Tower of Power performs 'What Is Hip?'

[@bbigchocolate]

I love this band so much. Larry is one of the most talented and charismatic lead vocalist I’ve ever seen. It seems so natural for him. Thank you for sharing...

[@tannerboyle9423]

Not sure the folks in the crowd fully appreciate the greatness they are witnessing

[@karlhungus8841]

Tanner Boyle I’d be losing my mind

[@SSGTA440]

Man, you SO got that right.....maybe they are performing this too early in the morning...

[@andzwe]

Grooving seems to be a long time ago for most people there, that's if they ever did or felt the need to.

[@janholder2286]

I happened to catch this on TV, and I was losing my mind wishing I was there!!!!!! Love TOP

[@orlandogonzales6018]

Not sure these folks even know what it is to be hip epic era in left coast funk

[@dmarkj22]

Over 40 years later these guys sound as good as ever.

[@charlesanzalone5846]

Many new members over the year

[@BijahD]

The producers didn't know that they should've had one camera on Dave!! Absolute legend....

[@alcambrola2834]

He just announced his retirement last week. Hall of Fame drummer.

[@louiss.basoeki1142]

Tower of Power still in my heart.

[@QuantumOfSolace1]

Larry Braggs knocks it out of the park!! Doc still holding strong! Thank you TOP!!

[@kittykatz4001]

My dad played this album/song constantly, back in the day! He’s still alive, but he’s 86 yo.

[@bbigchocolate]

Adolfo Acosta’s trumpet solos are amazing. I think I wanna transcribe em’ for whenever I play this song... Sounds great brother 🤙🏾🎺

[@trumpetvet516]

Yes but camera didn't take Adolfos solo

[@davelopez2042]

I'd have to agree, Adolfo sounded great.

[@720mbradley]

So funny when Larry shouts NY - make some noise? The audience look like they're waiting to go through airport security

[@tptvox]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@tonjaraye]

How can there be only 50 people in the audience? Those people are CORPSES.

[@p.r.2991]

The audience doesn't know "What is hip?". They do know what a hip replacement is!

[@michaeljenkins6448]

AND they keep showing no one there!

[@kittykatz4001]

The don’t “know” what this is and how “big “ it was. My dad played tf out of this back in the day: he is 86 yo and myself, his daughter, now has a bad left knee and a bag right hip. My point being, the folks who are familiar and know how badazz this was , if still alive, probably can’t stand out there dancing around. 😮 Next time I see my dad, a frmr drummer, I’m going to play this for him. He doesnt use the internet or smart phone, but he played this album 💿 and this song until the wax was “smooth” and had no grooves left! He’ll enjoy hearing it, even with this diff vocalist!

[@alvarofalcon7136]

Sadly Rocco passed away 2 days ago. The band sounds great glad to see they re still playing!

[@wysiwyg2489]

Rocco was not playing on this one.

[@jaredgollnitz5258]

RIP Francis Rocco Prestia!

[@oscargluja426]

Go Go Go! Keep it up forever guys! What else is there to do 🎵

[@leavingweakness9927]

His lead guitar is absolutely sick. Buttery smooth midrange

[@kathymurray4760]

How can they not get into this? Audience may as well not be there!

[@seizethedayandlive]

Blown away every time!

[@peevee605]

So funky I can’t walk straight.

[@peterbland7227]

All about that bass.

[@mikerieck306]

This crowd is asking the question....."what are those shiny gold things they are blowing into?"

[@HippieDave351]

Rocco was the 16th. note bassist that held it ALL together!

[@jimhiatt7555]

Garibaldi may have helped a little.

[@alexdevcamp]

I'm pretty sure the Fox audience was not exactly the target demographic for this music

[@mrjazzhole8024]

That's because you are a bigot

[@mattnoell557]

@@mrjazzhole8024 - Pointing out the obvious makes him a bigot? sO THAT MAKES YOU....??

[@christisheeks6334]

That crowd isn't even looking at Tower of Power! They're facing the camera instead of the band! WOW! Not Deserving!

