As collectively eclectic as the jam scene has become, be it in Los Angeles or across the country, those outfits hailing from New Orleans still stand apart, as much for their typically brassy instrumentation as their funky, jazzy Bayou beats. And as much as Louisiana has lent its signature sound to L.A., no band fits both settings quite like Galactic.
With Con Brio and Fishbone warming (and then riling) up the crowd on a Friday night, March 29th, in Hollywood, Galactic made its triumphant return to the Fonda Theatre. And while neither Chali 2na nor Trombone Shorty made cameos this time around, the main event was no less of a foot-stomping, hip-shaking celebration of the Crescent City’s yearly descent on Southern California.
Since this was the Already Ready Already tour, it only made sense that Galactic would lean heavily on tracks from the new album of the same name. The band began with the LP-ending “Ready Already” jam. That afforded bassist Robert Mercurio, drummer Stanton Moore, saxophonist Ben Ellman, trumpeter Shamarr Allen, guitarist Jeff Raines and Richard Vogel on keys to shine a bit before the biggest star of the show, vocalist Erica Falls, seized the spotlight.
The New Orleans native brought to life a slew of songs that have only just begun to work their way into Galactic’s regular catalogue. She got people shimmying through “Clap Your Hands”, evoked a more pop-R&B-friendly groove through “Going Straight Crazy” and perfectly replicated her own recorded performance on “Touch Get Cut”.
As the featured singer on this and most nights of Galactic’s ongoing tour, Erica put her own spin on all of the group’s other vocal arrangements, as well. She combined a feathery lightness with her incumbent power to hit the highest notes on “Higher and Higher”, got people clapping and tapping a la Ms. Charm Taylor for “Right On,” infused her tones with more than a touch of David Shaw’s rock sensibilities on “Hey Na Na” and “Dolla Diva”, did justice (and then some) to Cyril Neville’s turn on “You Don’t Know”, filled Macy Gray’s shoes alongside Con Brio’s Ziek McCarter on “Into the Deep,” needed no help doing her best Irma Thomas impression on “Heart of Steel”, and flipped the script for “Never Called You Crazy” to close out the main set.
As much as Erica did to elevate the evening, she left ample opportunity for Galactic’s stirring instrumentation to bring the audience to a full funky froth. From “Fabuloso” and “Doomed” to “Tiger Roll”, “Coolin’ Off Medley”, “Big Whiskers”, and “Baker’s Dozen”, there was no shortage of tight, titillating jams—as if this bunch would ever allow anything less.
Such is the majesty of the confluence of funky jazz that continues to ooze out of New Orleans. There is equal respect paid to every element of the band because each member’s talent and energy demands it. Galactic’s latest foray into L.A.’s musical milieu only further solidified that reputation and, in all likelihood, set the stage for more toe-tapping good times in the months and years to come.
You can check out a gallery of photos from the show below courtesy of photographer Brandon Weil.
For a full list of Galactic’s upcoming tour dates, head to the band’s website here.
