Ben Ellman, one of the founders of Galactic listened patiently as I fumbled trying to articulate how one of their concerts sent chills through me. It was a festival in Boca Raton two winters ago and Galactic just killed. I held up my arm and said “near two years later and you can see the hair standing up as I’m telling you this!” He looked, smiled and said “Oh that’s great! That means something. Man, same thing happens to me, if the music is really good, I’ll just cry!” So in writing-up the show, the chills return as I type, riding the memory of the music for their fans in Brooklyn. Their 1:30 pm in-store show at Rough Trade was a perfect appetizer for the feast of funk to follow. Eight songs to wet the whistle of the faithful. Seeing them in room with 40 people, perfect.
Later that evening, Galactic tore Brooklyn Bowl down to the studs and built it back-up with their Master Class of New Orleans Funk and Soul. Look, it’s about the beat, stupid. If people are moving in the crowd, if you’re tapping your foot, it’s about the beat. Enter the best of modern day New Orleans. Second Line Drumming, Stanton Moore. With two hands, two feet and two drum sticks, he can make a dead man move. (For drummers and others, here’s some learning for you.)
Galactic purposely use different lead vocalists, changing every year or so because it’s always about the band, and what a
band they are. Galactic did a long set, playing several songs from their new release “Into The Deep” and seemingly every song they have ever done that made people bop, jump, groove, hop, dance and swing. Wait, I’m not a dancer. Yeah, Stanton Moore proves me wrong once again. Ben Ellman brought such intensity to his sax, as did Corey Henry to the Trombone. Simply stunning. Go see Galactic if you get the chance. Well that is if you like to funk and like to party. They’ll hook you up.
Note to self, don’t blow off the opening act if you ’ve never heard of them. I showed up 15 minutes late and arrived to see 8 guys beaming out more energy than you could have anticipated. No bass. Sousaphone. The mix was muddy at first. They finished their song and the singer said, “We’re the High and Mighty Brass Band” and I thought to myself, “that’s a bold statement…I’ll be the judge of that” and as I kept watching, I’m getting more and more excited by the way they grabbed the crowd by the throat
and went for the kill. Trombones, Saxes, Trumpets, Drums and a Tuba laying down the killer bass lines. They simply were not fucking around. Two songs later, the singer ends the song and says again “We’re the High and Mighty Brass Band” and with tha t, I said “Oh YES YOU ARE!”
I’ve seen a lot of music over the decades and THMBB did something I ha ve never seen before. They finished out their set
and walked off the stage playing. They didn’t turn to go back stage. They turned into the audience and continued to play for the crowd for another 15 min tes or more while the roadies changed up the stage. They didn’t let go of the grip they held the audience until Galactic was about to walk on stage. It conjured up every good image of It conjured up every good image of New Orleans Mardi Gras parade and the spirit of music.
Here is a taste:
