Funky Seeds

The iconic George Clinton once sung, and continues to sing, “Put a glide in you stride and a dip in your hip and come on up to the Mothership,” Now, it does not get funkier than the funk of the P-Funk but I would have to say that the Funky Seeds follow in their footsteps with their own Florida, citrus twist. When I first heard the 11-track album, Taking Root, it reminded me of The Meters but with singing that would be heard at a beach bar.

A true appreciation for their hometown of Saint Petersburg, Fla. can be found throughout the album, especially on the track “Funky Root,” which describes the pride that they have for playing and living in Saint Petersburg. “We live by the root, we die by the root,” they sing, “you know we put it down at a St. Pete show.” Taking Root spreads its roots through different styles of rock, mainly sticking with the essence of rhythm and blues. The band explores more of funks roots and even touches on deep delta blues and a side of Caribbean singing with the closing song “Young Man,” which uses the oldest of instruments, the voice.

Taking Root is an album that that pulls you up by your britches and takes you on a ride. It is an uplifting party of music, and the Seeds make you want to move and dance your pains away. Not many people have the funk today, but I think the mothership dropped the Funky Seeds off in Saint Petersburg to show us the ways of beach funk. - Suburban Apologist

Best Jam Band
Funky Seeds-Runner Up
Creative Loafing Readers Poll 2011
9/22/2011 - Creative Loafing

Best Soul/R&B/Funk Act
Funky Seeds-Runner Up
Creative Loafing Readers Poll 2011
9/22/11 - Creative Loafing

The Funky Seeds infuse their infectious music with swaying reggae grooves, hip-shaking funk, organ-driven blues rock, and sax-drenched Latin jazz, their sound marked by the gruff and gritty vocal stylings of Steve Scarcliff and the expert keywork of Funky D. The sextet has been in and out of the studio recording their second studio album, Taking Root, and unveils the finished record this Saturday night at a special CD release party. Expect to hear cuts off the album, like the driving bump-and-grind of "Baby Baby" and the New Orleans-flavored "Ghost of a Cat." - Creative Loafing

SunFest has added Circa Survive, Anberlin, and Mann, featuring Rock-It! Scientists to its 2011 lineup, along with more than 20 regional and local acts.

The event, Florida’s largest music, art and waterfront festival, will run April 27-May 1 on Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach.

Circa Survive, a progressive rock band, and Anberlin, alternative rockers, will perform April 29 on the Bank of America Stage.

Mann, featuring Rock It! Scientists, will perform April 30 on the FP&L Stage. Regional and local opening acts include: Andre (Latin), Bobby Lee Rodgers (rock/jazz), Dharmata (rock), The Elements of Jazz (jazz), Funky Seeds (funk/reggae), The Gallery (rock), Inspired Flight (indie/alternative/hip hop), Jeff Harding (rock), Jesse Young Band (acoustic), Joel DaSilva (blues), The Kinected (rock), Mayday (zouk), Memphis Soul Revue (soul), The New Planets (rock), Nothing Rhymes with Orange (alternative), Panic Bomber (techno/house), Pee Wee Lewis & The Hues (rock), Sarah Packiam (pop), Shazman (reggae/r&b), Steel Train (rock), Tribal Seeds (reggae), The Vegabonds (rock) and Variety Workshop (rock).

The Palm Beach Post Red Carpet Upgrades — reserved seats and “The Stand” — are on sale to the public for national headliners, including Jason Mraz, Earth, Wind & Fire, MGMT, Sublime with Rome/Supervillains, Cee Lo Green, Jeff Beck, Styx, Taking Back Sunday/Circa Survive/Anberlin and Gregg Allman. Prices start at $8 for afternoon shows. - Palm Beach Daily News

• Sunday: Tampa-area band Funky Seeds are one of the more aptly named bands going, as funk is the best way to describe them – they’ll play the Bank of America Stage. Reggae singer Shazman, who’ll also play the Bank of America Stage, hails from Guyana originally. Fort Lauderdale’s The New Planets bring a experimental but hard-driving sound to the FPL Stage, which will also be where you can see another Broward County mainstay, rockers Nothing Rhymes With Orange. Joel Da Silva, who also fronts local swing-rockers The Hep Cat Boo Daddies, will play a solo guitar set before Jeff Beck’s Tire Kingdom Stage appearance. Fans of his shows at the Orange Door are encouraged to check out Da Silva on a bigger stage. - Palm Beach Post

St. Petersburg's Funky Seeds are a classic Dead/Phish jam band. (Cue Homer Simpson: "Mmmm... dead fish jam...)

