Uncovering Indy’s Deep Funk Soul
A night of groove, joy, and history at the Kan-Kan
Last month, I had one of those nights that lingers in your brain long after it happens. I went to a screening of WE WANT THE FUNK! as part of PBS’s Independent Lens documentary screening at the Kan-Kan, preceded by a live recording of an episode of WFYI’s Echoes of Indiana Avenue—moderated by the ever-brilliant DJ Kyle Long, with a panel of absolute legends: Reggie Griffin, Lester Johnson, Herman “Butch” Slaughter, Rodney Stepp, and Steve Weakley.
To say I left feeling funkier (and wiser) would be an understatement.
What I love most about evenings like this is how they peel back the layers of what you think you know. Like a history detective, I found myself digging into the roots of funk in Indiana—realizing how deeply this genre, this movement, this joy, is woven into the DNA of my hometown. Indy has its own sacred lineage of funk and soul. It’s a historic treasure chest of African American music, bursting with Midwest origin stories that deserve center stage.
We talked about the politics of sound. About how funk isn’t just a rhythm—it’s a response. A response to war, to displacement, to the need for safety and soul-saving joy. George Clinton said it best: “Free your mind and your ass will follow.”
There’s something transcendental about funk. It’s church and rebellion. It’s psychedelic and grounded. (No wonder I love Funkadelic so much—turns out my taste leans “trippy with a beat.”)
And then there’s this gem: Chris Frantz from Talking Heads came back from a Parliament-Funkadelic show shouting “Burn down the house!”—a call-and-response chant from the crowd. David Byrne liked the line so much, he turned it into one of their most iconic songs. That’s the thing about funk: its influence ripples everywhere, from techno to indie rock, sampled and remixed into new generations of sound.
We owe so much to the legends who came before us—especially the ones from right here in Indiana.
Want to hear it for yourself? Listen to this special episode of Echoes of Indiana Avenue here.
Indy, you beautiful funky town. Thanks for keeping the groove alive.