Galactic Taking Funk Out of This World

Author: Bryan McQuade

Last Wednesday, New Orleans based band Galactic delivered a funk-filled performance to a sold out Higher Ground in Winooski, Vt. The world famous Triple Threat Djs, who are touring with Galactic on their appropriately dubbed "Freezestyle Winter Tour" throughout the Northeast, opened the show and provided some interesting additions to the Galactic set.

Galactic is a progressive funk band that meshes jazz, rock and blues improvisation with the classic sounds of their native New Orleans. What results is extremely upbeat and intense music that gets the audience on their feet and moving. The majority of Galactic's repertoire is based on popular funk from their hometown, akin to the music of the Meters and the Neville Brothers. Yet, diverse influences drive Galactic's funk sound to the next level. In concert, Galactic has the tendency to explore the often-hindering funk core of their songs to the limit.

Galactic's music is rooted in New Orleans, but the band's origins trace to Washington, D.C. There, guitarist Jeff Raines and bass player Robert Mercurio grew up together. Drawn by their love of funk, both musicians headed to New Orleans for college, where much of their time was spent performing in the local music scene. The duo called themselves Galactic Prophylactic, later shortening their name to Galactic. Afterrecruiting local talent including drummer Stanton Moore, keyboardist Richard Vogel, and saxophone player Ben Ellman, Galactic's lineup was completed.

Though Galactic is technically a five-man band, they are joined by Theryl "the Houseman" DeClouet on vocals for a few songs every night. DeClouet's raspy, heartfelt vocals blend perfectly with the band's raw sound. Nonetheless, DeClouet hinders Galactic's improvisiational brilliance. In a live setting, the band is at their best without him.

The band's popularity was evident in the raucous reception they received as they took the stage. Opening with a played out version of their concert staple "Hangnail," it was immediately obvious that both band and audience were in for a good long night of funk. Throughout the first set, the five musicians consistently meshed their unique sounds into one tight, many-layered groove. Anchored by Mercurio's thick, fuzz bass sound and Moore's intense drumming, the other musicians provided an impressive array of funk-tinged grooves. From Vogel's fierce keyboard work on the Hammond organ to Ellman's jazzy saxophone solos to Raines' funky rock licks, each musician shared in creating the intense, enveloping Galactic sound.

Most impressive and consistent was the work of Stanton Moore on drums. Moore has established himself as one of the finest drummers in funk. Besides working with Galactic, he has participated in side projects with John Medeski, Chris Wood, Karl Denison and Charlie Hunter. Most recently, his band Garage a Trois opened up for the much heralded Oysterhead at Jazz Fest in New Orleans. With flailing arms and a wide grin throughout the night, Moore delivered his trademark breakneck snare work and well-placed fills to drive the Galactic sound.

As the energetic first set came to a close, Galactic was joined by the Triple Threat Djs. The thought of Djs performing with a live funk band does not mix well at first thought. Yet, from the first scratches, it was obvious that the two groups worked perfectly together. With eight musicians playing at the same time, what resulted was a complex, yet suprisingly clear fusion of funk and hip-hop beats.

After a session of collabarative jaming, the members of Galactic set down their instruments and one by one left the stage, leaving the masterful djs alone to spin. During the set break, the crowd was treated to the skills of three of the best djs in the world.

After a quick rest, Galactic joined the Triple Threat Djs for one more feverish jam, before launching into one of their best and most explosive songs of the night: Black Eye Peas. It was during this song that all the members of the group where given a chance to shine, each adding a bit of flare to the stomping rhythm of the Galactic classic.

Galactic closed the show with one of their slower tunes, "Quiet Please." Graced with the work of Ben Ellman on harmonica, it proved a perfect closing to an amazing evening.