With rollicking guitars and keyboards, the group lives up to its name, in that they're incredibly funky and boogieable (which may not be a word, but we don't care; we're feelin' it). Singer Steve Scarcliff bears more than a passing vocal resemblance to Rusted Root singer Michael Glabicki, and the rest of the band is musically on point, too.

What's with that funky name, anyway? In an interview with the Bay Buzz, the band said:

We are terrible at coming up with names, so we actually revived an old band name. (Vocalist and keyboardist) Funky D was once the leader of Funky D and the Seeds. We decided that since we were a completely new band, we had to change the name slightly and we became "Funky Seeds". The name stuck because we play funky music - and we like plants.

Heh. Plants.

The band's song SUMday was selected for the new WMNF-88.5 comp CD, WMNF Topical Music Compilation: This CD Kills Fascists. The album will be released with a massive local concert Saturday at Skipper's Smokehouse; bands include Ronny Elliott, Ted Lukas, Sandy Atkinson, the Chicken Chasers and many more. Click here for details on that show.

After performing at Skipper's, Funky Seeds will make their way across the bridge for a nightcap at Ringside Cafe. That show is 9 to 11:30 p.m. at 2742 Fourth St. N. Click here for details. - Tampa Bay Times

St. Petersburg's Funky Seeds are a classic Dead/Phish jam band. (Cue Homer Simpson: "Mmmm... dead fish jam...)

With rollicking guitars and keyboards, the group lives up to its name, in that they're incredibly funky and boogieable (which may not be a word, but we don't care; we're feelin' it). Singer Steve Scarcliff bears more than a passing vocal resemblance to Rusted Root singer Michael Glabicki, and the rest of the band is musically on point, too.

What's with that funky name, anyway? In an interview with the Bay Buzz, the band said:

We are terrible at coming up with names, so we actually revived an old band name. (Vocalist and keyboardist) Funky D was once the leader of Funky D and the Seeds. We decided that since we were a completely new band, we had to change the name slightly and we became "Funky Seeds". The name stuck because we play funky music - and we like plants.

Heh. Plants.

The band's song SUMday was selected for the new WMNF-88.5 comp CD, WMNF Topical Music Compilation: This CD Kills Fascists. The album will be released with a massive local concert Saturday at Skipper's Smokehouse; bands include Ronny Elliott, Ted Lukas, Sandy Atkinson, the Chicken Chasers and many more. Click here for details on that show.

After performing at Skipper's, Funky Seeds will make their way across the bridge for a nightcap at Ringside Cafe. That show is 9 to 11:30 p.m. at 2742 Fourth St. N. Click here for details. - Tampa Bay Times

Saturday Nov 13 5:00PM
Skipper's Smokehouse

An evening of political, protest and topical songs: original songs by eclectic musicians about today’s issues along with classic protest chestnuts.

Bands include: Fall on Purpose: Rayzilla’s PBS; Ronny Elliott; Ted Lukas; Sunset Bridge, Steve Vaclavik & the Woeful Ones; The Chicken Chasers; Sandy Atkinson; Crabgrass Cowboys; the Florida Mountain Boys; Pete Gallagher ( and probably Raiford Stark) ; CC Carter; the Funky Seeds; Radio Free Carmela, Ella Jet and Sound Vision - WMNF 88.5 Tampa/St. Petersburg Radio

Saturday Nov 13 5:00PM
Skipper's Smokehouse

An evening of political, protest and topical songs: original songs by eclectic musicians about today’s issues along with classic protest chestnuts.

