TOP Ten things, Tower of Power band members do on the plane home from Japan: By Al Carlos

10. Putting rice balls in the pantry.

9. Guess what’s under Doc hat now?

8. Rehearse complicated Asian dance moves on the way to the restroom.

7. Dice game in the galley.

6. Begin singing “150, 000 bottles of Sake on the wall”.

5. Asking folks, “Is that a Katana or are you just happy to see me?”

4. Getting used to not using the town name “Fukuoka” as a predicate normative.

3. Rewrite Knock, replace it with Kabuki Yo self out, San.

2. Regret wearing the Sumo underwear.

1. Have to wear an eye patches because tried to use chop sticks on the bullet train.

TOP Ten reasons American horn bands don’t play Baghdad: By Al Carlos

10. Every time they play an Iranian County Fair, infidels eat the best animals.

9. Its wimpy smooth jazz town compared to Oakland.

8. Saddam’s ex wife insists on sitting in on goat bell.

7. Can’t tell the suicide bombers from tour bus drivers.

6. Possible life threatening accidents from flying leather slippers.

5. Too many turbans in the crowd absorb the high end of the sound and drive the sound guy to the hookah pipe.

4. They refuse to merchandise floor length tour robes.

3. Former Catholics are afraid because all of the women look like Nuns.

2. Adoplo might begin telling the roadies to “Have her scrubbed and sent to my tent”.

1. Loud horns can cause Yaks and Camels to urinate indiscriminately.

TOP Ten good things about being a clean sober horn band fan: By Al Carlos

10. I forget.

9. With the money you save you can open up a tax deferred IRA and retire in Cabo and start drinking again.

8. You no longer think you used to be in a band.

7. At gigs you can tell the differnece between a hug and someone copping a feel.

6. Less apt to dance with someone of your own gender.

5. You make it back home with the same clothes on.

4. You can still pretend to be drunk when caught singing the wrong words.

3. Catch 22; If you still partied hard, couldn’t afford the 45 dollar ticket.

2. Great concert reviews for people who went to the gigs but still drank.

1. The women be righteous litigious and pretty.

David Garibaldi's Travel Blog

David Garibaldi of Tower of Power fame has begun posting again on his travel blog. David posts as he travels with the band around the globe. Check it out when you get a chance, David's Travel Blog. A new video featuring David at a masterclass, the TOP rhythm section did for The Pacific Jazz Institute at Jazz Alley (Seattle) on Saturday afternoon (5/2/09) has been posted. You can find it here.

Ok it's Official Mic Gillette Returns to Tower of Power

The Tower of Power website has officially announced that Mike Bogart will be leaving the band, and Mic Gillette will be returning. For more information go to the Tower of Power website.

TOP Ten ways Tower of Power changes its set for Cinco De Mayo By: Al Carlos

10.You’re still a young Maricone (Gay dude)

9. You got to Fajitafize.

8. The stroke is alive on the Ensenada side.

7. Don’t change Chones (Underwear) in the middle of the stream.

6. You outta be havin’ flan.

5. So very hard to go, but really easy if you drink the water.

4. Soul with a capitol Ese.

3. What is Heeeeep.

2. How could this happen to Mijo.

1. Oakland’s own, in the Guacamole zone.