Wednesday, July 26, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A • Page 9
Galactic capitalizes on funk origins
By Derek John Special to the Kansan
Galactic Late for the Future
Many thought the musical genre of funk played itself out 25 years ago.
Fact is, even in today's world — where beats of all kinds are emanating from a variety of different musical devices — nothing can stir the passions, move the feet or shake the booty like greasy, down-home, organic funk.
Relying on this truism, New Orleans' Galactic has cut another album of infectious grooves that get right to the point.
Capitalizing on a number of funky predecessors, Galactic has found a following by the same bills as jam bands Widespread Panic, Maceo Parker, and Medeski, Martin & Wood. But Galactic — steeped in the deep funk of Crescent City godfathers, The Meters and the Neville Brothers — bring something more authentic to the table.
Founding members Robert Mercurio, who provides slinky bass lines, and guitarist Jeff Raines have become a tight rhythm section unto themselves. When drummer Stanton
Moore adds his swamp beats to the mix, and Hammond B-3 organist Rich Vogel contributes a few of his own ingredients, the result is an unprecedented musical gumbo.
Building on their first two recordings for Capricorn Records, *Late for the Future* intelligently uses cosmic effects, turtitables and other updated percussive sounds to cater to complex musical palettes. A number of guest artists also appear on the album. Roger Lewis of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band plays baritone sax on "Baker's Dozen," which Galactic's saxman Ben Ellman wrote in honor of their fellow New Orleans funkateers.
And the enigmatic Theryl "Houseman" de Clouet, who at this point is almost a regular in the band, lenis his soulful growls to five of the 14 tracks. Most notable is his smooth work on the instant lowrider classic "Century City" that makes you want to put the top down and cruise the boulevards. Galactic, formerly known as Galactic Prophylactic has continued to thrive despite the demise of the acid jazz scene from whence they came.
Their gig at the Newport Jazz Festival has also given them more credibility among jazz heads.
But their bread and butter is still their penchant for making people get stupid on the dance floor. To experience this phenomenon, check out Galactic on Friday at Sandstone Amphitheatre where they'll be opening for Live and the Counting Crows.
Funk band to take stage at Sandstone
By BriAna Hess editor@kansan.com Kansan coeditor
Stanton Moore, drummer, and the rest of the funk band Galactic will open for Live and the Counting Crows on Saturday.
The native of New Orleans was getting ready to hit the road yesterday to join up with their touring compatriots.
Are you looking forward to touring with Live and the Counting Crows?
Yeah. It's different than how we normally perform. We just had six weeks off. We normally tour on our own and headline our own shows and bring out our favorite bands like the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and other New Orleans bands. So going out on a big tour will be fun. We'll be with them for five weeks.
What are the band's influences?
We checked out the bank's infidences.
WeChecked out a lot of older funk stuff — New Orleans stuff — James Brown, a lot of the blue-note boogaloo. Right now we're trying to incorporate bands like Critters Buggin' and Lake Trout that we're digging.
We're checking out bands that experiment with sound and tone to
try to incorporate that with the old-school band. We're trying to expand the sound we already have under our fingertips.
What is funk?
Funk is music with an undeniable groove that instantly makes any listener get up and dance or move some part of their body. A straight-up funk beat can make you completely shake everything you have. Once you listen to it, you know what funk is.
How'd you get the name Galactic?
Well, Rob and Jeff, the bass and guitar players, grew up in D.C. and had a
friend who was always more prepared than the average Boy Scout — so they called the little thing he carried his Galactic Prophylactic. After they came to New Orleans and the music started maturing, we started looking for different names. We couldn't think of any and we already had name recognition so we kept it kind of by default.
What's the biggest compliment someone could give you about your music?
For me, one thing that comes to mind is when we have older musicians come out and play with us. When they turn around and say
'Man, that's the shit,' that's cool because that's what we grew up listening to and that what's we dig.
How did you get your nickname — Stanton Moore, the drumming whore?
When Galactic was just *letting started, I'd run around and play gigs with everyone. I was playing for six or seven bands at once. When I wasn't playing, I'd get out and sit with people. They used to call me that a lot, but I'm with Galactic and not playing around, I don't hear it as often.
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--by creating thousands of new jobs and millions of dollars in additional revenue for Kansas in the future.
Study finds more competition would mean more jobs, economic prosperity for Kansas
Recently, Southwestern Bell filed a plan with the Kansas Corporation Commission to compete for long-distance telephone service in Kansas. What would increased long-distance competition mean for Kansas?
Increased competition promises consumers more competitive rates, better service and more choices. But perhaps more exciting, a recent study shows that Southwestern Bell's entry into the longdistance market could stimulate Kansas' economy
Debbie Vignatelli
In its March 2000 economic impact study, the Wharton Econometrics Forecasting Associates of Pennsylvania compared Kansas' gross state product and total employment over the next 10 years with and without increased long-distance competition. The study concluded that increased competition would result in:
- more Kansas jobs - an additional 2,261 new jobs within five years,and 8,721 within 10 years
- jobs across all major industries - as lower prices and enhanced applications boost economic activity throughout the economy
- higher gross state product - $741 million higher by the end of the 10-year forecast than without increased competition
Today, more than 50 competitive companies serve customers in 129 of Southwestern Bell's 134 local exchanges. And we estimate that more than 170,000 access lines are served by our competitors.
Now it's time to open up the long-distance market and let Kansas take full advantage of the economic prosperity increased competition has to offer.
Debbie Vignatelli
Director
External Affairs
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