Ivan Neville on Dumpstaphunk’s Groove for a Divided Time
The first thing keyboardist Ivan Neville wants you to feel is the power of a collective—voices stacked, rhythm sections interlocked, horns lifting the room—because the band he leads takes the old New Orleans lesson seriously: the groove only becomes itself when everybody is in it together. (Click the play button to listen to the interview with Ivan Neville,)
“‘Let’s Do It’ is basically about we—we versus me,” Neville says, talking about the band’s recent single, one of the last recordings to feature the late bassist and co‑founder Nick Daniels III. “We together are more powerful… there’s strength in numbers, there’s a strength in us collaborating and doing things as a group as opposed to one individual.” He pauses on the line that anchors the track: “I’m good, but together we’re great.”
That credo is how Dumpstaphunk sounds onstage: multiple singers trading verses, four‑on‑the‑floor uplift, a rhythm pocket that moves like a second‑line drumline welded to a rock band’s drive. “As you can hear, the different voices—I sing a verse, Tony [Hall] sings a part, and our brother Nick, who’s no longer with us in the flesh, sang that part of the verse,” Neville explains. “We’re all singing together on the chorus along with our friend Viveca Hawkins.”
The inclusiveness is also the point. “The theme of ‘Us Together’ is something powerful… having a shared vision and a common theme that we want to convey together,” he says. “There’s something powerful in that.”
Dumpstaphunk has carried that message for more than two decades, evolving from a Jazz Fest one‑off in 2003 into a full‑time modern New Orleans institution—an outfit that updates the Neville/Meters lineage with big‑band horns, tough guitars, and stacked harmonies while inviting friends from across the scene to sit in. The band’s family ties are real (Ivan is Aaron Neville’s son; guitarist Ian Neville is Art “Poppa Funk” Neville’s son), and so is the civic mandate: keep the city’s groove current and global. Their four studio albums culminated in Where Do We Go From Here (2021) and a run of high‑profile tours and festival sets, all while absorbing next‑generation members and, in 2024, mourning Daniels’s passing.
“The song “United Nations Stomp” is about trying again—being united and working together, and it’s about peace… even though the odds might seem stacked against us, we still hope to accomplish things together, especially in a time when our nation feels so divided”
That sense of continuity—heritage to here‑and‑now—is one reason the band revived Buddy Miles’s “United Nations Stomp,” a 1970 deep cut with an unfakeable handshake‑in‑the‑street chorus. “It’s a combination of the groove and the message,” Neville says. “We’re always looking for songs that inspire us… an obscure cut, a deep cut. Many people are not familiar with this song, and when we play it, they look at it as if it’s maybe an original that we came up with—and we don’t mind that.”
What matters is what the lyric does in the room. “It’s about trying again—being united and working together, and it’s about peace,” he says. “Even though we may face some difficulties and the odds might seem stacked against us, we still hope to accomplish things together… especially in a time when our nation feels so divided.” The band’s recorded version features guitarist Marcus King tearing into the changes alongside Ian Neville—another trans‑regional bridge on a tune that preaches coalition over separation.
Programmatically, “United Nations Stomp” is a hinge song: a reminder that a dance floor can carry a message without killing the mood. “It incorporates the idea of ‘clap your hands and stomp your feet’—it’s a danceable groove going on,” Neville says. “And then we’re talking about something that means something, and we hope that people get it… it fits well among the Dumpstaphunk material.” He hears the confirmation nightly: “Based on the feedback and the reactions we see, it gets a great response.”
Courtesy photo provided
That live chemistry is why the band thrives in rooms built for motion. At San Francisco’s SFJAZZ Center—where Miner Auditorium converts to a dance‑floor show—Neville relishes the chance to let the beat stretch. “We love that room, and I’m glad it’s billed as a dance floor show,” he says. “People will be able to shake it, stomp their feet, clap their hands… we’re gonna be playing some music that’s definitely good to move around to, and there might be a moment to think about the message as well.”
There will also be a wink for locals. “I’m sure we will incorporate at least one song by an essential Bay Area band,” he teases, refusing to name names. As for the flow of the night, he gives credit to his cousin: “We let [Ian] take the lead on the set list these days… we observe and approve, sometimes offering a few suggestions. I’m sure it’s going to make a great set list. We’re going to have to play ‘United Nations Stomp’—that’s a Bay Area hero of ours.”
If you are new to Dumpstaphunk, the lineup is a study in NOLA continuity and expansion: Ivan Neville (keyboards/vocals), Tony Hall (bass/guitar/vocals), and Ian Neville (guitar) at the core; Deven Trusclair on drums; and a horn line that has featured trombonist Alex Wasily and trumpeters Ashlin Parker and John Michael Bradford, with singers like Viveca Hawkins lifting the blend. The band’s roster has stayed flexible by design, and, after Daniels’s death in 2024, that openness has been a way to honor his spirit: keep the pocket deep, keep the voices plural.
All of which loops back to “Let’s Do It,” the way the chorus resolves into a pledge. The track functions as a thesis for where the band is headed—toward a bolder articulation of community, where the horn stabs and breaks feel like exhortations rather than decorations. “We feel strongly about it because, as a band, we get to collaborate,” Neville says. “We can all do things on our own as well, but together… there’s a strength in us collaborating and doing things as a group.”
And the destination? Neville answers like a bandleader who knows exactly how to end a set: with motion and purpose. “We’re looking forward to a great show… to be very excited and musical for the fans and everyone in attendance,” he says. “Come ready to move—and maybe think about the message for a minute.”
Ticket & Show Info
Event: Dumpstaphunk — Dance Floor Show
Venue: Miner Auditorium, SFJAZZ Center (San Francisco, CA)
Date & Time: Saturday, October 11 at 7:30 PM
Tickets: SFJAZZ event page | SFJAZZ.org (main site)
Band Website (tour dates & more): dumpstaphunk.com
