There was a flutter in the audience and whispers among students. Red, yellow, black, and green decorations adorned the stage. I felt a nervous energy.
Mr. Scott ordered everyone on their feet. “It’s a concert. Stand up!”
Mr. Tadd Scott and members of the P-Funk All Stars performed live at Mission during an assembly celebration in the auditorium on Wednesday, Feb. 26 after lunch. This concert was in honor of Black History Month.
Mr. Scott’s music reminded me of the beginning of the show Trigun. The music was a mix of rock and funk with lots of guitar solos.
There were seven performers including guitars, drums, vocalists, a dancer, and our own Mr. Scott on tambourine and backup vocals.
Two members of the band, Ronald (RonKat) Spearman and Garrett Shider (Star Child Jr.), were members of the legendary musical collective, Parliament-Funkadelic, a group active since the 1960s. Garrett Shider is even the son of one of the original members of the group, Garry Shider (Starchild).
Ronald Spearman has played in a lot of bands before, including his own band, Katdelic, but the one that stands out is Parliament Funkadelic, and touring around the world with them. He had played at Mission four or five times before the pandemic and was ready to play again.
“As band members, you always gotta stay ready anytime, anywhere when performing,” said Mr. Spearman, joking that he wasn’t sure if Mr. Scott was ready.
If Mr. Scott gets more opportunities, he’d like to produce more shows like this for Mission, but he doesn’t want attention.
“I just want to be the same, quiet Mr. Scott here…In these times, I wanted to share joy, and encouragement, and build community. In our nation, you know, we’re being pulled apart and I want us to come together,” said Mr. Scott.
Mr. Scott’s mom studied music and “I grew up with her as a role model,” he said. His father was in film and there was always music in the house. He had music in church and his parents took him to concerts.
There were a lot of songs the band played that people hadn’t heard and here was a good chance to reintroduce everyone to the music of George Clinton.
“The Black History Concert was an unforgettable experience, filled with energy and a sense of community,” Alani Krejci, a senior, said. “The blend of rock music with elements of black culture created a unique atmosphere that was both lively and calming. Mr. Scott’s performance added a personal touch, especially when he did some of the vocals and energetic shaking on stage.”
Cai Fernandez, a senior, said, “It was refreshing to sit back and enjoy a performance after a long day of classes. I had spoken to one of my teachers about the concert, and he enjoyed hearing music that brought him back to when he was growing up. I have also learned more about Black people’s influence on rock music. The concert was fun!”
