Columnist Spencer Patterson: Tower of Power a noteworthy Vegas attraction

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Sept. 2, 2005 | 8:13 a.m.

Tower of Power has a steady presence in Las Vegas these days, but Emilio Castillo remembers when he couldn't beg his way into one of the city's many showrooms.

"There was a time we couldn't get arrested there," said Castillo, tenor saxophonist and leader of the horn-driven funk band since its formation in 1968. "In the '80s the only place we could play was ... What was that joint? ... Calamity Jane's. That was the only gig we could get in town. Nobody wanted us."

Southern Nevada began to open up for the 10-piece group in the 1990s, with the arrival of new venues, and an unexpected invite from an older property.

"We started playing the Hard Rock (Hotel) and the House of Blues (at Mandalay Bay). We did a couple of gigs at the Hilton, and we started doing some corporate parties," Castillo said.

"And then the entertainment director at this joint called Arizona Charlie's dug us, so he got them to hire us. And to their surprise, we drew a bunch of people. We had huge crowds, so we started going in there regularly."

Since then, Tower of Power has had no trouble finding work in Vegas, returning every few months, usually to play either the Orleans or Suncoast.

Castillo and company begin a three-night run at the Suncoast Showroom tonight, with shows scheduled to begin nightly at 7:30 through Sunday. Tickets cost $44, $55 and $66.

Savvy Tower of Power fans would be wise to veer over to the Golden Nugget after Saturday's performance. Musicians from the group have been known to guest with the Lon Bronson All-Star Band during that ensemble's regular 10 p.m. gig at the Theatre Ballroom.

One of those frequent Nugget visitors, barritone saxophonist Stephen "Doc" Kupka, teamed with Castillo to create Tower of Power in the Bay Area nearly four decades ago. Since then, the two have spearheaded a lineup that has helped defined funky soul music with such urban anthems as "What is Hip?" and "You're Still a Young Man."

A disco dalliance steered Tower off course during the late 1970s, but the band righted its ship again for a 1990s resurgence that continues today. The lesson of the stylistic misstep continues to serves Tower of Power well, Castillo said.

"In the late '70s we had a lot of urging from Columbia (Records) to try to be like other bands at the time," Castillo, 54, said."They were like, 'You should re-do an old Motown song disco-style, try to be like Earth, Wind & Fire ...' We tried to accomodate them and came out sounding like Tower of Power anyway, only a bastardized version.

"So we don't pay attention to what's going on in the music business. We know what's going on in the Tower of Power business, and as long we we concentrate on that, things go well."

Over the years, Tower of Power has become famous for studio collaborations with other well-known acts, including Elton John, Huey Lewis & The News, Santana and Aerosmith. For Castillo, one such experience stands out above all others.

"I have great memories of working with Little Feat," he said. "We did most of their records but the live record we did with them -- "Waiting For Columbus" -- is kind of a landmark record. We always considered them the masters of slow funk, and we were the masters of fast funk. They were definitely a soulful group, and we saw eye to eye with them musically."

Castillo attributes Tower of Power's own enduring appeal to its first-rate musicians, and the onstage chemistry they have achieved through years of touring together.

"It helps when you love them, and I love those guys," he said. "Doc is definitely my best friend in the world, and (bassist) Rocco (Prestia) is my best friend in the world. I'm closer to those guys than I am to my own brothers.

Recently released from a longtime record contract with Sony Music, Tower of Power is in negotiations with several potential labels in the U.S. and abroad, Castillo said. Once they sign, they plan to release a pair of new albums -- one comprised of new material and the other covering other artists' soul classics -- along with a live DVD.

All of which, Castillo promises, will sound like the Tower of Power its fans know and love.

"I get asked a lot of times in interviews, 'So, what new direction are you going in now?'," Castillo said. "There is no new direction. You're not gonna hear the new Tower of Power rap record or the new Tower of Power reggae record.

"We do what we do. We make new music, and we're always trying to push the envelope in our genre of music. But it's not like we're gonna change horses in mid-race at this late date."

Quick hits

A look at a few of the shows scheduled to hit Southern Nevada in the next week:

Panic! at the Disco, a local band generating a bit of a national buzz, makes its House of Blues debut Saturday night.

The teenage emo/pop-rock quartet is slated to lead off a bill that also includes Acceptance, the Receiving End of Sirens, Cartel and Augustana. Doors to the all-ages show open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.

Panic! at the Disco is slated to return to the House of Blues on Nov. 1, as a support act for the "Nintendo Fusion Tour" featuring Fall Out Boy, the Starting Line, Motion City Soundtrack and Boys Night Out.

Samples of the band's music can be found at

www.purevolume.com/panicatthedisco.

World-renowned British DJ Paul Oakenfold returns to Ice to spin on Saturday and Sunday nights, beginning at 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 per night or $50 for a two-night pass, available through www.wanttickets.com.

On Thursday country-rock singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams headlines the House of Blues, with opening act CC Adcock in tow.

Williams' passionate live approach was captured on May's outstanding "Live @ the Fillmore," the first officially released concert set of her 25-plus year career.

Doors open at 8:30 p.m. for the all-ages show. Tickets range from $25 to $35.

On sale

The Roots land at the House of Blues on Oct. 30. Tickets are $24 to $40 and are on sale now at the House of Blues box office and through TicketMaster.

Fat Joe stops at the House of Blues on Oct. 14. Tickets are $22 to $30 and are on sale now.

CKY (aka Camp Kill Yourself) takes the stage at the House of Blues on Nov. 18. Tickets are $15 and are on sale now.

3 Doors Down headlines the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts on Oct. 15, with support from Shinedown and Alter Bridge. Tickets are $29.50 to $43.50 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Aladdin box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 474-4000 and at www.ticketmaster.com.