Rocco is Still The Man!

[AJ Brown]

Kevin O'Connell (kobass) and I went to see Tower of Power at a small club in Providence (The Hi Hat). We had primo seats, and this band after 40 years is still insanely good.

Although Rocco's tone was a little 'muddy' (probably due to the shape of the room), he still cooked big-time. What a blast this band is to experience live. Next time they come around to your area, just do it.




I was lucky enough to get this shot when I did. After this song, the entire dance floor was PACKED for the rest of the night.

Rocco used his Conklin "Rocco" sig bass, SWR head and two Eden 4x12's

[edubb]

Live!. Great pics and your right, Rocco is still the man. i love his style, its so funky and just makes you wanna move!. I have heard jazz guys say he's sloppy, but music is about feel more than precision imho. If it doesnt make you feel good, I dont give a rats @ss hope "precise" your playing is, lol. Rocco makes me feel good!.

[kobass]

Originally Posted by AJ Brown

this band after 40 years is still insanely good.

+1!

[AJ Brown]

Originally Posted by edubb

I have heard jazz guys say he's sloppy

If Rocco is sloppy, I don't ever want him to be precise.

[Mikio]

I thought you were talking about porn... (?) xD

[Wissen]

The band was in Harrisburg, PA last Wednesday, and it was my first time seeing them live after 10 years of trying to catch a show.

Rocco is indeed the man. And I knew they were a bunch of white guys, but now they are bunch of old fat white guys (except Rocco and DG).

I will say though, even as a funk player, that a 60-year-old Emilio Castille is funkier than I'll ever hope to be. Ditto for Rocco.

Highlight of 2009 for me so far, I have to say.

[ettsn]

Rocco and Garibaldi are the rhythm section in my book.

[NickBass81]

I saw Rocco and Dave doin' a clinic nearby my town in 2003...damn'it, what an amazing groove!!
Rocco wasn't playing his bass (due to luggage problems at the airport) and he played a bass borrowed from one of the teachers (Jazz Bass if I remember well)...he still had his sound (even if I don't know if he ever used a jazz bass)...it's all in his hands!!!!

[KJung]

Cool! Great pic's! Rocco looks healthy and happy, which is amazing given what he's gone through. GREAT to see he is gigging and still smoking!

[Ezbass]

Originally Posted by edubb

I dont give a rats @ss hope "precise" your playing is, lol. Rocco makes me feel good!.

+ gazillions.

If TOP and Rocco don't make your head bob or foot tap then you're dead inside.

I do hope that TOP visit the UK soon before members of the line up stop touring.

Did a gig once with a drummer friend who's a big TOP fan, especially Dave Garibaldi (well duh!). We did that old chesnut "Walking The Dog" and I played a cod version of "Squib Cakes" as the bass line. When we came to the end me and the drummer ended it a la "Down At The Nightclub", totally spontaneous and unrehearsed. If our grins had been any wider our heads would have split in 2 To our eternal shame we then high fived each other

[AJ Brown]

Originally Posted by KJung

Cool! Great pic's! Rocco looks healthy and happy, which is amazing given what he's gone through. GREAT to see he is gigging and still smoking!

He seemed healthy to me. He looked great.

[paul_wolfe]

Ezbass said

I do hope that TOP visit the UK soon before members of the line up stop touring.

Yeah they've not been for about three years - but they've done two swing throughs of europe in that time and played in France, Germany, Belgium, Italy and places like that. But no UK dates.

I thought of driving over to Paris to check them out - but the Mrs would not understand that!!!

Every week I check their tour itinary on their website. Waiting to see if there's any UK dates.

Changing the subject, anyone got the AMERICAN SOUL BOOK yet? What's it like?

[AJ Brown]

Originally Posted by paul_wolfe

Changing the subject, anyone got the AMERICAN SOUL BOOK yet? What's it like?

You should be able to sample it here: http://www.juno.co.uk/products/Great...Book/346513-1/

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by edubb

Live!. Great pics and your right, Rocco is still the man. i love his style, its so funky and just makes you wanna move!. I have heard jazz guys say he's sloppy, but music is about feel more than precision imho. If it doesnt make you feel good, I dont give a rats @ss hope "precise" your playing is, lol. Rocco makes me feel good!.

Sloppy, the way that cat hits and ghosts notes, what planet are these Jazz guys from?

Rocco is a one in a generation type player. We won't see anyone like him for a long time.

Great pics

blue

[bluewine]

I thought of driving over to Paris to check them out - but the Mrs would not understand that!!!


Been there, one of the reasons I'm divorced which I don't wish on anyone.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by NickBass81

I saw Rocco and Dave doin' a clinic nearby my town in 2003...damn'it, what an amazing groove!!
Rocco wasn't playing his bass (due to luggage problems at the airport) and he played a bass borrowed from one of the teachers (Jazz Bass if I remember well)...he still had his sound (even if I don't know if he ever used a jazz bass)...it's all in his hands!!!!

I hope they come to Summerfest in Milwaukee this year, they always rip the place up.

[Honk'n_down-low]

Wish I knew I would have come down and joined you!

Originally Posted by AJ Brown

Kevin O'Connell (kobass) and I went to see Tower of Power at a small club in Providence (The Hi Hat). We had primo seats, and this band after 40 years is still insanely good.

Although Rocco's tone was a little 'muddy' (probably due to the shape of the room), he still cooked big-time. What a blast this band is to experience live. Next time they come around to your area, just do it.




I was lucky enough to get this shot when I did. After this song, the entire dance floor was PACKED for the rest of the night.

Rocco used his Conklin "Rocco" sig bass, SWR head and two Eden 4x12's

[CamMcIntyre]

Yeah...I was feeling pretty good about my playing and sight reading until I opened up my "Sitting in with Rocco" book. The metronome click got slowed waaaaaaaaay down. I now have a few goal tunes to learn.

[Marcus Willett]

Originally Posted by AJ Brown

Rocco is Still The Man!

Always was and always will be!

[Honk'n_down-low]

Checked their schedule and they are heading overseas - back in the Norhteast in June and then again in July going to try and make one of those shows!