Galactic has always been the shifting sum of its evolving parts. In the beginning, the band was a synthesis of the Washington, D.C., Go Go scene (courtesy of guitarist/D.C. transplants Jeff Raines and bassist Robert Mercurio) and the wide-ranging influences of the band’s New Orleans birthplace (by way of keyboardist Rich Vogel, saxophonist Ben Ellman and drummer Stanton Moore, all Louisiana natives). With NOLA old-school R&B vocalist Theryl “Houseman” DeClouet at the mic, Galactic became a furious and edgy Funk/Jam outfit with an unbeatable second-line pulse, but several unforeseen events conspired to derail whatever direction Galactic’s members thought they were following.
In 2004, Houseman left the band after complications from diabetes forced him from the road. Not long after, a tour with underground Hip Hop icon Lyrics Born gave the group the idea to replace Houseman with guest MCs. But just as Galactic began work on the concept, the project was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Katrina’s unblinking cruelty. When the band finally realized its sonic vision, the end result was 2007’s mesmerizing and game-changing From the Corner to the Block, a perfect hybrid of Galactic’s Jam-fried Funk and New Orleans’ underground Hip Hop congregation.
Galactic plays 20th Century Theatre in Oakley Sunday. Go here to read Brian Baker’s full Sound Advice.
This article appears in Feb 2-8, 2011.