform at Joe’s Pub, and throughout Philadelphia and New York venues. This year Asbury Park was added to the roster and audience goers and organizers said they hope it becomes an annual tradition.
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