Members
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Galactic | |
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| Origin | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz-funk, jam band, acid jazz, jazz rap, New Orleans R&B |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Labels | Sanctuary, ANTI-, Fog City, Capricorn, Traffic (Japan), Volcano, Mascot |
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| Website | galacticfunk |
Galactic is an American funk band from New Orleans, Louisiana.
Formed in 1994 [2] as an octet (under the name Galactic Prophylactic) and including singer Chris Lane and guitarist Rob Gowen, the group was soon pared down to a sextet of: guitarist Jeff Raines, bassist Robert Mercurio, drummer Stanton Moore, Hammond organist Rich Vogel, Theryl DeClouet on vocals, and later adding saxophonist Ben Ellman.
The group was started when Raines and Mercurio, childhood friends from affluent Chevy Chase, Maryland, moved to New Orleans together to attend college at Tulane and Loyola Universities, [3] became enamored of the local funk scene, populated by such legendary acts as The Meters and Dirty Dozen Brass Band and inspired by local legends such as Professor Longhair. There they teamed with noted New Orleans drummer Stanton Moore, [3] saxophonist/harmonica (now producer) Ben Ellman, Rich Vogel, and Theryl de Clouet. In 2004, the band parted ways with vocalist DeClouet, and continued as an instrumental group until 2007 when they released From the Corner to the Block featuring rappers ranging from Juvenile, Chali 2na, Boots Riley, and Lyrics Born. They continue to tour with different vocalists: 2011 and 2012 with Cyril Neville, 2011 through 2014 with Corey Glover, 2014 with Maggie Koerner, from 2015 with Erica Falls. They have also toured with trombonist Corey Henry from 2009 through 2016 and trumpet player Shamarr Allen from 2016. [3] They have been releasing albums consistently since 1996.
The band has developed a unique sound as a result of their influences, including: rock, funk, brass band, blues, jazz, hip hop, electronic, and world music. Many of their songs include performances by other artists of various styles of music, like hip-hop artists Boots Riley (of The Coup), Gift of Gab (of Blackalicious) and Chali 2na (of Jurassic 5), to vocalists Macy Gray, Mavis Staples, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, David Shaw, Mystikal, Mannie Fresh, and JJ Grey & Mofro. On the European version of From the Corner to the Block there are two tracks more than on the US version. One of those tracks ("Valley Of Pain") features the German rapper Dendemann.
The band's sound has evolved from organic New Orleans funk to a more modern style, incorporating elements of hip hop, electronica, fusion, and jazz. [3] This change has been largely characterized by the increased use of electronic effects on guitar, bass, saxophone, and drums. Drummer Stanton Moore uses phrase samplers to sample a rhythm which he can then play over, producing intricate and layered drum sounds. Ben Ellman, saxophonist and harmonica player, often distorts his instruments to the degree that they sound similar to an electric guitar. In 2007, the band began to produce their own albums (mainly Ben Ellman and Robert Mercurio). This opened them up to more studio experimentation and exploration resulting in their loop, edit and production heavy album Ya-Ka-May.
The band has long considered the legendary New Orleans music venue Tipitina's an unofficial home base, having recorded a live album there, and having performed there regularly since the beginning of their career. This includes annual performances on Halloween, New Year's Eve, during the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and a yearly "sunrise set" on Lundi Gras (the day preceding Mardi Gras), appropriately playing until the sun rises on Mardi Gras day. [4] In 2018, the members of the band made their association with the venue official, purchasing the venue from the previous owners, Mary and Roland Von Kurnatowski. [5]
The band is also noted for inviting guest musicians from New Orleans to perform onstage with them. These include: the Soul Rebels Brass Band, The Neville Brothers, Brian Seeger, Corey "Boe Money" Henry, George Porter of The Meters, Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Skerik (a saxophone player who is actually based in Seattle, Washington, but is part of Stanton Moore's side project Garage A Trois). The band is often on tour, and have shared the stage with acts including Live, Counting Crows, the Allman Brothers Band, The Roots, Fusebox Funk, Widespread Panic, B.B. King, Mike Doughty (formerly of Soul Coughing), Gift of Gab (of Blackalicious), Jurassic 5, Jack Johnson, Gov't Mule, The Revivalists, The Record Company, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Ave, Toots and the Maytals, and Steel Pulse.
