At
7:30pm, the VIP Party featuring Tower of Power started with some seriously
funky grooves a la "Soul Vaccination", featuring the funky horns of
Emilio Castillo, Stephen "Doc" Kupka, Tom Politzer, Mike Bogart and
Adolfo Acosta! Then, it
was on to "Soul With a Capital 'S'".....it was da bomb with some
heavy, heavy organ funk provided by Roger Smith and funky, funky fast rhythm
guitarisms by Jeff Tamelier!! "Page One" was some serious funky shit
with the powerful bass (provided by the one and only ROCCO PRESTIA) over all
over it and a very good Roger organ solo!!! "Credit" was a blues-funky,
uptempo song (sounding as good as James Brown's "Kansas City ['75
version]")....the lead vocalist, Larry Braggs, was way too-hot as he
almost began to scat! (Larry is an excellent vocalist!) "Pocketful of
Soul" was a weird song, with tempo changes throughout, but funky.
"Willing to Learn" was a tender ballad with lots of organ riffs!
"This Time It's Real" was followed by Emilio introducing members of
the band. Then, it was on to him "Diggin' on James Brown". featuring
Doc's too-hot baritone sax riffs and Tom's hot sax solo!!! (EVERY ASS IN THE
PLACE WAS JAMMIN' TO THIS!!) "Oakland Zone" was good, as was
"What is Hip?", featuring the too funky organ solo and the tight
drumming of Dave Garibaldi!!
The encore featured "You're Still a Young Man" and the ultimate
rumpshaker of 'em all, "KNOCK YOURSELF OUT"!!! "Knock Yourself
Out" was so smokin' that everyone had to give up da funk.....uh, Sir Noses
need not apply, baba!! In the guise of DC Curry's character in the flick
FRIDAY AFTER NEXT (Uncle Elroy): "(This funk) taste so good, make you
knock yourself out!!!!!" Special guest on saxophone, Lenny Pickett,
came to join the band on this funky, funky feast!!!!
The show was over at 9:00pm. TOWER OF POWER had successfully brought the
Village Underground down to its foundation!!
I paid $20.00 for the admission and got a complimentary CD of T.O.P. latest &
greatest project "OAKLAND ZONE", plus a free T.O.P. 5/05/03 T-shirt!!
WOW!!!!!!!! As a bonus, I got a chance to meet almost everyone from the band
and got autographs! I especially took time to talk to ROCCO PRESTIA and asked
about his health (I donated some "ends" to his medical situ-ation)
and he is doing fine (and looks very good)!!
Submit suggestions or comments to david.brooks@brookenstein.com