You Got to Funkifize!

Xorg Inter-Galactic went on a company outing on Saturday evening to see the pre-eminent California soul band Tower of Power at Matter, O2, in Greenwich. Matter is a medium size venue of about 2,500 capacity within what used to be the Millenium Dome. Mostly standing, but that's the best way to see a band like this.

This band has been around since 1968 and many musicians have passed through its ranks, with founder members Emilio Castillio (tenor sax) and Stephen 'Dr Funk' Kupka (baritone sax) the two constants. The current line-up comprises a five man horn section of two tenor saxes, baritone sax, two trumpets with the trumpeters doubling on trombone and flugelhorn; with bass; drums; guitar; keyboards; and lead vocals. Their distinctive sound comes from really tight horn arrangements over the extremely funky rhythm section of  David Garibaldi on drums and Rocco Prestia on bass. If you think of Wilson Pickett's 'Land of a Thousand Dances' or 'Lovey Dovey' by Otis Redding and Carla Thomas (and so forth), but a bit smoother with some jazz chops and occasional tricky time changes, then that's the kind of feel we are discussing.

The band hit the ground running, ripping into 'We Came to Play' and getting everyone dancing from the word go. Some of these guys might be old and fat these days but they can still cut a groove better than anyone. Not only are they top-notch musicians but they also obviously enjoy what they do. The set was made up of Tower of Power classics such as  - 'What is Hip?', 'On the Serious Side', 'Only So Much Oil in the Ground', 'Soul With a Capital S', and 'Diggin on James Brown' - and some new stuff such as 'You Met Your Match', an old Stevie Wonder song. The lead tenor sax did loads of soloing, screaming out harmonics like there's no tomorrow, and the lead singer Larry Braggs really whipped it out - he's good. He and Emilio did the business of winding up the audience into a frenzy, and milked three encores out of us.

Absolutely brilliant - Five Stars!

For those not amongst the cognoscenti, you can  listen to some of their stuff at Spotify, Last FM or wherever. Or come round our house for a groove session.  I'm afraid you've missed your chance to see them live (in the UK) as this was their only UK gig this year and they only come round every few years (they are Big in Germany though). They have a new album out - Great American Soulbook. Go on, take a chance - you won't be disappointed. As for the venue; well, it's steel and concrete brutalism, the toilets are hard to find and the drinks are outrageously expensive (£4.50 for a 330 ml bottle of beer). Very well policed though and the security guy let me take my coffee in with me which I'd bought outside.