Origins and background

Formed in 1994 as an octet (under the name Galactic Prophylactic) and including singer Chris Lane and guitarist Rob Gowen, the group was soon pared down to a sextet of guitarist Jeff Raines, bassist Robert Mercurio, drummer Stanton Moore, Hammond organist Rich Vogel, Theryl DeClouet on vocals, and later adding saxophonist Ben Ellman.\n

The group was started when Raines and Mercurio, childhood friends from affluent Chevy Chase, Maryland, moved to New Orleans together to attend college at Tulane and Loyola Universities, became enamored of the local funk scene, populated by such legendary acts as The Meters and Dirty Dozen Brass Band and inspired by local legends such as Professor Longhair. There they teamed with noted New Orleans drummer Stanton Moore, saxophonist/harmonica (now producer) Ben Ellman, Rich Vogel, and Theryl de Clouet. In 2004, the band parted ways with vocalist DeClouet, and continued as an instrumental group until 2007 when they released From the Corner to the Block featuring rappers ranging from Juvenile, Chali 2na, Boots Riley, and Lyrics Born. They continue to tour with different vocalists: 2011 and 2012 with Cyril Neville, 2011 through 2014 with Corey Glover, 2014 with Maggie Koerner, from 2015 with Erica Falls. They have also toured with trombonist Corey Henry from 2009 through 2016 and trumpet player Shamarr Allen from 2016. They have released albums consistently since 1996.\n

Musical style

The band has developed a unique sound as a result of their influences, including rock, funk, brass band, blues, jazz, hip hop, electronic, and world music. Many of their songs include performances by other artists of various styles of music, like hip-hop artists Boots Riley (of The Coup), Gift of Gab (of Blackalicious) and Chali 2na (of Jurassic 5), to vocalists Macy Gray, Mavis Staples, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, David Shaw, Mystikal, Mannie Fresh, and JJ Grey & Mofro. The European version of From the Corner to the Block has two tracks more than the US version. One of those tracks (\"Valley Of Pain\") features the German rapper Dendemann.\n

Evolution

The band's sound has evolved from organic New Orleans funk to a more modern style, incorporating elements of hip hop, electronica, fusion, and jazz. This change has been largely characterized by the increased use of electronic effects on guitar, bass, saxophone, and drums. Drummer Stanton Moore uses phrase samplers to sample a rhythm which he can then play over, producing intricate and layered drum sounds. Ben Ellman, saxophonist and harmonica player, often distorts his instruments to the degree that they sound similar to an electric guitar. In 2007, the band began to produce their own albums (mainly Ben Ellman and Robert Mercurio). This opened them up to more studio experimentation and exploration resulting in their loop-, edit- and production-heavy album Ya-Ka-May.\n

Tipitina's

The band has long considered the legendary New Orleans music venue Tipitina's an unofficial home base, having recorded a live album there, and having performed there regularly since the beginning of their career. This includes annual performances on Halloween, New Year's Eve, during the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and a yearly \"sunrise set\" on Lundi Gras (the day preceding Mardi Gras), appropriately playing until the sun rises on Mardi Gras day. In 2018, the members of the band made their association with the venue official, purchasing the venue from the previous owners, Mary and Roland Von Kurnatowski.\n

Live performances

The band is noted for inviting guest musicians from New Orleans to perform onstage with them. These include the Soul Rebels Brass Band, The Neville Brothers, Brian Seeger, Corey \"Boe Money\" Henry, George Porter of The Meters, Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Skerik (a saxophone player who is actually based in Seattle, Washington, but is part of Stanton Moore's side project Garage A Trois). The band is often on tour, and have shared the stage with acts including Live, Counting Crows, the Allman Brothers Band, The Roots, Fusebox Funk, Widespread Panic, B.B. King, Mike Doughty (formerly of Soul Coughing), Gift of Gab (of Blackalicious), Jurassic 5, Jack Johnson, Gov't Mule, The Revivalists, The Record Company, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Ave, Toots and the Maytals, and Steel Pulse.\n

Galactic performed \"I Got It (What You Need)\" on Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2007. They also performed \"Back That Ass Up\" and \"Rodeo\" as Juvenile's band on Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2006. Galactic toured North America in 2012 with Corey Glover and Soul Rebels Brass Band. On March 29, 2012, Galactic appeared with Soul Rebels Brass Band and Corey Glover on Conan show on TBS.\n

