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Monster Cable sponsors Tower of Power Reunion Concert & DVD

Oct 20, 2008 in CDs & DVDs, Collectibles, Concerts & Festivals, Milestones, Tower of Power at 40, Tower of Power updates

Noel Lee, founder of Monster Cable, gave himself the clever title of Head Monster. Now, Tower of Power fans can give Noel and his company something else… THANKS!!

Through the generosity of Mr. Lee, Monster Cable partner with the band to sponsor the recording and webcast of its 40th Anniversary Reunion Concert at San Francisco’s Fillmore Auditorium, this past Saturday night.

Fans around the world were able to view and hear the concert from a balcony seat at their home computer.

The concert, plus footage from the August 13th show in San Mateo (featuring Bruce Conte, Mic Gillette, & Lenny Pickett AND some special features), will be released, this January, in DVD in High Definition.

Noel Lee is a man who understands quality, precision, and unique style in both his products and his favorite music.
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Read a little more about Monster Cable:

Monster Cable Products Inc., a company with revenues estimated in the $500 million range, had a humble start in 1979. Noel first discovered that wires of different constructions produced varying degrees of audio performance. From this initial discovery he developed a high performance speaker cable, literally creating an industry.

In 1979 he knew in order to make his business big, he had to get to CES. So off he went, driving to Chicago with nothing but cardboard boxes and a paper bag full of his Monster Cables. He was able to borrow a portion of an existing booth to demonstrate his product next to standard speaker cables. Needless to say, his product was creating a buzz at that year’s CES. Monster’s big break didn’t come until the next CES, when he got a monster order – 30,000 cables – which he had trouble meeting.

With direct access to people he would never meet otherwise, CES gave Noel and his small company endless opportunities. Now, Monster remains a privately held company, with revenues around $500 million, according to industry estimates. With a a passion for success, all Monster needed was a chance … and they found it at CES.

Andy Ebon
CEO of Soul
Soul Music News

Technorati Tags: DVD, Monster Cable, Noel Lee, Reunion Show, The Fillmore, Tower of Power

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Tower of Power Reunion Set List

Oct 19, 2008 in CDs & DVDs, Collectibles, Concerts & Festivals, Milestones, Tower of Power at 40, Tower of Power updates

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

Technorati Tags: 40th Year Reunion Concert, set list, The Fillmore, Tower of Power

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30th Song: Tower of Power Reunion Concert - What is hip?

Oct 19, 2008 in CDs & DVDs, Collectibles, Concerts & Festivals, Milestones, Tower of Power at 40, Tower of Power updates

30th Song: Tower of Power Reunion Concert - What is hip? (Tower of Power) - Soul Power (James Brown - Maceo Parker - The JBs), Vocals: Larry Braggs, Michael Jeffries, Ellis Hall. Mark Russo on Lead Tenor Sax solo.