[@BobCropsey]

David on DRUMS!!!!!!! The Best!

[@jimhiatt7555]

👍

[@TheKimRo]

Wrong crowd for this amazing band.

[@f1boats]

Still killing it 😂👍👍👍

[@pedrobossio5440]

SMOKIN' BAND!! has got to be the tightest soul band in the world!

[@jimhiatt7555]

Ever hear of a little combo from the same town going by the name Sly and the Family Stone? Check them out, they’re pretty good, too.

[@pedrobossio5440]

@@jimhiatt7555 Hell yea! I shared the stage with Sly back in '73. TOP is just a different animal!

[@shanecabbage2187]

Interesting that the bass is so fundamental to this song, and not once did the bassist get camera time. Not only was the crowd clueless, but so were the cameramen and the video director. Sad, sad, sad.

[@geezerbill]

It's not just this clip, either. I saw an old clip of them doing this in the 1970s, and not once did the camera shoot Rocco.

[@jimhiatt7555]

…and not one close up of one of the best funk drummers on wheels, David Garibaldi!

[@robertdowler3347]

The 1973 Classic Hit it is. Hopefully they get back on the Touring scene soon.

[@Warpedsmac]

Bass drum production has changed over the years hasn't it!??!!! Listening thru Focal headphones.

[@surfosshuttles9031]

Video cuts off before the grand ending 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@browsepals4123]

Time crunch on live TV not conducive for full segment of this song. Still fun to watch.

[@daveanderson3714]

And that, folks, is why the audio/visual crew should always be treated as part of the band... it would have helped to have a producer who knew the song!

[@marvinhagler4721]

DAM THEY SOUND GREAT

[@Kreln1221]

*1:28**... **_"Smokin' all the best weed!..."_* ✌😎💭

[@lgndnhswnmnd]

Thanks for this post! Grateful for KZbin!

[@w.e.coyoteracing459]

That crowd clearly didn't know they were in company of funky greatness this show was wasted on these people

[@mr.vinegaroon3132]

"What is hip?" Audience: "well, its right here...near my belt, a bone...all the Geritol I drink eases its pain..."

[@creightonhart5654]

That crowd wasn't ready!!!!!

[@ciaronsmith4995]

Why is this on Fox News? Tower of Power doesn't watch Fox News. They are way too cool for that!!!

[@Sultan88888]

Since this is a BASSY song it behooves me y they wouldnt show the BASSISTS!!!!

[@jerryferko8309]

tanner , u are not kidding , this crowd is CLUELESS !!

[@austinteutsch]

Stephen Krupta rules this song. RIP musician.

[@BusMaster007X]

They were THERE. That's what counts. And you found it here, be that as it may. Shannon is a beauty, if nothing else.

[@pamelavarilone2614]

Ohmaannnn To be in that audience, id die a happy man...

[@hunahears]

Always awesome

[@parknoll32]

They sound EXACTLY like the did back in the day!

[@warrenmorphis4208]

They ALWAYS do! Unlike other bands / groups, they don't need, or use - gimmicky studio tricks - what they record - is what you hear live. And In Living Color. Pardon the pun :) :)

[@judeedoyle7787]

Love this! ❤

[@katiefreeman1565]

Love T of P. Thanks.

[@alexdevcamp]

"Does anybody know what hip is?" - no, not this audience 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@2zxodcfm]

Not to worry. It's now 5 years later and I know it when I see it. And this group is Hip! Just as Hip as they were when I first found these guys during my youth.

[@donmac24]

That's a sad group of rhythm deprived white people.

[@tptvox]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@austinteutsch]

Black people help the white people!!

[@jazzjazznjazz]

Yup ... black or white or brown doesn't matter...if someone claps to this tune like they're clapping after a birthday cake is cut , then they dont' know "What is Hip"...

