Picturesque Alsace borders France, Germany, and Switzerland. The region may present a storybook-like setting of timber-framed architecture, castles, and even the mythical birthplace of the Easter bunny. In reality, it is a fairy-tale land formed from turbulence. Originally settled by Celts, the territory was invaded by Romans, and controlled at various times by France and Germany during five centuries of warfare (including WWI and WWII). Today, Alsace is facing yet another invader—funk. Formed in 2002, the ten-member Custard Pie Power Funk Orchestra has been conquering the region’s dance floors with get-up-and-boogie salvos influenced by groovemeisters such as James Brown, Tower of Power, Funkadelic, and the Meters. This year, the collective released a four-song EP entitled Trade Your Soul [Bandcamp] that combines classic ‘70s funk elements with urban, rap, and rock sounds from the 1980s and right up to today. Drummer Michel Burcklen and percussionist Emiliano Benevides lay down the explosive […]