By Martine Ehrenclou
Every now and then I stumble across a band I’ve never heard of that completely blows me away. I took the bait from Spotify’s recommendation for “Well Run Dry” by Phat Phunktion. A blistering guitar riff set fire to a tight horn section, (one of the best I’d heard,) punctuating a funky, raw groove. Phat Phunktion’s sound is contemporary funk-rock, blues, and soul, all based on a solid foundation of jazz. Talk about outstanding musicianship and fun, original tunes.
Phat Phunktion is a nine-piece band, complete with the punch of a full horn section. The co-founders, Tim Whalen and Al Falaschi, formed the band when they were music students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With four studio albums and a new live album, Live at the High Noon, soon to be released on their own label, I knew I had to write about them. This band was different. They kicked ass.
I soon discovered that Phat Phunktion has an impressive history. They’ve won multiple, prestigious music awards, toured the world, played to sold out music festivals across the U.S., and were hailed by Rolling Stone as the band to watch. They’ve also shared the stage with such music legends as War, Tower of Power, Chick Corea, Taj Mahal, The Temptations, and more.
With all this success, where did they go for a few years? I found gaps in time in the information written about them. I was about to find out.
There’s more to this band than meets the eye. A lot more. I talked with Tim and Al, who also write and arrange all of the band’s music, produce the albums, and share vocals. Tim plays keyboards and Al plays sax.
Interviewing Tim and Al was much like talking to brothers who finished each other’s sentences, appreciated shared humor and mutual support. There was familiarity and comfort between them, something you don’t always find with leaders of a band who have been together for twenty years. Both are interesting guys with backstories. Certainly extremely talented musicians, producers and songwriters.
When I asked how they’d managed to stay together for so long and maintain their musical integrity, Al said, “Phat Phunktion doesn’t do anything because we want to make it big. At its core, we’re all friends and enjoy making music together.”
I asked them to tell me about their new album and Blu-Ray, Live at the High Noon, to be released June 2, 2017. It’s available now for immediate download purchase on their website here.
Al said, “We just wanted to record the gig at the High Noon Saloon for our own historical purposes. It was a kind of celebration of our 20th anniversary.”
“So you didn’t plan on it being an album?”
Al continued. “It’s one of the hardest things for any band that plays live to capture the energy. A lot of times bands record every single show over a period of weeks or months and their live album is a compilation of different songs from different nights. We got the recording back in our home studios and started listening to it. It jumped out at us right away that we had captured somehow, miraculously, that energy.”
Live at the High Noon album and Blu-Ray were completely funded by crowdfunding. Phat Phunktion offered fans the opportunity to sponsor and boost the album by pre-ordering and receiving it over a month early. They have a solid, loyal fan base in the U.S. and overseas.
But it’s more than that. Their music speaks for itself. On Spotify, “Well Run Dry” has been streamed over 3 million times. “Miss Madison,” another favorite of mine, has been streamed well over a million.
Bands fall apart all the time. I asked Tim and Al what they believed to be the secret to their longevity.
Tim said, “I think its because we really enjoy it. We enjoy each other’s company. It never feels like work. It’s like putting a glove back on.”
I asked about touring for the new album.
Both Tim and Al described life on the road when they travelled across the country in a 12-passenger van for two years and emphatically stated that they never wanted to do that again.
Tim said, “I think touring for us is a selective thing. We’ll do a few gigs but we are not getting back into that van!”
Al said, “Here’s part of the interesting story about our band. We toured a lot around the Midwest when we started in 1996 until 2003. Tim left the city of Madison to go to grad school at Manhattan School of Music to get his masters degree in music so we significantly reduced our gigging schedule. During that time, our album, You and Me, was released on a small record label. It went over to Japan where it started to gain popularity.
In 2005 and 2006, we all decided to quit our day jobs and hop in a van and tour around the country and go to Japan. For about two years we were all over the joint. Fortunately, I met the love of my life and got engaged. Unfortunately, she got diagnosed with colon cancer. Being a gigging musician with no health insurance, no job, and riding around in a van while your fiancé is battling cancer is not ideal.”
A heartbreaker.
