Funk musicians seem to have a propensity for making up words. It began with Parliament Funkadelic, who emerged in the 1970s and frequently sang about getting “funked up.” Funkadelic is not a word, nor is funked. 

Seacoast band Funkfoot is keeping the tradition alive. On the band’s Web site, they claim that their music contains elements of funktonium, jazzuminium and roxygen. Put your chemistry book away—these are not real elements. And although the word “funkfoot” sounds like a fungal disease of the lowermost appendage, the condition has never been diagnosed by any pediatrician.

According to Merriam-Webster OnLine, the word “funk” has several meanings. Definition 1: a strong, offensive smell. Definition 2: to become frightened and shrink back. Definition 3: a depressed state of mind.

Listen closely to definition 4: music that combines traditional forms of black music (as blues, gospel or soul) and is characterized by a strong backbeat.

About three songs into their first set at Bourbon’s on Jan. 19, Funkfoot burst into one of the most highly recognized beats known to humankind: Stevie Wonder’s 1972 hit “Superstition.” As the deep bwoump-bwoump of the bass line rattled the walls, it became apparent that Merriam-Webster’s fourth definition applied.

Armed with two electric guitars, drums, keyboards, bass and a singer with a remarkably funkified voice, Funkfoot has all the ingredients necessary to cook up a stew of head-bopping beats. At Bourbon’s, they kicked things off with a cover of Stevie Ray Vaughn, whose growling, bluesy vocals were well-mimicked by lead singer/bassist Berns Cote. They followed with three sets that mixed decades-old covers with original tunes.

But Funkfoot has more styles in its arsenal than funk alone. Strains of jazz, blues and rock weave through the songs, amalgamating a variety of influences. Cote said his musical goal is to do for funk what Sublime did for reggae in the 1990s, implementing fresh musical ideas to hook a new generation of listeners.

The musicians themselves are members of that new generation, but are well versed in funk history. Cote, drummer Ashley Rowe, keyboardist Eric Strathmeyer, and guitarists Jeremy Grob and Aaron Johnson would not look terribly out of place in a college dorm room. But each is exceptionally skilled with his instrument, and they meld their music as well as a band that has played together for decades.

As band members feed largely off the mutual energy of the audience, they suffered slightly at Bourbon’s from a slow trickle of listeners during the early part of the night and a general lack of dancers. When Grob, who’s earned the nickname Fuzz by virtue of his thick beard and long hair, managed to coax a few intrepid fans onto the dance floor, the band did some of its best work. The kinetic action on the floor seemed to heighten the intensity onstage, and the funk got funkier. But most of the dancers sat down after one or two songs, and the band was left to fend for itself.

Nevertheless, the members of Funkfoot are very comfortable on stage and obviously enjoy what they do. Cote’s deft bass work and bluesy vocals ground the music while other instruments flood in from all angles. Rowe’s pervasive drumming adjusts seamlessly to shifting styles. Switching between his red keyboard and synthesizer, Strathmeyer continually stimulates the audience with music that blends the jazz fusion of Herbie Hancock with the funk and rhythm of Stevie Wonder.

Both Grob and Johnson, who previously performed with Rhythm Ship, play soulful guitar rooted in the blues-rock vein. The two exchanged frequent solos, feeding off one another without becoming competitive. At one point, Cote traded instruments with Grob and surprised the audience with a nifty guitar solo.

Saxophonist Dave Stebbins joined the band for several tunes, adding a new layer to the already thick blend. The band is also known to occasionally employ a trumpet or two, and rumor has it Strathmeyer sometimes treats the audience to impromptu hip-hop vocals.

But there is still room for expansion in the Funkfoot sound. If the goal is truly to bring something new and fresh to the genre, they should experiment further with funky modifications to the traditional style. The band began playing together seriously in 2004, and as they look ahead to 2007 they have an opportunity to truly distinguish themselves from other funk-driven groups.

Funkfoot currently has one EP out, “Badunkafunk” (not a real word), recorded live in 2005. They head to the studio in March for their first full-length album and have another live album in the works. Until then, the band is keeping busy with tour dates around New England. Upcoming Seacoast gigs include a return to Bourbon’s on Saturday, Feb. 24, and a night at the Barley Pub in Dover on Saturday, March 3.