In 2015, they performed summer festivals in the US, Canada, and Japan with vocalist Macy Gray. While on their 2016 tour, Galactic performed on a marine-themed call-in talk show, FishCenter Live. They correctly guessed the coloration of a squirrelfish and won points for a zebra moray eel, Eel Hamburger. They headlined the 11th annual Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival in Martinsville, VA in May 2019.\n

Recent releases

Ya-Ka-May was released on February 9, 2010, on ANTI-. The album includes guest performances by a range of New Orleans musicians. Long-established performers such as Rebirth Brass Band, Irma Thomas, Big Chief Bo Dollis of The Wild Magnolias, Allen Toussaint and Walter \"Wolfman\" Washington are represented, along with younger performers in the traditional vein, such as Trombone Shorty and Corey Henry; John Boutté, Josh Cohen and Ryan Scully of Morning 40 Federation; and Glen David Andrews; and also bounce artists Cheeky Blakk, Big Freedia, Katey Red, and Sissy Nobby.\n

Galactic released a live album in May 2011 titled The Other Side of Midnight: Live in New Orleans. This album includes live versions of many songs on Ya-Ka-May.\n

On February 21, 2012, Galactic released a new studio album, titled Carnivale Electricos, which focused on the theme of Carnivale. They invited artists from New Orleans to flesh out the diversity of the town's music in a virtual Fat Tuesday strut across town: the battle chant of Mardi Gras Indian War Chief Juan Pardo and the Golden Comanches; the voice of Mystikal; and the 40-piece Kipp Renaissance High School marching band. For \"Voyage Ton Flag\" they sampled the late accordionist Clifton Chenier and carnival-rock number \"Hey Na Na (Hey Na)\" with David Shaw of New Orleans's Revivalists. Brazil is represented by samba poet Moyseis Marques on \"O Coco da Galinha\" and by Casa Samba, who retake the forro \"Magalenha...\" The LP has been described by the band as \"a tour\" through New Orleans' various styles of music.\n

On July 17, 2015, Galactic released a new studio album titled Into the Deep. It featured Macy Gray, J.J. Grey, David Shaw, Maggie Koerner, and Mavis Staples.\n

On February 8, 2019, Galactic released their studio album Already Ready Already via Tchoup-Zilla Records. It was produced by Galactic's own Robert Mercurio and Ben Ellman, and marks the band's 10th studio LP. The album features guest appearances from Erica Falls, Princess Shaw, Miss Charm Taylor, David Shaw (The Revivalists), Nahko, and Boyfriend.\n

On February 7, 2020, Galactic released a single titled \"Float Up\". The track features Anjelika \"Jelly\" Joseph.\n

In 2023, Galactic released Tchompitoulas, an EP which includes singer Anjelika \"Jelly\" Joseph, trumpeter Eric Gordon, Afro-Cuban musician Cimafunk, trombonist and singer Glen David Andrews, and rapper Eric Biddines.\n

Members

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Timeline

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Discography

Studio albums\n

Coolin' Off (Fog City Records, 1996)
Crazyhorse Mongoose (SBCMG, 1998)
Late for the Future (Volcano, 2000)
Ruckus (Volcano, 2002)
From the Corner to the Block (Anti/Epitaph, 2007)
Ya-Ka-May (Anti, 2010) – US Billboard 200 No. 161
inFAMOUS 2 (The Blue Soundtrack) (Sony Classical, 2010) [With The Black Heart Procession, Brain, JD Mayer, and Jim Dooly]
Carnivale Electricos (Anti, 2012) – US Billboard 200 No. 118
Into the Deep (Provogue, 2015)
Already Ready Already (Tchoup-zilla Records, 2019)
Audience with the Queen (with Irma Thomas) (Tchoup-zilla Records, 2025)

Live albums\n

We Love 'Em Tonight: Live at Tipitina's (Volcano, 2001)
The Other Side of Midnight: Live in New Orleans (Anti, 2011)

Compilation album\n

Vintage Reserve (Volcano, 2003)

Other appearances\n

Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino (Vanguard, 2007) – performing \"Going to the River\" with Robbie Robertson and \"So Long\" with Big Chief Monk Boudreaux

References

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External links

Official website
Galactic at AllMusic
Galactic discography at Discogs

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Galactic

Broadcast History