Live review from Soundsplashing Underground (07-02-2025):
Rhythm is Freedom
Another Christmas
Look Up
Trina
Summer Vibes
Twisted
Highway 1
HIPSTER
Kyle- Lead Vocals and Keyboard
Ryan- Guitar
Davy- Bass guitar
Anthony- Sax
Carl (filling in for our main drummer Baw)- Drums
Put yourself in the AIA carnival, with the typical carnival games like can smash, wiggle wires and rides like Big Ben Tower, Vertical Limits. Near the food section you see an audience dancing along to a band that longs for Christmas and the lead vocalist seems to dance like he is possessed by a Christmas spirit.
The Funkaphones, coming in second after the performance of Rue. It was my first time seeing them and I personally enjoyed their performance. Their hyperactive energy matched with the carnival’s various rides and games and they had good interactions from the crowd which also included a pop-quiz.
It took only a few songs by them and Kyle’s funnily crazy dancing moves for a crowd to gather in front of the stage and dance along to the music.
Two songs in particular caught my attention. “Another Christmas”, a song about their love for Christmas in early February. Christmas seems to be really close to their heart, especially Kyle’s as he busted out the wackiest dance movies of the whole event during this song. “Highway 1” the name to this song was an answer to a pop-quiz that Kyle had for Californians in the crowd, the question being which highway runs all across Los Angeles.
Overall, their set was full of energy and a lot of fun, and the crowd clearly felt it too, with plenty of people up and dancing throughout. I would love to see them live again.
-Tibialis
Live review from The Underground Winter Festival (冬季音樂祭) Day 2 @ The Fringe Club:
Trina
Rhythm is Freedom
Summer Vibes
Twisted
She’s Such a Pain
Look Up
Highway 1
Hipster
Kyle Wagner: Keys and Vocals
Baw Summerset: Drums
Ryan Winter: Guitar and backing vocals
Anthony Brophy: Saxaphone
Davy Lam: Bass
Funkaphones deliver a set that swings between tight funk grooves and indulgent jam sessions, with Kyle Wagner’s vocals and keys at the centre. Opening with Trina, the slap‑bass shuffle and brass flourishes set a big‑band tone, Wagner pointing out faces in the crowd while Ryan Winter’s guitar flickers between disco nuggets and airy arpeggios. Rhythm is Freedom leans heavily on James Brown stylings, its tornado‑like build punctuated by Anthony Brophy’s sax solos, one soaring, another faltering. Wagner’s aside about quarantine gives the track unexpected poignancy.
Summer Vibes shifts into pop‑rock territory, its foggy guitar intro and smooth sax solo evoking an 80s teen film soundtrack. Wagner’s voice strains at the top end but the song carries a breezy charm. Twisted brings gospel energy, organ drones and stomping bass underpinning Wagner’s plea to “release me” before collapsing abruptly. Look Up attempts crowd participation, urging phones away and arms raised, though the message feels heavy‑handed and the reggae‑tinged guitar licks divide opinion.
The sharpest moment comes with She’s Such a Pain, a blues‑rock workout with wah‑wah guitar and spiralling sax lines, its groove irresistible despite the lyrical grumble. Closing number Hipster is pure dancefloor bait, basslines running wild, marimba fills adding sparkle, Wagner snarling with warmth as the band lock into disco‑funk abandon.
Throughout, Baw Summerset’s drumming is muscular yet playful, Davy Lam’s bass alternates between subtle backbone and berserk runs, and Brophy’s sax adds colour even when power wanes. Funkaphones may not always balance substance with style, but their live energy is undeniable – a band that thrives on sweat, swagger and the joy of improvisation.
–El Jay
Live Review from Funk Ska Nation:
1. Before You Woke Up
2. Half Asleep
3. Another Christmas
4. Thief
5. Wrong (Charlie’s Song)
6. The New Millennial
7. Summer Vibes
8. She’s Such a Pain
Middle child of the evening, The Funkaphones impressed with their fizzy funk-pop anthems and infectiously warm personalities.
Face masks posed no threat to the quartet, bright smiles reaching their eyes and palpable in their music as they kicked off the set with Before You Woke Up. A catchy, toe-tappable tune, it made for the perfect introduction to The Funkaphones’ unique energy and sound. Think 90s alt rock with a smattering of soulful funk flair- and keyboards galore.
Strong vocals from the lead singer-keyboardist in Half Asleep and Another Christmas truly made an impression, the richness and rasp of his higher register falling somewhere between classic rock and contemporary emo (Remington Leith of Palaye Royale comes to mind). It’s a specific tone which refines the sound of the band as a whole, elevating them from fun and funky to something with prominence, flair, and intention. Pushing the boundaries of genres is always compelling when done properly, and these guys blew right past them!
Thief wound down with an almost lullaby feel to it before resurfacing with Wrong (Charlie’s Song), hyping the energy up in time for a rousing audience singalong in the effervescent The New Millennial.
Closing out the show with She’s Such a Pain, the boys truly let loose. Working against a rapidly approaching closing time of midnight, strictly enforced as part of social distancing laws, The Funkaphones made the most of their stage time. Bassist Sebastian, the newest member of the lineup, shone especially bright as the frenetic cacophony of sound made way for an equally dynamic dancefloor. With the singer’s too-big mask ending up covering his entire face, The Funkaphones are the perfect blend of technical prowess and genuine fun; they never take themselves or their space too seriously, and the result is a jam-packed show which is a joy to watch, listen, and groove to.
– Jasmine Gould-Wilson
