Dumpstapunk Gathers Trombone Shorty, Stanton Moore, Nikki Glaspie, More For Nick Daniels III Tribute At Tipitina’s [Videos]

An extensive parade of special guests helped Dumpstaphunk celebrate late bassist Nick Daniels III with an emotional, uplifting show at Tipitina’s on Thursday.

After a short video presentation, Reginald Cummings gave a loving tribute to Daniels, sharing tales from their long friendship that varied from heartwarming to slightly risque. Cummings then brought out Dumpstaphunk founder Ivan Neville, who had a few stories of his own to share. Neville concluded his own self-effacing anecdotes and welcomed Renard Poche and Earle Smith, who played in Original Uptown All-Stars (not to be confused with the later version of the Uptown All-Stars fronted by Cyril Neville) along with Daniels. After the two newcomers finished reminiscing, they cleared the stage for Dumpstaphunk’s imminent jam-packed musical jamboree.

Following a short break, Dumpsta bassist/guitarist Tony Hall stepped up to the mic and kicked off the party with the opening track, a most fitting “Make It After All”. Tony wasn’t alone, mind you. Besides his regular partners-in-crimes—Dumpsta beat-keeper Deven Trusclair, the Dumpsta horn section with Alex Wasily on trombone and Ashlin Parker on trumpet, Ian Neville on guitar and his cousin Ivan on keys—there was an array of extra help gathered to make the night monumental.

Special guests Ari Teitel on guitar and Viveca Hawkins on vocals were a large part of the evening and remained on stage for most of the night. Four members of the loose horn coalition known as The Trumpet Mafia—Brad Walker on tenor sax, Autumn Dominguez on alto sax, William Marx on trumpet, Ethan Santos on trombone—joined Wasily and Parker, packing the stage tight to help start the show off before returning for a feature later in the set.

Renard Poche joined in on guitar and Earl Smith came out to help on vocals for a “Deeper” that lived up to its name with ample power and emotional weight. Neville’s keyboard jam at the heart of the song was a sprawling, sorrowful valley that perfectly complemented the extended vocal section. Smith took lead on the next number, a freewheeling take on Ziggy Modeliste’s “Standing in Your Stuff”.

Blackmail, one of Nick’s ’70s-era projects, provided the next tune, “Let’s Get At It”. The track  gave all three guitarists a chance to show off some sweet licks and gave Ivan plenty of melodic energy to feed off. Former Dumpstaphunk drummer and vocalist Nikki Glaspie came out front and added her sweet harmonies to the mix for the Daniels-penned “I Know You Know”.

Honey Banister, Big Chief of the Creole Wild West tribe, took the stage in full regalia to sing a bit of lead, appropriately enough, on The Wild Magnolias‘ “Injuns Here They Come”, which saw Glaspie grabbing up some sticks to add some percolating percussion and, importantly, more cowbell. To take the track over the top, Tipitina’s co-owner’s and Galactic founding members drummer Stanton Moore and bassist Rob Mercurio squeezed onto the already crowded stage.

As Big Chief Bannister and Glaspie left the stage, the still beefed up Dumpstaphunk krewe got decisively devilish on the Meters classic “No More Okey Doke”.  Afterwards, Ivan called Moore and Mercurio back out to help funk up Dr. John’s “Quitters Never Win”. Original Dumpsta drummer Raymond Webber replaced the departing Galactic rhythm section, bringing along Garret Schieder, member of the Parliament-Funkadelic musical collective, from whose catalog the next song on the setlist, “Unfunky UFO”, originated.

Webber vacated the throne in time for Trusclair to regain his seat for the “Itchy BOO” Dumpsta dropped next with help from the Trumpet Mafia horns. The now six-piece horn section did some great counterpoint work with the doubling up of sax, trombone, and trumpet.

Speaking of horns, the next tune saw Trombone Shorty himself join in and work hard to do Nick “Justice” along with jazz bassist and seven-string force Ron Johnson. Guitar shredder Pete Murano, from Trombone Shorty’s band, joined his bandmate and boss onstage for a wild cover of Prince‘s “Let’s Go Crazy”. Murano’s solo at the end of the tune was easily the guitar highlight of the night.

Shorty and Pete cleared out of the way for Nick’s Dumpsta partner-in-crime Tony Hall to deliver a stunning bass solo before Nikki G took her turn behind the kit, with Teitel and Hawkins also returning to help round the corner into a set-closing “Dancin’ To The Truth”. No tribute to Nick Daniels III would be complete without a joyous send-off, and Earl King’s “Street Parade” served as a spot-on second line farewell to the night and the legend himself.

As the final notes faded and the house lights clicked on, faces reflected a mix of emotional exhaustion, joy, and love, each expression warranted and sincere. The diverse lineup of guests and their heartfelt tributes was a fitting testament to Nick Daniels’ enduring legacy. His sudden departure may have left an unfillable void, but even in death, he continues to inspire love and whole lot of funk. Rest in peace, Nick—you are loved, missed, and forever remembered.

Dumpstaphunk’s Ivan Neville and Tony Hall will join New Orleans funk legend George Porter Jr. plus Adam Deitch and Adam Smirnoff of Lettuce and Eric Krasno of Soulive for a very special Phunk Sessions late-night at Denver’s Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom following Phish‘s opening night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Click here for more info on L4LM’s Phish Dick’s after-parties at Cervantes’. Find a list of Dumpstaphunk’s upcoming shows and ticketing details on the band’s website.

Dumpstaphunk – Tipitina’s – New Orleans, LA – 8/22/24

 

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Setlist: Dumpstaphunk | Tipitina’s | New Orleans, LA | 8/22/24

Setlist: Intro Video (contains Where Do We Go From Here, Make It After All, Blueswave and Run To Daylight), “Storytime” w/Ivan Neville, Renard Poche & Earle Smith, Make It After All, Deeper, Standing in Your Stuff (Ziggy Modeliste), I Know You Know (with Nikki Glaspie), Injuns Here They Come (The Wild Magnolias), No More Okey Doke(The Meters), Quitters Never Win (Dr. John), Unfunky UFO (Parliament), Itchy Boo (w/Trumpet Mafia), Justice, Let’s Go Crazy (Prince), Dancin’ to the Truth (with Nikki Glaspie) (preceded by a bass solo by Tony Hall)

Encore: Street Parade (Earl King)