Firstly, a big Thank You to the Fresno Beehive for the free tickets. The seats were great… row 8 down center. The lovely Joy was my companion for the evening and we managed to gobble some fair food before the concert. She had the kabobs and I devoured the hot links ::burp::
Average White Band took the stage first to the opening strains of Pick Up The Pieces and launched into their set. They funked the house hard. Here are some pictures I took.
During the drum solo of AWB’s Rocky Bryant (which kicked hard) I spotted TOP’s singer, LARRY BRAGGS sneak out to the side of the stage to check it out.
A good solid show and a funkin good time. Scottish funk at it’s best.
Once the stage was reset… Tower of Power took the stage bringing their brand of Oakland funk to town.
The Funky Doctor still gives good medicine.
The original 4… from right to left… STEPHEN (“DOC”) KUPKA – Baritone saxophone, DAVID GARIBALDI – Drums, EMILIO CASTILLO – Second Tenor Sax, background & lead vocals, and FRANCIS ROCCO PRESTIA – Bass Guitar
I have always said this is the hardest working band in the biz… and once again tonight they gave us a party. A great 40th anniversary.
I’ll be writing my review on the Beehive and I will include it here later in the morning in an edit.
EDIT: 8:00 AM
Here is the review I left on the Beehive.
Thank you again to Beehive for the tickets to the AWB/TOP concert at the Fresno Fair.
This is not the first time these two bands have toured together. It really is a great combo. As they did a few years ago the Average White Band took the stage first.
Considering where this band originated from… Scottish Funk… who would have thunk? And good to boot. Original members Alan Gorrie & Onnie McIntyre still have it and they still have fun doing it. The younger members of the band more than hold their own. Especially Klyde Jones on vocals, bass and keyboard.
They opened with the riff to “Pick Up The Pieces”… but it was a fake-out launching into a string of hits eventually closing with (guess what?) “Pick Up The Pieces”. Perfect bookends. By the end the crowd was on it’s feet, head boppin and warmed up for more funk.
And more funk they got as Tower of Power took the stage. Kicking off with “We Came To Play” which got the ball rolling. Whenever they play Fresno there is always a certain sense of family… like that cool cousin who made it big is back for a visit triggering a rockin party.
Tonight was no different. Horns as tight as ever punctuated by hard funk that compels you to move even if you have two left feet. Yes, there were a few in the audience. They didn’t care and neither did we… it was a party. I have to say it didn’t hurt that Larry Bragg is a great front-man for the group… both vocally and in presence.
At one point one couldn’t help but sense the present irony when they launched into “Only So Much Oil In The Ground”. Especially when Emilio Castillo (who was in fine form) told the crowd the song was written when gasoline was sixty-eight cents a gallon.
If you have never been to a TOP concert before… you really owe it to yourself to. The quirk is the audience sings along to the lyrics… as well as the horn parts. Not surprising since they are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. It was plainly evident they were enjoying themselves on stage and so were we.
It certainly was a wonderful celebration for what I have long considered to be the hardest working band in the biz. As per usual… there are pictures on my blog.
After seeing Chicago last week, Earth, Wind & Fire on Monday and this last night. I suspect my streak is done for a while.
EDIT: 3:30 PM
Since the disdain is certain to flow freely for a bit more because of my recent concert streak (some has already in the comment section) I thought I’d post this somewhat bizarre video featuring a montage of beautiful Asian women set to Tower of Power’s “You Ought To Be Having Fun”.