Tower of Power Reunion Set List
First Set
We Came To Play - Larry Braggs
Soul With A Capital S - Larry Braggs
Can’t Stand To See The Slaughter/Express Yourself
It’s Not The Crime - Lead Vocals - Emilio Castillo
How Could This Happen - Larry Braggs
You’ve Got To Funkifize - Lead Vocals - Ellis Hall
Willing To Learn - Lead Vocals - Larry Braggs
Down To The Nightclub - Larry Braggs
As Surely As I Stand Here - Larry Braggs
Soul Vaccination - Larry Braggs
So I Got To Groove - Larry Braggs
Second Set
Boys From The Bay - Instrumental featuring Richard Elliot on lead tenor, and solo by Greg Adams - Trumpet
Souled Out - Larry Braggs
I Thank You - Sam Moore
Mr. Pitiful - Sam Moore
Oakland Stroke
Ain’t Nothin Stoppin Us Now - Larry Braggs
You Ought To Be Havin’ Fun - Larry Braggs
Get Yo’ Feet Back on the Ground - Larry Braggs
Time Will Tell - Larry Braggs
A Little Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing - Larry Braggs
Funk the dumb stuff - Emilio Castillo
Attitude Dance - Larry Braggs
Credit - Ellis Hall - featuring Richard Elliot on lead tenor solo
There is Only So Much Oil In the Ground - Ellis Hall
This Time It’s Real - Ellis Hall
Diggin’ on James Brown - Emilio Castillo
So Very Hard To Go - Larry Braggs; Greg Adams on Flugelhorn Solo
What Is Hip? - Soul Power - Larry Braggs
Encore
You’re Still A Young Man - Larry Braggs
Knock Yourself Out - Larry Braggs
What started at a few minutes after 9pm (PST), ended with the band leaving the stage, very briefly, at 12:20pm. Perhaps there was no room in the dressing room or off-stage for the entire Tower of Power entourage, past and present.
Fittingly, Emilio dedicated You’re Still A Young Man to ‘Friends of Bill W.’ No doubt, many fans at The Fillmore, or watching the webcast on the internet (Thanks to Monster Cable), were transported back in time to a particular place or situation. They were looking someone in the eyes, holding them, or dancing with them to You’re Still A Young Man.
One cannot forget that although this song was on the Bump City, it was the first composition by Doc Kupka and Emilio Castillo. You’re Still A Young Man has been the encore opener as long as anyone can remember.
Seeing members of the horn section drop to their knees is a time-honored tradition, always bringing a roar from the audience.
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The band brings it on home, as Larry Braggs call for Knock Yourself Out.
Immediately, Larry calls out to CT (Chester Thompson) for steaming organ solo. And now the fun has begun, anew.
What feels like a dozen horns are pumping in-synch, as Larry acknowledges Chester.
Audience and band members raise their fists, “Knock, Knock, Knock Yourself Out… Whoo…” repeatedly. Then, making it funky one time.
Greg Adams on trumpet, and the music parts for the sweetness of his solo.
Mic Gillette slides in his classic fat trombone sound, like so many times before, as if not a day has passed.
Next up is Bill Churchville, layin’ spice on top. All the time, you can hear the rhythm section clicking like a ‘funk-meter.’
Now, the horn section follows Mic, underlaying his solo with their repeated rhythm.
It’s a rare pleasure to hear the band jam. At Larry’s request, David Garibaldi takes off into polyrhythmic land. And the band continues to percolate.
T-O-P, T-O-P, Knock-yourself-out, knock-yourself-out. Everyone is dancing on stage. The joint be jumpin’.
Everyone in the house will be telling friends about their experience, and about how YOU should have been there.
The show is over after 32 songs, after about three and a half hours of smokin’ soul music.
Good night!
Andy Ebon
CEO of Soul
Soul Music News
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