Galactic performed "I Got It (What You Need)" on Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2007. They also performed "Back That Ass Up" and "Rodeo" as Juvenile's band on Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2006. Galactic toured North America in 2012 with Corey Glover and Soul Rebels Brass Band. On March 29, 2012, Galactic appeared with Soul Rebels Brass Band and Corey Glover on Conan show on TBS . [6]
In 2015, they performed Summer Festivals in the US, Canada, and Japan with vocalist Macy Gray. While on their 2016 tour, Galactic performed on a marine themed call-in talkshow, FishCenter Live. They correctly guessed the coloration of a squirrelfish and won points for a zebra moray eel, Eel Hamburger. They headlined the 11th annual Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival in Martinsville, VA in May 2019.[ citation needed ]
Ya-Ka-May was released on February 9, 2010, on ANTI-. The album includes guest performances by a range of New Orleans musicians. Long-established performers such as Rebirth Brass Band, Irma Thomas, Big Chief Bo Dollis of The Wild Magnolias, Allen Toussaint and Walter "Wolfman" Washington are represented, along with younger performers in the traditional vein, such as Trombone Shorty and Corey Henry, John Boutté, Josh Cohen and Ryan Scully of Morning 40 Federation, and Glen David Andrews, and also Bounce artists Cheeky Blakk, Big Freedia, Katey Red, and Sissy Nobby. [7] [8] [9]
Galactic released a live album in May 2011 titled The Other Side of Midnight: Live in New Orleans.This album includes live versions of many songs on Ya-Ka-May.
On February 21, 2012, Galactic released a new studio album titled Carnivale Electricos which focused on the theme of Carnivale. They invited artists from New Orleans to flesh out the diversity of the town's music in a virtual Fat Tuesday strut across town: the battle chant of Mardi Gras Indian War Chief Juan Pardo and the Golden Comanches; the voice of Mystikal; and the 40-piece Kipp Renaissance High School marching band. For "Voyage Ton Flag" they sampled the late accordionist Clifton Chenier and carnival-rock number "Hey Na Na (Hey Na)" with David Shaw of New Orleans's Revivalists. Brazil is represented by samba poet Moyseis Marques on "O Coco da Galinha" and by Casa Samba, who retake the forro "Magalenha..." The LP has been described by the band as "a tour" through New Orleans' various styles of music. [10]
On July 17, 2015, Galactic released a new studio album titled Into the Deep. [11] It featured Macy Gray, J.J. Grey, David Shaw, Maggie Koerner, and Mavis Staples. [12]
On February 8, 2019, Galactic released their latest studio album, Already Ready Already, via Tchoup-Zilla Records. It was produced by Galactic's own Robert Mercurio and Ben Ellman, and marks the band's 10th studio LP. The album features guest appearances from Erica Falls, Princess Shaw, Miss Charm Taylor, David Shaw (The Revivalists), Nahko, and Boyfriend. [13]
On February 7, 2020, Galactic released a single titled "Float Up". The track features Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph.[ citation needed ]
In 2023, Galactic released Tchompitoulas, an EP which includes singer Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph, trumpeter Eric Gordon, Afro-Cuban musician Cimafunk, trombonist and singer Glen David Andrews, and rapper Eric Biddines. [14]
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Studio albums
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Other appearances
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is an American brass band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The ensemble was established in 1977, by Benny Jones and members of the Tornado Brass Band. The Dirty Dozen incorporated funk and bebop into the traditional New Orleans jazz style, and has since been a major influence on local music. They won the Grammy Award for Best American Roots Performance in 2023.
Coolin' Off is the first studio album by the jazz funk band Galactic. It was released in 1996 on Fog City Records.
Ruckus is the fourth studio album by the New Orleans, LA based band Galactic. It was produced by Dan the Automator. This marks the last studio album for Theryl DeClouet, leaving for health reasons.
Vintage Reserve is a compilation album by the New Orleans, LA based band Galactic. It features tracks found on their three previous records, as well as two live, unreleased tracks.
We Love 'Em Tonight: Live at Tipitina's is a live album by the New Orleans, LA based band Galactic. Recorded live at Tipitina's Uptown in New Orleans, LA.
