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Five Alarm Funk in Concert
After 15-plus years, six albums, and countless (often shirtless) live shows, Five Alarm Funk can legitimately claim the title of Funkiest Band in Canada. The long road to today's eight-man wrecking crew began back in the early ‘00s when three young dudes came together within Vancouver's thriving live-music scene, rocking for friends at house parties and basement shows without much care for curfew or career.
In short time, the guitar-bass-drums trio was joined by various horns and percussionists to augment their dance-mad jam sessions. Eventually, they booked their first proper show at a venue; it sold out before doors opened, and a phenomenon was born. Cross-Canadian tours followed and then dips into the U.S. and, later, Taiwan.
With the band's lineup since solidified — three percussionists, three horns, guitar, and bass — these days FAF is a crowd-pleasing ringer at festivals like Washington State's Summer Meltdown, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, and TD Sunfest in London, Ontario.
As if they need further proof of their funk supremacy, FAF earned a co-sign from Bootsy Collins — he of the star-shaped sunglasses, cartoon vocals, and legendary six-string bass drops. He provides guest vocals on the band's recent single, "We Play the Funk," a full-throttle rework of "Capitol City," one of the highlights of their 2017 album, ‘Sweat.' That monster jam follows a slew of self-released records and EPs dating back to their 2006 eponymous debut, each a distillation of the ferocious live show that made FAF famous.
And make no mistake: Even considering their masterful recordings, onstage is where the band lives out its mission. With players arranged around front-and-center kit drummer Tayo Branston, FAF flexes choreographed dance moves, group-shouted vocals, and dizzying musical interplay — a rhythm-centric, party-starting musical machine. See them perform and you quickly understand why they called that last album ‘Sweat.'
I loved the show and could see that great things were happening but the sound was really badly mixed. I could only hear drums and guitar. It was so loud that even with earplugs I was being blasted uncomfortably from anywhere in the room. Couldn’t make out vocals or any of the brass instruments either. It was really too bad.
Where was the funk? It felt really heavy and couldn’t hear anything the drummer was saying. Sadly I was disappointed
This group never disappoints. It’s an evening guaranteed to keep a smile on your face and body moving to the music!!! 20 years of epic entertainment
The band was great, but I found it difficult to hear the singer over the band. It was a great way to spend the last Friday without snow.
This band is so talented and fun! It’s really too bad about the sound in the venue. It was so loud that it was hard to enjoy and even more than that the sound was so muddy we couldn’t understand any of the words coming through the microphones.
An amazing, fun and full of Energy band. Dressed up funky and danced all night
Magnetic, fun, high energy and such a blast every time
This hometown band took the Commodore to its heights on Dec. 29, 2019! What a way to wind down 2019 with a band that will wind you up like no other! Fun, funky and wild, don't EVER miss a chance to take in Five Alarm Funk. Whatever else you are doing, cancel and go see the best funk in Canada!
5 Alarm is a high energy band that was disappointing because of the sound mixing. It was so loud that the musicians were all blended into one big noise there was no separation. The 2 lead singers ‘screamed’ at us rather than sang to us. ‘Too Many Zoos’ were fun for the first 15 minutes and then it just became the same noise. (Maybe I’m just getting too old for this)
