TOP!!! One of my favorite all time bands. Years ago two friends of mine were music teachers in Carteret NJ and also TOP fanatics. Even tried to put together a tribute band with their own original tunes. I tried out but was rejected because I couldn't bring my B3 to weekly rehearsals at the school. Had a steady 4 night restaurant gig and moving each week would of upset the owner too much.
For a few years TOP would make an extended stop at the Bottom Line in NYC. These two teachers corresponded with TOP so much that the day before the gig started the band would come down to Carteret and do clinics with the HS kids all day, share a buffet put on by the band kids moms, and then do a private show for the kids and parents. I never could even come close to getting a ticket for that. All I heard was , as you said, really nice guys with no egos.
One more note, (pun) The other night at my Elks Lodge my friend says :"Hey I've got some extra credits on the Jukebox, go play some songs" I choose What is Hip, Still a Young Man, And Three Dog Nights, Try a Little Tenderness. All of a sudden everyone wants to know who's blowing those horns!
AWB kicks butt live too. Especially with only five pieces.
All through my early bands I played organ and Bari too. Even in college in Kentucky. Doin James Brown tunes in the hills. Miss those days