Late for the Future is the third studio album by the band Galactic, released in 2000.
Crazyhorse Mongoose is the second studio album by American jam band Galactic. It was released on September 1, 1998 through Capricorn Records. Recording sessions took place at Brilliant Studios in San Francisco on August 18—22, 1997 and at Greyboy Studios in San Diego. Production was handled by Dan Prothero and Galactic themselves.
Stanton Moore is an American funk, jazz, and rock drummer from New Orleans. Most widely known as a founding member of Galactic, Moore has also pursued a solo recording career and recorded with bands as diverse as jazz-funk keyboardist Robert Walter and heavy metal act Corrosion of Conformity.
The Radiators, also known as The New Orleans Radiators, are an American swamp rock band from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. The band's musical style, which draws from blues, rock, rhythm and blues, funk and soul music, has attracted a dedicated fanbase who the band calls "fish heads". Described by OffBeat magazine as "New Orleans' longest-running and most successful rock band", The Radiators had only limited commercial success, with only a handful of chart appearances, but, as a party band from a party town, their enthusiastic live performances, danceable beats and relentless touring earned the band a dedicated following and the admiration of many of their peers.
Cyril Garrett Neville is an American percussionist and vocalist who first came to prominence as a member of his brother Art Neville's funky New Orleans–based band, The Meters. He joined Art in the Neville Brothers band upon the dissolution of the Meters.
Theryl DeClouet, also known as House Man, was an American soul/R&B singer, best known as the one-time lead vocalist of the musical group Galactic.
Anders Osborne is an American singer-songwriter. He tours solo and with a band, and often plays in North Mississippi Osborne (N.M.O), a group formed by Osborne and North Mississippi Allstars.
Troy Andrews, also known by the stage name Trombone Shorty, is a musician, most notably a trombone player, from New Orleans, Louisiana. His music fuses rock, pop, jazz, funk, and hip hop.
Flyin' the Koop is the second solo album by New Orleans drummer Stanton Moore. The album includes funk, rock and jazz. Moore's line-up for Flyin' the Koop is in part a combination of musicians with whom he played at a "SuperJam" at Tipitina's during Jazz Fest 2000.
The Soul Rebels are an eight-piece New Orleans based brass ensemble that incorporate elements of soul, jazz, funk, hip-hop, rock and pop music within a contemporary brass band framework.
The Revivalists are an American rock band formed in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2007. The eight-piece band consists of Ed Williams, David Shaw, Zack Feinberg (guitar), Rob Ingraham (saxophone), George Gekas, Andrew Campanelli, Michael Girardot, and Paulet "PJ" Howard.
Carnivale Electricos is the seventh studio album by the New Orleans–based jazz fusion/funk group Galactic. Carnivale Electricos is a concept album about the annual celebration of Mardi Gras; the culmination of Carnival season leading up to Ash Wednesday. The album features many notable guest collaborators such as Cyril Neville, Ivan Neville, Mystikal, Al "Carnival Time" Johnson, David Shaw, Shamarr Allen, Big Chief Juan Pardo, Maggie Koerner, and others. It was primarily produced by Ben Ellman and Robert Mercurio, as well as other members of the band.
Cha Wa is a Grammy-nominated Mardi Gras Indian funk band based out of New Orleans, Louisiana. The name Cha Wa is a slang phrase used by Mardi Gras Indian tribes, meaning "we're comin' for ya" or "here we come." Frontman Honey Bannister is known for dressing in traditional Mardi Gras Indian clothing during performances, including intricately designed headdresses.
Ben Ellman is an American saxophonist, harmonica player, and producer most widely known as a member of the New Orleans–based funk band Galactic, with whom he has made eight studio albums. He joined the group in 1994, when they were known as Galactic Prophylactic. Ben also works as a DJ under the name Gypsyphonic Disko, where he mixes New Orleans style funk with klezmer, Eastern European and other exotic music.
Into the Deep is an album by the band Galactic. It was released on July 17, 2015.
In 2000, the Rascals opened for Galactic on a cross-country tour. "Since then, we were pretty connected," says Henry, who became a member and has recorded three albums with the band since around 2009. The discs include 2011's The Other Side of Midnight, 2012's Carnivale Electricos and its latest, 2015's Into the Deep.
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