Most bands just entertain their audiences. Galactic, on the other hand, would prefer to exhaust them. “The ultimate thing is, we try to get people to dance,” says sax player Ben Ellman. The band packs in crowds across the country, from The Fillmore in San Francisco to New York’s Irving Plaza to Tipitina’s in their hometown of New Orleans. Ellman’s sensual sax and Rich Vogel’s funky work on Hammond B-3, Wurlitzer and Moog keyboards decorate the grooves laid down by the punchy rhythm section of Jeff Raines (guitar), Robert Mercurio (bass) and Stanton Mo.
Whats the big deal? Well, the hard-to-impress Village Voice says that Galactic are “already hometown stars in a city that eats funk for breakfast. This horn-augmented New Orleans quintet is the tightest and tastiest Louisiana groove band to emerge since the Meters. Less noodly but no less exploratory than Medeski Martin and Wood, Galactic is the fat, fulsome spawn of acid jazz, the East Coast jam-band scene, and New Orleans street music."
And MSNBC says that Galactic offers "an infectious mix of acid jazz and swamp soul that never fails to get our joints jumping. A massive horn section mixed with a solid rhythm crew make for some seriously danceable grooves.”
In my own personal efforts to stimulate the economy I fed off the birthday gift of Tommy linens (thanks Mom) and finished the set off. Macy's after Christmas sale was just the ticket.
I also found a watch, the Nantucket. More Tommy fun at http://tommy.com