The Grove at the Radisson rocked to a funky soul beat on Friday night, as Oakland’s Tower of Power brought their trademark horn-driven sound to town. Larry Braggs pumped up the crowd's energy from the get-go. (Image by: Kati Garner)

Image by: Kati Garner

The excited crowd gathered in the cleared dance area in front of the stage to sip cocktails and reminisce about their Tower of Power fan experiences. People from the Bay Area, Los Angeles and even one couple from Arizona recalled the first time they danced to the powerhouse band.

Several people wore vintage T-shirts from concerts five, 10, even 30 years ago. Fans have generally sought out the group’s concerts multiple times over the 43 years the band has been in existence.

But before the music started, another type of celebration took center stage.

The concert was a fundraiser for Sacramento’s Francis House homeless resource center and a celebration of the life and work of the late executive director Greg Bunker.

Groups of friends of Francis House were circulating, greeting one another with hugs and laughter and sometimes tears as they remembered the Vietnam veteran who headed up the social service agency for 21 years.

A representative of Mayor Kevin Johnson’s office took the stage and presented Bunker’s wife, Stephanie Pierson, with a proclamation recognizing Bunker for his many contributions to the community. Stephanie Pierson, received a proclamation recognizing Bunker for his many contributions to the community. (Image by: Kati Garner)

The crowd reflected the dual nature of the event. Many people were there primarily to listen and dance to the unique sounds of one of the longest-lived bands in the country. But many were also there to mark what the mayor’s office declared as “Greg Bunker Day” in Sacramento.

Volunteers sold raffle tickets across the narrow walkway from the table selling CDs, shirts and vinyl LPs from the band, as well as the solo efforts of many of the musicians. Image by: Kati Garner

Opening the show were local favorites Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers, with guest Kyle Rowland, a teenage blues harp prodigy who is mentored by harmonica master Martin. The crowd got to loosen up their dance moves and tune into the funk-and-soul groove.

As the sun sank into an apricot dream and the gorgeous full moon rose in the east, the magic showed up on the stage.

When the 11 members of Tower of Power took the stage, the seating area erupted as fans flowed into the dance space. Wasting no time, the band surged directly into “We Came to Play.” The keyboard wailed, the guitars were hot and Rocco Prestia’s bass was a driving force in tandem with drummer David Garibaldi.

It is, however, the horns that make the band the big and blazing brassy explosion that it is. So tightly synched and exhilarating, the three saxes and two trumpets form the soul of the Bump City band. Founders Emilio Castillo and Stephen “Doc” Kupka have never wavered from their signature sound, and their horns have driven Tower of Power for 43 years. Image by: Kati Garner

Image by: Kati Garner

Vocalist extraordinaire Larry Braggs gives every song everything his amazing voice has got, and his phrasing and energy work equally well on the solid funk of “Get Your Feet Back On the Ground” and the soulful ballad “Below Us Are the City Lights.”

Image by: Kati Garner

All in all, the evening was a wonderful event, combining a good cause with some truly soul-stirring music, and the dancing, cheering crowd could not have asked for a better time.

For more information about Francis House, please visit    http://www.francishouse.info/