It seems the Neville never falls far from the tree. So it's not surprising that Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk delivers a horn-fueled funky gumbo hotter than habaneros. Following in the musical tradition of their respective fathers Aaron and Art Neville, Ivan and Ian have a Big Easy-bred hustle in their blues-rock bustle, breaking out limber soul jams keyed to Ivan's keyboards and Ian's guitar.
Ivan has a long, illustrious history as a sideman and solo artist going back to the 1980s (remember the '88 hit, "Not Just Another Girl"?), and backing artists like Bonnie Raitt, Robbie Robertson, The Spin Doctors and the Rolling Stones. After struggling with drug addiction and a stalled career, Ivan got clean in '98 and recorded a couple of solo albums before forming Dumpstaphunk with Ian in 2003.
Dumpstaphunk's been on the upswing ever since, establishing itself as a staple of the summer-festival circuit, and introducing another generation to the funky NOLA-infused sound popularized by the Neville Brothers and the Meters. Of course, this younger generation's sound is more informed by rock and the legacies of Jimi Hendrix and Parliament.
There's more than a little social conscience at work as well, on the 2007 debut EP, Listen Hear. Tracks like "Livin Ina Worl Gone Mad" with its hint of Living Colour, the fire-starting "Turn This Thing Around," and "Shake It Off" all fulfill their civic duty while breaking off a chunk of funk.
Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk. 8 p.m. Thu., March 19. Rex Theatre, 1602 E. Carson St., South Side. $17 ($20 day of show). 412-381-6811 or www.rextheatre.com
