From Professor Longhair, to Allen Toussaint, to the greasy pocket of The Meters, New Orleans has long tradition of soulful and funky music. Several noteworthy bands are carrying on that tradition, and near the top of that list is Galactic, a quintet that draws from deep influences, but which also stays loyal to the Crescent City sound.
“In the last five years or so, we’ve definitely been doing a lot more music that’s indicative of the city,” said Galactic guitarist Jeff Raines during a recent interview. “With the drummer we have, it would be crazy of us not to.”
Raines was referring Stanton Moore, who is the current torchbearer for New Orleans-style drumming. Moore’s playing lies at the heart of the band’s sound, and his beats drive the booty shaking grooves that turn any Galactic show into an all-out dance party.
Yesterday being Mardi Gras, it’s only appropriate that it marked the release of Galactic’s new album, Carnivale Electricos, which the band will be supporting on Thursday at 9:30 Club. The recording continues the group’s trend of constructing albums around a particular theme. 2007’s From the Corner to the Block featured a rapper on every track, while Ya-Kay-Ma (2010) celebrated the artistic and cultural resilience of post-Katrina New Orleans. As its name would imply, Carnivale Electricos uses this festival season as its musical spine.
“A lot of this music comes from the 50s and 60s and this is an update,” said Raines. “We also wanted to tie in the Trinidadian and Brazilian music of Carnivale and Mardi Gras.”
Common to Galactic’s writing style, the infectious tracks feature a number of collaborations. Big Chief Juan Pardo and the Golden Comanches Mardis Gras Indians open the album with their spiritual chants. Musicians from Casa Samba, the first samba school to open in New Orleans, appear on Carlinhos Brown’s “Magalenha”, a song made famous by Sergio Mendes. The track, “Karate”, is a highlight and features a 40-piece marching band from the KIPP Renaissance High School.
Thursday’s set will also showcase special guests — trombonist Corey “Boe Money” Henry of the Rebirth Brass Band and Living Colour vocalist Corey Glover. Both have a history with Galactic and frequently join the band on tour.
“He came and sat in at a show in New York years ago,” Raines said of the band’s introduction to Glover. “It just kind of evolved from there and it gelled musicially and personality-wise.”
Shows in D.C. also mark a homecoming of sorts for Raines and Galactic’s bassist, Robert Mercurio, as both grew up and began their musical partnership in Chevy Chase, MD. In fact, Raines cites an impromptu collaboration between his band and the Godfather of Go-Go, Chuck Brown, at a D.C. show as a highlight of his career. While surprises always abound at any given concert, Galactic’s main goal is to spread its joyful noise among anyone who wishes to listen.
“I always say that we want people to come to our show and get lost and forget all their problems,” Raines said.
Galactic w/ special guests Corey Henry and Corey Glover will perform at the 9:30 Club on Thursday, February 23, 2011. 7 p.m. doors. $27.50 + fees.
