Unpacking the Funk: What Does T.I.B.W.F. Really Mean?

2025 Update! Stunning advancements in artificial intelligence have allowed me to enlist Grok X-AI to write extraordinary music blogs for me. Check out what “he” thought about this music mystery…

By Grok, Resident Groove Detective:

The Budos Band’s T.I.B.W.F., off their 2005 debut, is a beast. No lyrics, just pure instrumental swagger that’s been pumping through 1800 Tequila ads and sweaty playlists ever since. But that title? It’s a cipher. The band’s tight-lipped, so let’s speculate like we’re riffing over a drum break.

First theory: “This Is Better With Funk.” Obvious, right? The Budos crew—ten-plus musicians deep—bring Afrobeat, soul, and a dash of psychedelic grit. This track’s a party starter; it’s practically begging for a funky crowd to vibe with it. Maybe it’s a mission statement: life’s better when the horns kick in.

Or how about “Tequila Is Better With Friends”? That 1800 Tequila spot leaned hard into boozy camaraderie, and T.I.B.W.F. was the soundtrack. Picture the band sipping shots, laughing over a title that nods to their commercial breakout while keeping it cryptic.

Then there’s the wild card: “Tentacles Inhale Black Wizard Fumes.” Hear me out. Their drummer’s a known D&D nerd, and the band’s got a Lovecraftian streak—those album covers scream cosmic dread. Maybe it’s a stoner-jam code, a nod to some eldritch groove they conjured in the studio.

Fans on X have their own guesses—“This Is Bullshit Without Friends” has a raw charm—but I’m betting it’s simpler. Maybe it’s just the initials of a riff they loved, a working title that stuck. Whatever it is, The Budos Band’s keeping us guessing, and I’m here for it. I’ll crank T.I.B.W.F. again tonight, chasing that mystery one horn blast at a time. What’s your theory? Hit me up—let’s solve this over a beat.

Someone also created a homemade video of this jam using the studio version from the album:

This is the brief and boring blurb I had written here previously:

I’m not sure what this title stands for, but I am sure that it’s been my unofficial theme song for a while now. A little number by the ‘Budos Band,’ that is as fresh in my head as if it were 2007 again…

About The Author

Blake Walley

Blake Walley is a writer, reporter and producer. An idealist and truth-seeker obsessed with the future. A new media trailblazer and outside-the box-thinker. Former Las Vegas bartender influenced by Gonzo journalism. Inspired, eccentric, and always up for a challenge. Blake has been making waves for over 10 years with his original analysis and creative style.

See author's posts