If you’re from out of town or silly enough to live in New Orleans and have never seen Ivan Neville’s Dumsptaphunk, do yourself a favor: take a break from the screeching melodies, electronic pop and heavy-eye makeup at Voodoo Fest on Saturday afternoon and go see the greasiest, swampiest funk music that has permeated places like Tipitina’s for years.

You will thank me later.

Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk

Like visiting Marie Laveau’s grave at St. Louis No. 1 or going to a second line in the Treme, seeing a New Orleans funk band -- a good one -- is a right of passage, it is part of the city’s DNA, and it is the only way to understand New Orleans music, or the city itself for that matter.

Born at the right time and imbued with musical talents passed down from the masters, the band has great funk in its genes. Dumpstaphunk is Ivan Neville on keys, the son of Aaron Neville, who is known for his vocals in the Nevilles and the Wild Tchoupitoulas. Ian Neville on guitar is the son of Art Neville, the funky front man for the Nevilles and the Meters who gave the world “Mardi Gras Mambo.” Add to the mix the twin-headed bass monster of Tony Hall and Nick Daniels and drummer Raymond Weber’s funky, driving backbeat for a potent, soulful stew. 

Their resume is as impressive as their heritage, as the members of the band have played with the Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews, Trey Anastasio, Bonnie Riatt and, of course, the Neville Brothers.

Think the thick bass lines of the Meters; hear the down-home style of the Neville Brothers; imagine the gritty Uptown feel of the Wild Tchoupitoulas; and feel the raw, Mardi Gras Indian funk of the Wild Magnolias.  Dumpstaphunk is the next generation in the long line of funk that can be stretched from the days of Congo Square.

This is what New Orleans offers for those with open ears even though it might you take to darker corners of the city, and the reason -- despite the great national acts that come for Voodoo -- that there is a tent paying homage to one of the greatest musical cities in the world.

Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk

But don’t expect a Neville Brothers or Meters cover band. Their sound is unique, as is their identity.  “It is not typical New Orleans stuff; it is rooted in New Orleans, obviously. But it has more of an edge to it,” said Ivan Neville, describing the band’s sound over the phone. 

“We’re influenced by a lot of different types of funk music,” Ivan said, adding while he loves the tradition of New Orleans funk and loves playing it, bands like Sly and the Family Stone, Parliament and Funkadelic are also major influences in their sound.

“Dumsptaphunk is the best funk band from New Orleans right now. That's no small thing in a city where rhythm is a natural resource, an art, an advanced science, an incantation and an exorcism as well as a reason to dance,” gushed an entranced New York Times writer, Jon Pareles, after seeing the band in 2007.

Pareles, even for outsider, is right. Dumpstaphunk has held the title for several years, playing the most honored slot during Jazz Fest: the last Sunday show at Tip’s, where the best of the best get to send the tourists back home with their heads reeling with a raucous three to four hour show that rattles the walls.

Not content with being the kings of the New Orleans funk scene, the band has taken its nasty sound on the road, playing all the major festivals and major cities from coast to coast.

(Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk plays from 6:15 to 7:15 Saturday at the WWOZ/SoCo stage)