New Orleans based Funk/Jazz/Rock/Electronic/Jam/[add genre here] band Galactic played a marathon show at Headliner’s on Tuesday night. Again, the place was packed. For longtime fans this show was ideal. I like their new album, From the Corner to the Block, but it is a significant departure from their old stuff. The album featured guest artists such as Lyrics Born, Mr. Lif, Gift of Gab, Chali 2na, Juvenile, Omega Watts and Boots Riley. Needless to say, it was hip-hop driven. Boots Riley of The Coup was in town with Galactic to provide vocals on a few songs.

I was interested to see how they were going to promote their new album when it was so dependent on guest artists. In the end, only one song from the album was played…”Hustle Up;” the one song featuring Boots Riley. In an effort to give the feel of the new album, the band gave some songs from The Coup a Galactic twist and Boots took vocals. The show transitioned back and forth from old school jam Galactic and the new Galactic every three or four songs. It was a very different show than when I saw them open for Ben Harper at Red Rocks seven years ago, but still a great time.

The crowd provided some entertainment of its own. As the show began a couple standing front and center began to make out wildly. It was beyond apparent that the two were a few sheets to the wind. Interestingly, the two had matching black eyes (I would love to hear the story behind that). During a reprieve in their PDA, the female began to fall backwards and grabbed the monitor on the stage for support. Both crashed to the floor. The show continued like nothing happened, but Saxophonist Ben Ellman got a major kick out of it.

I don’t think Galactic is coming back this way in the near future, but you do have a chance to see Boots Riley and The Coup very soon. They will be down in Lexington on April 26th for the FreeKY Fest. I was planning on being there anyway for Mahjongg and The Apples in Stereo, but now I’m real excited for the Fest (The Coup is scheduled to go on at 7pm).

Set List and Pics Below the Break…

Set List

1. Bongo the Dog
2. Sunday Araq
3. Doublewide
4. Go-Go
5. My Favorite Mutiny w/ Boots Riley
6. Gunsmoke w/ Boots Riley
7. We are the Ones w/ Boots Riley
8. FEMA
9. Linthead
10. Who Took the Happiness Out?
11. Ride the Fence w/ Boots Riley
12. Busterismology w/Boots Riley
13. Little Miss Lover
14. Hang Nail
15. Black Talk
16. 5 Million Ways to Kill a CEO w/ Boots Riley
17. Monkey Off Your Back w/ Boots Riley
18. Hustle Up w/ Boots Riley

Encore : Immigrant Song w/ Boots Riley

Galactic