Bootsy Collins - “I’d Rather Be With You"

SXSW 2024 - OEB Score: 9; Popularity Index: 9

Pairs Well With…George Clinton & P-Funk, Silk Sonic, James Brown

Retirement is for suckers, so goes Bootsy Collins and the funk still being shared at 72 years old come SXSW 2024. Being James Brown’s bass player may be the best line on a music resume, a feat that Bootsy followed up by joining Parliament Funkadelic in their 70s heyday. His combination of thick grooves, fun attitude, and overall musical personality makes his basslines that much more enjoyable. A collaborator across pop, dance, and rock music since, Bootsy Collins has been everywhere his career and deserves a solo spotlight at this year’s SXSW. Bootsy has continuously released records since the mid-80s through 2021’s Nobody’s Perfect Experience, a wide catalog filled with humor amid slap-bass action. His showcase(s) will hopefully pull from throughout his career in addition to highlighting what’s next for this essential artist. (Kevin McStravick)