Play funk, and they will dance

By Meg Walsh

Published March 2, 2007

On Thursday, Mojo's was filled with the scene of tomorrow: high schoolers. Those words can arouse contempt in the college student's mind, but we were all there. We went to shows, we hung around the small bars, too young to drink but too cool to care. We followed the musical whims of our fellow youth. Oh, youth. In a world of indie-cred and scenesters, it's refreshing to hear kids playing classic funk.

Thunderclap Douglas and the 8-Track Groove is our local expert on the subject.

The four boys from Hickman High School formed after coming together for a talent show performance in November 2005. Tim Douglas, the band's lead vocalist and bassist (and presumably the source of the Douglas in the name) said: "We're absolutely funk-tastic."

"People can dance to it," guitarist Noah Myers said. "Unlike indie rock where you just sit there."

With role models ranging from Parliament Funkadelic, Beastie Boys, Yes and Curtis Mayfield, these boys are bringing unconventionality to the local Columbia scene.

As they jam out their tunes, the crowd can't help but feel grooved. Kids were getting funky with the help of Thunderclap all night.

Douglas, the frontman, said he introduced the other members of the band to funk. They followed the teachings of George Clinton and other funk greats to mold Thunderclap into heroes of the Columbia scene.

Although the band said many of it fans couldn't make it out Thursday night (they have school tomorrow), Mojo's wasn't vacant.

"Double digits is always good," Douglas said.

As a group of high schoolers, landing a spot at Mojo's is a big deal.

"It feels damn good," Douglas said, with Myers adding, "There were people we didn't recognize!" to which Douglas replied, "Exactly! It is so great to have people I don't recognize at a gig."

But with two members leaving Columbia in August for college, it looks like Thunderclap might not be taking over the local scene.

"We're going to be gigging it like crazy in the spring and summer," Douglas said. "Columbia's local music has a lot of indie rock in the future. For better or worse."

The band mentioned Columbia local juggernauts Witch's Hat as well as Soulstace and Ludo as members of the local scene who influenced them.

Douglas added that if the band gets a record deal in the next five months, he would stay in Columbia with his 8-Track Groove.