Defining Huckleberry Funk’s sound isn’t easy. Vocalist Dexter Clardy simply calls it “gritty R&B.”
But really, there is nothing simple about the group’s high-powered blend of genres, ranging from rock to funk to hip hop and just about everything in between.
“Our music style over the years has grown significantly into what we like to call now ‘gritty R&B,” Clardy said. “Merging all our inspirations into one sound can be a bit overwhelming sonically, at times, but as the years have gone by, we’ve zeroed in on a very high-energy, raw but clean and tight sound that we hope our listeners really feel.”
Local listeners can get a high-powered feel for Huckleberry Funk when it performs a free livestream concert at 7:30 p.m. March 16 at the Palladium in Carmel as part of The Center for the Performing Arts’ “Live at the Center” series. The Indianapolis-based band, originally formed in Bloomington by Byron Boler (drums), Alex Dura (keyboards/saxophone), Matthew McConahay (bass guitar), Elias McDermott-Sipe (guitar) and Clardy, has developed a following throughout the Midwest and has played venues in New York City, New Orleans and Philadelphia as well as in Indianapolis and Bloomington.
The well-traveled band is making its Carmel debut.
“We actually have never performed at the Palladium before, but being an Indianapolis native, I’ve always had it on my list of stages I’d love to sing on one day,” Clardy said. “Definitely would be an even cooler experience with a sold-out crowd to perform for, but I know the livestream will feel just as surreal.”
Huckleberry Funk derives its unique sound from the blend of musical inspirations of its five members, four of whom attended Indiana University together.
“As a band, we come from super diverse backgrounds and have always had varying music tastes,” Clardy said. “We’ve always prided ourselves on being able to merge all types of genres into one set and make it make sense for our fans. Rock, funk, hip hop, covers, originals, as long as it sounds good and feels good, we felt we could make a moment out of just about anything live.”
For more or to register for the livestream, visit thecenterpresents.org.