[@woodygould]

"What is Hip? Not Tucker Carlson, or this audience, or the cameramen and director (where's any shot of the drummer, or the bass player? )

[@tracygittins6343]

Tasty trumpet solo being played, camera is on the trumpet player NOT playing the solo, just accents. :D

[@AndyPanda9]

Exactly! I was even starting to wonder if this was shot with bass/drums as a backing track (after the train accident) because the camera never shows them and the stage is so tiny!

[@woodygould]

AndyPanda9 I looked again; you can see a bass player at 0:30 and the drummer at 1:27, but can’t see who they are. Cannot imagine TOP working to a bass and drum track, particularly on this tune.

[@IMCcanTWEESTED]

No Rocco. Maybe he was boycotting Fox. And the camera operator was too thick to figure out which of the 2 trumpet players was blowing the solo...even after a sound check and run-thru. Unless Fox doesn't do run-thrus.

[@mrjazzhole8024]

Yeah.....voting for corporate sponsored neo cons like the Dems do, is really where it's at.

[@blizz4027]

Wow

[@cmryle]

Tucker Carlson introduces TOP. The only thing I've ever seen that was funnier was years ago when Bryan Gumbel tried to interview Miles Davis on the Today show. What you have to go through to get a f*ing gig.

[@synthonaplinth5980]

Where the heck is Rocco?!?

[@Tomatohater64]

synth on a plinth Don't think Rocco's health is too good now.

[@pedrobossio5440]

He has health issues, Liver. He's still the "Local" bass player and for new recordings but he can't tour with the band anymore.

[@synthonaplinth5980]

@@pedrobossio5440 That's true. Didn't he get a liver transplant a few years back?

[@pedrobossio5440]

@@synthonaplinth5980 Yea, he did, still going.

[@htm1600]

I'm here in 2024 🤙🏼❤️

[@FranconiaFriend]

I heart ToP

[@sharonlatour6230]

RIP Mike Finnigan. He passed today. :(

[@mikeferrini8884]

The irony of the worlds most diverse bay area soul band playing to a conservative white crowd. The greatness of Tower of Power played right over their heads.

[@Riffcoms]

"how many people here know what hip is" asked to a room of FOX News fans lmao

[@BillEFabian]

There’s a Fox News talking head in the crowd posing with visitors during the performance. Best hor

[@mdhf]

ToP asks a question that the staff at FOX and most of their viewership cannot answer.

[@anitacolotto9282]

Ain’t no funk in this crowd. They have no idea. No appreciation...need asoul vaccination!! TOP fan for life here.✨

[@doyrayburn2668]

Sorry, it aint TOP without Rocco.

[@Tomatohater64]

Doy Rayburn Agreed.

[@devildude64]

EXACTLY what I was thinking !!!!

[@geezerbill]

Putting the camera on the bassist at least once would be hip.

[@petewentz3528]

This performance was awesome but bad timing and a anything-but-hip audience, right? It's like having AC/DC or Led Zeppelin as your featured musical guests during the holidays at an assisted living facility....forgive me for even making that analogy, but hopefully you get the idea.

[@tomlehr861]

Good coverage for top though

[@mrjazzhole8024]

Where else would Led Zeppelin or AcDc be at these days? Their average age has to be 85. Aren't half of them dead already?

[@davidkopel5841]

No one does the Funk like T of P.

[@kelvarnson01]

"Yeah we just landed in New York dere, and took a cab form the airport dere and dere was some kinda band playin' dere. Dey were kinda loud and... OOOH, got to see Tucker dere, now we're gonna see if we can find da Naked Cowboy and den go ta Ground Zero and maybe get a hot dog".

[@tommigs]

The song does not pop without Rocco

[@warrenmorphis4208]

Of course not :) But gotta hand it to dude on bass - He's driving that train better than any sub yet! Very close "Rocco Feel".

[@rq5663]

The bassman sound great but he had not the percusive touch of Rocco.

[@AndyPanda9]

looks like they are playing to a backing track

[@tptvox]

No. They are one of he few bands that do not do that

[@AndyPanda9]

@@tptvox It was silly of me to think that, but the drums and bass are crammed into a corner in back and the camera never points at them -- When I couldn't spot the bass and drums (at first) I had wondered if this was after the accident where bassist (Marc) and drummer (David) were hit by a train running across the street to Yoshi's.

[@nathanwalters9]

This crowd needs to get funkifized

[@Howrider65]

The bay area had the best bands back in the day.. Now it's nothing buy homeless down and out people..

[@lesgoe8908]

Irony (noun): (e.g.) Tower of Power on "Fox and Friends"

[@geezerbill]

How so?

[@mrjazzhole8024]

@@geezerbill Because he's a bigot.

[@armoniqfields8016]

Big fan of these Men. They actually play the instruments. Back then, Whiteboys had Soul.

[@Yavor54]

What is hip? Not Tucker Carlson.

[@pillarobert]

nice ending?

[@QuantumOfSolace1]

A bunch of Bad Men!!

[@robertfulton908]

What’s not hip is this mix

[@cbgreely]

I MAY not know what hip is, but this audience DEFINITELY does not know.

[@judycrowler9367]

What is HIP??? Tower of Power JLC....

[@TonyCastellanos1945]

were is Rocco?

[@thescatman5029]

Rocco was in Newark, yesterday. However, he's had on and off health problems the last few years....!

[@mikemaiocco2538]

The audience doesn't have a clue

[@TheAncient11545]

Not only isn't Rocco in this performance, but I don't see ANY bass player. Is he hiding under the piano? Something stinks. I wonder if they used a recorded bass track.

[@jeffhackworth]

Go to 1:15 you can see the bass player on the far right side of the screen.

[@jimbalio]

Audience is all dead?

[@ddrums001]

I’ll tell you this, that crowd ain’t hip!

[@sourcebug6167]

Answer: NOT Tucker Carlson!

[@crazyeyes6911]

Only smoking the best weed

[@scottross154]

This FOX director doesn't have a clue

[@dianawolf894]

Hip

[@ClarenceHW]

Ha... this crowd is thinking "how come there's no blond people in that band...!

[@warrenmorphis4208]

Well....it IS Faux News - The most non melanated media company in the business.....

[@ClarenceHW]

@@warrenmorphis4208 Exactly Warren! heh

[@mrjazzhole8024]

We get it, you're anti-white

[@ClarenceHW]

@@mrjazzhole8024 yawn... I'm Irish. I would suggest some nice Lawrence Welk videos to calm your aching soul. I'm anti-bland.

[@mrjazzhole8024]

@@ClarenceHW It is what it is. You're just here to make a racist comment. Wondering where the videos are of YOU playing in your world famous band in national television without any of those horrible blonde people.

[@thecommish9887]

Fox not HIP

[@trumpetvet516]

bad camera work!

[@rq5663]

Tower of POWER sound ITS NOT the same without ROCCO

[@gordoh7634]

It figures Fox News wouldn't let them play until the end of the song. Too many minorities I suppose. Love them much.

[@wvkoi5675]

Too bad Rocco wasn’t in on this one.

[@jerrymcintire7902]

This would be great except it's on the "Fox News" channel. Can't stay.

[@loupi4bama]

White men kicking jazz? I was always told white people can't play jazz. J/K look at these old as moses musicians kicking azzzzzz.

[@MrSargenti]

Awful audio quality

[@navymuret]

Everyone complaining the crowd isn't into it. Cut 'em a break, it's a morning show...

[@jimhiatt7555]

It’s Tower of Power!

[@gkr2424]

Rip Mic Gillette

[@heartzdezire5607]

The way some of them look, thank goodness it wasn't hip hop.

[@normatible9795]

Omg. I thought the tower of power were all black musicians

[@gjd6166]

Lol

[@warrenmorphis4208]

Don't feel too bad - I did too in 1972....and I'm Black!! :) :)

[@TheStikapos]

Larry isn’t my favorite TOP front man, but one thing is for sure……he is a goooooood man.