Bands include: Fall on Purpose: Rayzilla’s PBS; Ronny Elliott; Ted Lukas; Sunset Bridge, Steve Vaclavik & the Woeful Ones; The Chicken Chasers; Sandy Atkinson; Crabgrass Cowboys; the Florida Mountain Boys; Pete Gallagher ( and probably Raiford Stark) ; CC Carter; the Funky Seeds; Radio Free Carmela, Ella Jet and Sound Vision - WMNF 88.5 Tampa/St. Petersburg Radio

Benefit scheduled to help musician


By CURTIS ROSS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 6, 2010

Tampa area musicians will perform Sunday to raise funds for Tim Eddy, saxophonist and keyboardist for The Chicken Chasers.

Eddy, a veteran local musician who also has played with Ronnie Dee and Belinda Womack, is being treated for a heart condition known as atrial fibrillation and as is too often the case with musicians, lacks health insurance.

Besides the Chicken Chasers, the lineup includes The Swinging Mooks, Damon Fowler, The Funky Seeds, Wendy & the Soulshakers and more.

The show kicks off at 2 p.m. at the Ringside Café, 2742 Fourth St. N. in St. Petersburg. Suggested donation is $5 at the door. Donations also can be made at www.chickenchasers.com - Tampa Tribune

BAY BUZZ Interview (April 2010)

The Funky Seeds are five guys from diverse musical backgrounds and have combined to play something they call "Plant Driven Funk". They perform their own original music, which is a fun blend of Funk, Reggae, Beach Rock and Blues. They always deliver a great live show and definitely know how to keep the party going!

What is the story behind your name? We are terrible at coming up with names, so we actually revived an old band name. Funky D was once the leader of Funky D and the Seeds. We decided that since we were a completely new band, we had to change the name slightly and we became "Funky Seeds". The name stuck because we play funky music - and we like plants.

How would you describe your music? In three words..... PLANT DRIVEN FUNK! In a few more words, our music is a collective of funk, reggae, blues, soul, country and second line. We really do try to encompass many genres within our music. By combining all these styles of music, we get to challenge ourselves and our fans have more fun listening and dancing!

How long have you been together and who makes up the band? We have been together just a few short months, since June of 2009. We have Steve on vocals and guitar, Funky D on vocals and keyboards, Sean on electric guitar, J Sideways on vocals and bass, Patty on drums and Tim Eddy on saxophone.

Who writes the songs? Is there more than one songwriter? There are three primary lyricists in the band: Steve, Funky D and J Sideways. The three of them have completely different songwriting styles, so it keeps the sound fresh and funky. We all compose the songs together. The process has been different for every song. Sometimes we base the music off the lyrics and sometimes vice versa.

Describe the music making process. Every song we play has been written in a different way. We follow the idea of planting a seed and letting it grow (pun intended). Sometimes we start with a guitar riff; sometimes we start with a groove on the drums and sometimes we start with a fully written set of lyrics and a few chords. One of us will plant the seed and through the weeks, it grows into a song. In other words: PLANT DRIVEN FUNK.

Have there been any challenges? If so, how did you overcome them? We have had a few challenges in the short time we have played together. Finding the right mix of musicians was the toughest challenge at first. It is hard to find a band where ego doesn't dominate the music-making process. We finally found five guys that are willing to step back, take advice, listen and play what is right for the song. It is such a blessing to be amongst musicians like that!
The second challenge we faced just recently: Two weeks ago two guitars, pedals and a keyboards were stolen out of the back of one of our cars. All we got in return was some shattered glass and a brick. It was a major bummer having to play a few shows with borrowed gear, but we made it work. We want to send a major thank you to the people that loaned us gear and helped us get new gear! We now are back to full strength and ready to play anywhere!

Long Term Goals? Short and sweet.... a) to make people dance, b) to be remembered and c) to make the world a little bit more fun, one show at a time.

Interview Courtesy of Bay Buzz (April 2010) - The Bay Buzz