A soulful trip to the past

Ebony Rhythm Band
Radio Radio
Thursday, June 2

In the late ’60s through the mid ’70s, The Ebony Rhythm Band was a musical mainstay of the downtown clubs. Many older residents remember their legacy. But for a new generation, names like Phatback Watson, Amnesty and the Diplomatics were just obscurities in a record store or museum exhibit.

The Ebony Rhythm Band

Last Thursday night, The Ebony Rhythm Band re-united for one stellar evening at Radio Radio and gave a whole new generation a glimpse of the city’s vibrant and historic funk scene. Dressed in their Saturday evening best, more than 130 old and new fans filled the club to revel with these local legends.

Local reggae superstar Professor Matthew “Phatback” Watson started the night with an acoustic reggae trio. While Phatback played percussion, the singer delivered solid covers of “Mr. Bojangles” and “Redemption Song.”

Phatback then stepped behind a drum kit, and the crowd let up a roar as the rest of The Ebony Rhythm band fired up a funky cover of “Light My Fire.” The band laid down jam after solid jam.

Fans rushed the stage to dance, and all the members proved their ample solo skills with fiery guitar and trumpet riffs. During his turns, Phatback played solos beating the drums with one hand and slapping bongos with the other. His breaks and coordination put him up in the ranks with Idris Muhammad.

The band grooved on for almost two hours with no jam less than 10 minutes. Prodded by chants of “We Want the Funk,” they drove it home with another half-hour encore. One member raved, “Like Ron Artest in a Battle, The Ebony Rhythm Band.”

If only for one evening, fans traveled 35 years back in time and relived the glory-days of Indianapolis funk.