Galactic does the El Rey : The KOTORI Review

05/03/2010 20:18

Font size:

Wasim Muklashy

Galactic does the El Rey : The KOTORI Review
by Wasim Muklashy
03.04.2010

Smoov-groove-slam-jam-funk-maestros Galactic seem to have made it a point to show everybody…and I mean EVERYBODY…that no matter what life may throw at us, even the worst and deadliest natural disaster in this great nation's history, there's always more reason to celebrate than to grieve. Fresh off the heels of Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans based party gurus have managed to show us that not only have they refused to forget how and why to have a good time, but they've damn near perfected the art!

Tonight they brought their traveling minstrel madness to Los Angeles' El Rey theatre and we had the privilege of shakin', bouncin', jigglin' n' wiggling' our way through the general admission floor and spillin' in the aisles right alongside the capacity crowd. The tone that transvestite-Big Easy bounce-star Big Freedia set as soon as we walked in the door is well worth noting - two unmistakable booties shaking violently to thundering beats and dirty awry rhymes put the crowd in…err…that kinda mood! And that…my friends…was just the beginning.

Lucky for us all, once the curtains closed and soon-to-be-re-opened with Galactic gracing the stage, the whoops and hollers only got louder as special guests Cyril Neville of the Neville Brothers Band and Corey Henry of Rebirth Brass Band were announced alongside the funksters. While they breezed through a 2 hour cross-section of material spanning their 17 years and 8 albums (and somehow seamlessly sneaking in a dizzying trombone-infused rendition of hip-hop classic 'La-De-Da-Di'), it was the fresh sounds from their latest release and reason for this tour, "Ya-Ka-May," that received pointed attention.

Before founding member and drummer Stanton Moore took the head of his signature snare drum for an impromptu front and center drum circle, the band blazed through the Ozomatli-esque Latin bossa salsa flavor of "Boe Money" and the broken beat groove of "Double It". The swinging' brass-funk flavor driving "Cineramascope" to the profoundly haunting psychosis-inducing vocals of "You Don't Know." The rhythmic grooves, bass lines, and melodies never let up, and not to the crowd's chagrin. Turn your head and look around and you'd be hard pressed to find a single frown or motionless foot anywhere in the room.

Pick up Galactic's "Ya-Ka-May" and check 'em out when they come to your town and you'll immediately know why this is one band that's meant to be experienced live. Trust us…worth it. Check out the slideshow below [Wasim Muklashy]

Add to: DIGG

Galactic does the El Rey : The KOTORI Review

Comments (0 posted):

Post your comment

Please enter the code you see in the image: