Fall FUNK BALL at The Toad Tavern

U.S. Pipe will headline and host the FUNK BALL, the second one this year after an earlier successful BALL they produced in June at the Oriental Theater. Two other up-and-coming Colorado bands are lined up for the evening: Demon Funkies and Caleb Riley Funk Orchestra. In addition, U.S. Pipe is bringing in a very special guest for this event: acclaimed funk trombonist Greg Boyer.

WHAT: The Fall FUNK BALL, hosted by U.S. Pipe, with Demon Funkies, Caleb Riley Funk Orchestra and SPECIAL GUEST Greg Boyer (current trombonist for Prince's New Power Generation band)

WHEN: Saturday, December 8 at 8 p.m.

WHERE: The Toad Tavern, 5302 South Federal Circle, Littleton, Colo., 80123DETAILS: 21+, $5 at door; a celebratory evening of all that is funky!

U.S. Pipe is pleased to present the fall FUNK BALL at The Toad Tavern, located at 5302 South Federal Circle in Littleton, on Saturday, December 8 at 8 p.m.

U.S. Pipe will headline and host the FUNK BALL, the second one this year after an earlier successful BALL they produced in June at the Oriental Theater. Gaining buzz after successful Colorado shows in esteemed venues from Denver's Bluebird Theater to Aspen's Belly Up, U.S. Pipe is back from touring regionally in the Southwest and Midwest to give their Colorado home a dose of pure funk on a grand scale.

Two other up-and-coming Colorado bands are lined up for the evening: Demon Funkies and Caleb Riley Funk Orchestra. In addition, U.S. Pipe is bringing in a very special guest for this event: acclaimed funk trombonist Greg Boyer.

Boyer got his professional start at 15 playing tenor sax. After three semesters at St. Mary's College in Md., he joined Parliament/Funkadelic at the age of 19, where he was the trombonist and arranger for the P-Funk Horns until he retired in 1996. Currently he works with Prince & the NPG Band as a trombonist and horn arranger. Through his career he's played with other artists and groups such as Maceo Parker, Bootsy Collins, the GAP Band, Hank Williams, Jr., Sheila E, Stanley Clarke, and Chuck Brown, among many others.

Those who attend the FUNK BALL should dress in funky attire to be in spirit with the event as well as win prizes. Sponsors for the FUNK BALL will be announced online at http://www.us-pipe.com/ along with details about giveaways, drink specials and all promotions. There will be regular updates about the party plans posted on the site as they develop.

The FUNK BALL is a 21+ affair and admission is at the door only, a real deal at only $5!

Pipe back in the Midwest

We're off to the Midwest again, with a Halloween show at Davey's Uptown Rambler's Club in Kansas City, MO, and two shows at Jazzhaus in Lawrence, KS—November 2 and 3.

The full schedule so far is as follows:

- Wednesday, October 31, 9 p.m. at Davey's Uptown Rambler's Club, 3402 Main St., Kansas City, Mo., 64111. Tickets for this special Halloween show are on sale now through ticketmaster.com and are $7.

- Friday and Saturday, November 3 and 4, 10 p.m. at Jazzhaus, 926 1/2 Massachusetts, Lawrence, Kan., 66044. Both nights will feature very special guest Dewayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight, who is a guitarist with George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic. Cover for both these shows is only $3.

U.S. Pipe on the road to New Mexico

U.S. Pipe is spreading their brand of fresh funk to the land of enchantment. On October 19 they will take the stage at the Mine Shaft Tavern at 2846 State Highway 14 North in Madrid, N.M., for a performance at 8 p.m. There is a $5 cover charge for the event. Press release follows.

—FUNK BAND U.S. PIPE & THE BALLS JOHNSON DANCE MACHINE MAKES NEW MEXICO DEBUT—

DENVER, COLO., October 2, 2007—Denver/Boulder, Colo.-based funk band U.S. Pipe & the Balls Johnson Dance Machine (U.S. Pipe) is spreading their brand of fresh funk to the land of enchantment. On October 19 they will take the stage at the Mine Shaft Tavern at 2846 State Highway 14 North in Madrid, N.M., for a performance at 8 p.m. There is a $5 cover charge for the event.

U.S. Pipe's flavorful fusion of funk, rock and hip hop honors the old-school groove that is sure to conjure nostalgia for long-time funk fans, as well as inspire a new following of fans to continue funk’s rich history. The band's history stretches back to 2005 when band leader Chris "Citrus" Sauthoff went to audition for another band and found himself at the helm of a new creation. As others learned of his association with George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic (Citrus was stage manager and undercover guitarist from 1995 to 2007), the inspiration for a new funk army took hold.

Today, U.S. Pipe has an army of 13 members who comprise a plethora of skill and talent. With an eclectic group of musicians that make up this core, coupled with special guests from the funk world, Citrus has assembled a "smokin' dance machine that is sure to get the party started and people on their feet."

U.S. Pipe has traveled throughout the Rocky Mountain Region and as far as the Midwest to take the funk to the masses. In 2007 they were accepted to Diversafest, the Midwest's largest and most comprehensive music conference and festival, alongside headliners The Flaming Lips and Leon Russell. They've also been to the Jackson Hole area and will return to the Midwest by Halloween to play in Kansas City, Mo., and Lawrence, Kan. Eariler this year they had the honor of opening for George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic at Denver's esteemed Ogden Theatre, and they've played myriad Colorado venues, from Boulder's Fox Theatre to Denver's Oriental Theater, where they produced, hosted, and headlined the first FUNK BALL, showcasing the area's best in up-and-coming funk talent.

"We're thrilled to be moving out regionally to the Southwest," says Citrus. "This land is known for its natural beauty and mystical vibe and we aspire to be one with it, as funk is on the One."

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U.S. Pipe now on Jambase

If you like using Jambase to track the tour schedules of your favorite artists, you're in luck! U.S. Pipe & the Balls Johnson Dance Machine is now on Jambase and you can just click here to access the page and add U.S. to your favorites.

VOTE FOR U.S. - Bodog Battle of the Bands!

Please vote for U.S. online, now through September 30, so that we can possibly win a one million dollar recording contract! We know you love U.S., so show it by voting today--just click here!

**NEW** Video from Diversafest appearance

In our first official online video, watch U.S. at The Blank Slate in Tulsa, OK, for Diversafest 2007, performing "Hooker" followed by "Get Up." MANY THANKS to bass player, Kurt Rosenbecker, for his camera for shooting, to tha Spunky One, Laura, for shooting it (her first time), and to our dearest Bubbles Johnson (aka Missy) for compressing it to fit online!!!

Denver Post's Top Underground Bands

We have been selected as one of the Top Underground Bands of 2007 by the Denver Post. This list is selected by a vote of 104 local-music experts and selected citizens. Our latest Pipe addition, Azma, also made the list as he's been a hip hope artist in the scene for a while now. Congrats to him and U.S. and thanks to Ricardo Baca, John Wenzel, and the rest of the Post staff and voters--best of luck with the Underground Music Showcase!

Citrus is Club Hoppin'

Pipe leader Chris "Citrus" Sauthoff is featured in the "Club Hoppin'" column of the Rocky Mountain News Click here to see a jpeg scan of the column.

Catch U.S. at DIVERSAFEST 2007 in Tulsa, OK

U.S. Pipe is pleased to announce that we have been selected for our first Festival (outside the Denver area), Diversafest, in Tulsa, OK (July 27 - 28). We are excited to be part of the Midwest's largest and most comprehensive music festival and conference, playing alongside headliners like The Flaming Lips and Leon Russell. If you're doing the fest circuit this summer, be sure to drop by and say hi in Okie.

Vote for U.S. as best funk/soul band

We're very pleased and honored to have been nominated as best funk/soul band for this year's Westword Music Showcase. On Saturday, June 16, we'll join other nominated bands in 23 different categories and headliner, Dinosaur Jr., to perform at the Showcase. Help U.S. win the funk/soul category by casting your vote for U.S.!

Click here to see all the different nominees in their respective categories. Then you can follow the link from that page to vote, or click here to go vote right away!

We'll have ballots you can fill out at all of our shows and the deadline for getting your vote in is Monday, June 18. The ballots we collect we can submit on your behalf, so it's easy!

We appreciate your support. Keep puffin' and passin' the Pipe!

Funky Future in Sight!

Check U.S. out in the latest (April) issue of Colorado Music Buzz, out on stands now, highlighting our opening for George Clinton and the P-Funk Allstars! You can see a jpg scan of the article by clicking here.

2007: The Year of The Funk, Black Soap Palace

The Year of The Funk is Upon U.S.! We announce the birth of Black Soap Palace and our collaboration with Skip of KUVO 89.3 FM's "A Funk Above the Rest," who is hosting the 1st School of Funk, to make the Mile High City a major funkin' hub!

Here's the press release with more info:

—2007: THE YEAR OF THE FUNK IS UPON US—

DENVER, COLO., March 20, 2007—U.S. Pipe & the Balls Johnson Dance Machine front man and lead guitarist, Chris "Citrus" Sauthoff, and KUVO 89.3 FM's "A Funk Above the Rest" host, Skip Reeves, are working to prove that The Funk is alive and evolving in the Mile High City. If you find your weekend was devoid of Funk, Monday and Tuesday nights are sure to deliver the big pill you need.

Every Monday night beginning April 2, you can head over to The Cricket on the Hill, where Citrus will be hosting the "Black Soap Palace," a funk jam session open to anyone and everyone of all musical levels to express their need to funk. The signups will begin at 7 p.m. with the jam session starting by 8.

Named for the barbershop back in Plainsfield, N.J., where George Clinton met his fellow Parliaments and styled hair while harmonizing, the Black Soap Palace sessions are an homage to the roots of Funk. It was from these humble hairdressing beginnings that a brand of Funk emerged that would endure for more than fifty years in the music business and give birth to Hip Hop. Fellow P-Funk icons like Garry "Starchild" Shider, Bernie Worrell and Boogie Mosson would go to the Black Soap Palace as school kids to hang out and, sometimes, get in trouble. "While we won't be doing waves and processes, we will be getting together and making music for the best reason of all: for the Funk of it," Citrus says.

On every other Tuesday of the month, Skip is hosting his "1st School of Funk" nights at Jazz @ Jack's, where up-and-coming funk bands will perform. As Denver's Funktologist, Skip hosts his "A Funk Above the Rest" show on KUVO 89.3 FM every Saturday night from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. With the School of Funk, Skip is continuing his mission to further The Funk in our beloved town, and he is committed to recruiting all the funkateers to being an active part of the movement.

The first session of the 1st School of Funk was held on March 13 with the bands Phat Daddy and Soul School, who got the crowd grooving to such classics as "September" and "Love Rollercoaster." The next school session will be March 27 with bands Soul School and Fantastic Black.

With the collaboration of these two camps, it's sure to be a funky good year in Denver.

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U.S. Pipe to open for George Clinton and P-Funk!

We are opening for George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic at The Ogden Theatre!

The official press release follows.

—U.S. PIPE & THE BALLS JOHNSON DANCE MACHINE TO OPEN FORGEORGE CLINTON AND PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC—

DENVER, COLO., February 13, 2007—It has been officially announced that local band, U.S. Pipe & the Balls Johnson Dance Machine (U.S. Pipe), will open for funk legends George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic (P-Funk) at their show at The Ogden Theatre on Saturday, February 24 at 8 p.m.

For U.S. Pipe founder and lead guitarist, Chris “Citrus” Sauthoff, this show is an important mark in his professional career. As lead guitarist of Denver band Lord of Word and the Disciples of Bass (LOWDOB) in 1994, he had the same opportunity at the same venue. This show is one of legend to funk fans: it was the first time P-Funk had been in Colorado since their other legendary appearance back in 1976 for the Rocky Mountain Shakedown. After making an earlier appearance at Lollapalooza, P-Funk took the stage at The Ogden Theatre after LOWDOB’s set and played all through the night into the sunrise hours, delivering a prolific performance to Colorado fans who had hungered for eighteen years to see P-Funk back in their beloved home state.

Citrus had been a fan since childhood and had the same hunger; to share a bill with his heroes was a magical chance of a lifetime. This moment sparked a relationship between P-Funk’s Garry “Starchild” Shider and the members of LOWDOB. “The group back then was so unique that I clung to them,” he says. He ended up leaving the P-Funk tour to opt for recording sessions with them, and over weeks, they came up with a cut that was unfortunately never released, “Dead in the Digital.”

Once Shider returned to the P-Funk fold, Citrus and LOWDOB went back to work but ultimately ended their run together. Months later, Citrus had a new job at the Mercury Café, a new home, and a girlfriend,and Shider showed up one day at a rehearsal space looking for him. He told Citrus to pack his bags and come out on the road with him and P-Funk, a tall order for a man who’d just settled down, but a demand to which he ultimately complied. He spent a couple years out on the road with P-Funk, and then left from 1997 – 2000.

He came back, once again, at Shider’s insistence. Shider relates, “Cit went out into the mountains, you know, with his acoustic guitar, and one day, he just called me up. I said to him, ‘I’m glad you called. You gotta come to work.’” Once more, Citrus followed the funk and has been out on the road at P-Funk’s calling ever since, taking only a few breaks to work on his project back home, Funkadelic-inspired and flavored U.S. Pipe.

U.S. Pipe has had several successful shows in the Denver metro area, appearing at venues such as The Oriental Theater, The Fox Theatre and The Walnut Room. In June of 2006, Shider appeared with them at the Capitol Hill People’s Fair and at Bender’s Tavern, alongside P-Funk bassist Lige Curry, who has made several appearances with U.S. Pipe, having started out as their bass player in their earlier performances. Several other P-Funk members have appeared with U.S. Pipe at other shows: Rico “Ric Smoov” Lewis, who has appeared many times as a keyboardist and emcee; vocalist Kendra Foster; Clinton’s granddaughter and front woman of Children of Production, Sativa; vocalist Kim Manning; and most recently, keyboardist Danny Bedrosian.

“I love that U.S. Pipe is opening for P-Funk. It reminds me of old times, that’s where he (Citrus) started, that’s where he is again,” Shider smiles.

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New Year's Eve show available for download

Our New Year's Eve show from The Knotty Pine is now available for download from Internet Archive. Just visit the link below to access the files:

http://www.archive.org/details/uspipe2006-12-31.flac16

You'll see all your favorites, old and new, from "Funky Family" to "Pass the Pipe" and "Control Freak." Tell all your friends and pass the Pipe!