Al continued. “At that time we had also decided that riding round in a van wasn’t the life we wanted so we completely shut down down between 2006-2009.”
The gap in time.
Al said, “Unfortunately, my wife ended up losing her battle to cancer in 2009.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said.
“Thank you. One of the things that she did was inspire us to start a benefit we call Funk Out Cancer in Madison, Wisconsin. That started in 2009. She wanted us to have a party and play music and have a bunch of dancing and then donate all of the money to cancer research. That fueled her fight while she was battling cancer.”
I asked if they have continued Funk Out Cancer concerts.
Al said, “We do a show every other year. We take all the proceeds and donate them to the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center. We’ve donated over $150,000 in research money. There is a doctor there who has turned that into millions of dollars worth of research grants.”
“Wow, that’s fantastic. That’s a lot of money for a great cause,” I said.
“It’s a really cool night of music, fun and inspiration,” Al said.
Al explained further. “In 2006, that was kind of our switch that made us more of a recording project. Tim was pretty instrumental in helping me through that tough time right after my wife passed. She passed in May and Tim was teaching at the University of Toledo at the time. For his summer break he moved back to Madison and into the house with me. We set up shop in my living room. Over that summer we wrote all of the music for the album, Real Life: High Fidelity.”
Tim and Al’s goal for that album was to create music that would feature their incredible musicianship but also bring a deeper meaning to the songs, both lyrically and musically. The message of Real Life: High Fidelity is standing up for what you believe in and sticking by the people you love.
“We finished the production of Real Life: High Fidelity and decided then that it
I interjected. “Sounds kind of like Steely Dan.”
With enthusiasm, Al said, “I just sent Tim that interview of Donald Fagan and Walter Becker from 1995 where they were talking about not getting back in the van and just becoming a recording project.”
Tim said, “If Donald Fagan and Walter Becker could do it, that’s what we’re doing.”
I have no doubt that they will.
I nudged them back to the Funk Out Cancer concerts because I thought readers would be interested. I asked if they were doing it this year.
Al said, “Yeah, November 4th, 2017, at the Majestic Theater in Madison, WI.”
Be there!
Info on Funk out Cancer https://www.funkoutcancer.com/event
You can find Phat Phunktion’s music:
On their website https://www.phatphunktion.com/home
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3afwdwY97SMtIdnUsPTpQT
Apple Music/iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/phat-phunktion/id7611619
I welcome your comments. Please post them below. Thanks.
Not only does this band have the sound and zest…they have a soul that has never given up despite the odds and tragedy. They have bounced back and now play their wonderful music for such a profoundly noble cause. Forming this wonderful group in 1996 at U of W as music students, they attract huge crowds and in 2003 have been given “Band on the Rise” thumbs up by the Rolling Stone magazine. I enjoy their sound and knowing their history makes it a delight to listen to this band. Thank you Phat Phunktion for your music and your soul!!
Meg,
You nailed it. So glad you enjoy them. Thanks for your comment
What an awesome story, Martine. Thanks for the interview and post. I LOVE the fact these guys have been through thick and thin together and stay b/c they love doing their music. Which is fantastic. I was sorry to hear about Tim’s wife and her battle with cancer. The Funk Out Cancer shows sound amazing and I’d be happy to use my blog (www.confidentvoices.com) to help promote…any time. Music is so powerful and it sounds like Phat Phunktion really put their heart and soul into it.
I’m going to share this post with my friend and musician, Guy who recently lost his wife to Cancer and has created a CD about their journey…called “Hope is the Thing with Feathers”.
Beth, you’re so welcome. It was a pleasure to interview Tim and Al and write it up. I’m with you 100%. It’s Al’s wife, but I’m sure they appreciate your empathy. That’s so nice of you to blog about Funk Out Cancer! That’s amazing!
Thanks for sharing and doing whatever feels right. I’ll check out your friend, Guy’s CD.
Great sounding band! I never heard of them! I listened to the two videos in your article and look forward to hearing more and download some tunes. Nicely done Martine, I’ll check them out!
Jeff,
So glad you like them! Phat Phunktion is just so great. It makes me happy to turn people on to them. Glad you appreciate them. Thanks for your comment and kind words.
nice one and thanks