Stymie & the Pimp Jones Luv Orchestra

Stymie & the PJLO's instrumentation and presentation recalls classic funk groups like Funkadelic and Sly and The Family Stone, yet the music is 100% original, blending all the musical influences, modern cultural craziness, and cartoon humor that affect our lives. By eschewing cover songs to concentrate on crafting soulful, socially conscious originals, Stymie and his behemoth band have injected new life into the flailing San Francisco music scene and are proud to announce the release of “The Secret Hits of the Black & Blue Parade.”

Besides opening for funk legends Earth, Wind, and Fire at California’s Shoreline Amphi-theater and Concord Pavilion, Stymie & the PJLO have paid dues at such venerable San Francisco clubs as Slim’s, Bimbo’s, the Elbo Room, the Bottom of the Hill, Tongue and Groove, and the Paradise Lounge.

The group’s sound incorporates elements of rock, jazz, hip-hop, pop, reggae, Latin, and gospel, while maintaining a soulful funkiness and nastiness that throws audiences into a frenzy.At one show, P-Funk All-stars guitarist John Payne was inspired to leap on stage and jam with the band on "Fan Club," a bouncy mixture of James Brown grooves, whimsical horn vamps, and hot swing breaks. The song was described by All Music Guide’s John Bush as "the most entertaining" on that album. Billy Preston was impressed, too.

When Stymie & the PJLO was hired to play a musical tribute to the funk icon, Preston was moved to join them on stage, later saying, "I dig you guys. You remind me of early Sly & the Family Stone."