BY JOSE MARTINEZ

Tuesday night the funk mothership landed in Los Angeles as hipsters, funk enthusiasts, and friends and family of funk pioneer George Clinton gathered to celebrate the music legend’s 67^th birthday.

An invite-only affair at Zune, formerly the studio of renowned photographer Greg Gorman and now a day-work space for Microsoft employees, speakers were rolled out, a DJ was set up, and guests were offered all the Hennessy they could drink, including Hennessy mojitos, as well as a wide range of tasty bite sized treats including mini burgers and fried mac n' cheese balls, among other fine finger foods.

Rumored celebrity guests included Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, and Chavo of System of a Down, but the only “star” I was able to spot, in addition to a slew of local celebs that wouldn’t impress anyone out of town, was Peppers’ guitarist John Frusciante.

As guests gathered on the rooftop lounge earlier in the night sampling as many concoctions as you can possibly make with Hennessy, a very potent Cognac, you couldn’t help but marvel at the all the outrageous outfits and tiny skirts that filled the place.

An hour or so later everyone gathered downstairs as the man of the night, along with his gangsters of love, took the stage. Funny how it turned out that all the interesting characters I was watching earlier in the evening turned out to be the members of George Clinton’s band. And I swear at one point it seemed there were more people playing onstage than watching from the audience.

An innovator of funk music with Parliament, Funkadelic and the P-Funk All-Stars, Clinton and friends turned this mutha out. As we shouted “we want the funk” the night brought one nation under a funky groove.

Playing only fan favorites, Clinton stayed away from new material from his upcoming September 16 release that will include R&B and doo-wop material with guests Carlos Santana, Sly Stone, The Chili Peppers, El DeBarge, RZA and members of the P-Funk All-Stars.

Indeed the birthday boy did not disappoint as all party-goers reveled in the ultimate house party performance. Free drinks, fried foods, and fine funk, what more could anyone ask for?

[Photo Credits: Jose Martinez]