Name: SOPHISTAFUNK w/s/g Nik Greeley & The Operators + Gunpoets
Start: 2024-12-08T19:00:00-05:00
Location: Funk 'n Waffles Syracuse

$SOPHISTAFUNK w\/s\/g Nik Greeley & The Operators + Gunpoets$

There’s a new band on television! Mashing up funk, rap, and their own distinct brand of positive vibes. You can catch them every Wednesday night on Food Network’s new show “Guy’s Ultimate Game Night,” where celebrities compete, laugh, dance, and congregate around culinary-themed party games. And it’s all for the charities of their choice!! But who’s this band that’s the life of the party? Who is Sophistafunk?
“The unstoppable Funk Hip Hop dance party”
From underground shows to international festivals, Sophistafunk has been described as “Rage Against the Machine meets The Roots, dipped in P-Funk.” They’ve also become widely known on the touring circuit as a rare Hip Hop meets live electronic jam band, performing multiple sets at Electric Forest and Camp Bisco (USA), as well as BoomTown and Shambala (UK), to name a few. They’re well known from New York to New Orleans, and have particularly strong followings in California, Colorado, Michigan, New England, and the Great Northwest, among others.
After celebrity chef Guy Fieri became a fan of the band, he invited Sophistafunk to perform at many of his events and private parties around the country, including at the Super Bowl in Tempe, AZ. The band even appeared twice on his TV show “Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives.” They were also featured as the house band for four episodes of “Guy’s Grocery Games” and in 2020 premiered a music video on Food Network’s “Triple D: Takeout Edition.” Sophistafunk’s multi-year relationship with Fieri culminated in the invite of a lifetime: to be regular cast members on his brand new game show!! Add a little funk, and “Guy’s Ultimate Game Night” was born! The rest is history.
The band is rooted in undeniable musicianship and authenticity, blending intoxicating beats with mind-expanding flows. Mad scientist Adam Gold is known for his heavy synth basslines and funky vocals. He plays four vintage keyboards at the same time, sometimes even while beatboxing! Gospel trained drummer and singer Emanuel Washington combines neo-soul with deep house, reggae, and more. Frontman / emcee Jack Brown evokes comparisons from Mac Miller to Michael Frantí, but his lyrical skill and conscious vibes are truly one of a kind. The band also features musical guests, ranging from brass instruments to guitars, turntablists, female singers, & other surprises. Lately, they’ve been touring with sax powerhouse Tommy Weeks of the Funky Dawgz Brass Band.
Sophistafunk is for music lovers. Through the years, they’ve become one of the most exhilarating and fulfilling live music experiences around. They blend genres as a broader analogy for people coming together, leaving audiences with an undeniable afterglow of funky positivity. For years, Sophistafunk has been pioneers on the live music circuit, unafraid to push boundaries with their sounds and their messages. And now the whole world is finding out. Catch a show, and join the party!
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Nik Greeley is known for being arguably the best frontman & performer in Philadelphia, and has established himself as one of the most entertaining musicians in the area, often being compared to the likes of James Brown, Joe Cocker, and Jim Morrison.

Greeley has had the pleasure of opening for respected artists such as George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Gene Ween (Ween), Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Shuggie Otis, Bernie Worrell (P-Funk, Talking Heads), Fishbone, Moon Hooch, Andy Frasco & The UN, Rebirth Brass Band, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Rusted Root and many more.
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Voice as a weapon, words as bullets, spreading the universal message of peace, love, and justice through music. Sure, there's a cynical cultural tendency to make certain assumptions when you hear the word "gun" associated with rap music, but this seven-member live hip-hop band from Ithaca, NY, runs contrary to that image with their positive message and uplifting performances.
Since the band formed in 2008, their stellar catalog of albums and dedication to an ever growing and energized fan base has helped propel them to the top of the Central New York music scene. In addition to being one of the top homegrown acts in their musically rich hometown, Gunpoets have become staples at regional festivals such as the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance and the Great Blue Heron Music Festival. Progressively, over the band's 15 years together, they have also become in-demand headliners at clubs and concert series across the Northeast.
In July 2016, Gunpoets released their third studio album, Bombs Away! The album's title plays off the hard/soft juxtaposition that underlies the band's name and creative identity. The album is a call to the world to lay down all weapons of war, and to replace them with love, peace, and compassion. This powerful release exemplifies the true definition of what it means to be a Gunpoet. While it has been some time since their last release, fans will be happy to know that 2024 will be full of brand new music and surefire great shows. Stay tuned!