(February 3, 2024) There is a story behind every song, but few are as entertaining as the tale of the creation story for “Bad Knees,” the new song by Ghost-Note. Ghost-Note is the band and brainchild of Snarky Puppy drummer-keyboardist Robert Sput Searight and percussionist Nate Werth. “Bad Knees” was written by the band’s bassist MonoNeon.
MonoNeon dislocated his knees while dancing to the music of James Brown. The Godfather of Soul is downright funky, of course, and plenty of funk music fans of a certain age can identify with pulling, dislocating, and maybe even breaking something while trying to mimic The Hardest Working Man in Showbusiness. Apparently, MonoNeon dislocated his knees three or four times, according to Searight.
Well, his orthopedic misfortune will bring auditory satisfaction to the fans of hard-core raucous funk. The tune is fast paced and funky. “Bad Knees” features a tight horn section working in unison in a way that appears to bounce off the elastic foundation laid down by the rhythm section. If Ghost-Note wanted to make a cut to make you jump until it hurts, they have succeeded.
“Bad Knees” is a single from Ghost-Note’s upcoming album Mustard ‘n Onions, which is due out on April 19, and it features some guests who are exciting and touching. One such performance features the late keyboardist, Bernard Wright. Wright appeared on three tracks, in what turned out to among his final performances before his untimely death in 2022.
You’ll have to wait until the spring to hear those songs, but for now enjoy “Bad Knees.” Just don’t hurt yourself.
By Howard Dukes
Ghost-Note – “Bad Knees”
