A four-night Brooklyn Bowl run began on 6/21, with Galactic taking the stage with Corey Henry of Rebirth Brass Band on trombone. You would have no idea that Corey Henry played for any other band but Galactic; he fits in seamlessly with them. Also joining them for a few numbers would be Corey Glover of Living Color fame, a passionate vocal force flowed smoothly with the powerful melodies being played around him.
Both of these special guests are performing for the entire run and would have sufficed to make it stellar, but Galactic kicked up a notch by inviting even more notorious guests. On the first night, Chali 2na of Jurrasic 5 joined the band and turned the Bowl into a funked-out hip-hop dance party. In the spirit of their guests, the ensemble took on covers of Jurrasic 5 classics like “What is Success,” “Church,” and “Keep Steppin,” as well as “La Di Da Di” by Slick Rick. Also playing for a few songs was guitarist Scott Metzger, adding a melodious edge to the hip-hop beats. In true Brooklyn style, the beat went on (and on and on).
On the second night (6/22), an entirely new musical beast took the stage- Warren Haynes, best known for his work with Gov’t Mule and Allman Brothers Band. Gone were the rap vocals and hip hop melodies, but the funk remained in full force, only this time infusing the sound with the blues. Haynes graced us with his effortless jams and musings for a few songs, including Rolling Stones' "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" and an instrumental version of Led Zeppelin's "When the Levee Breaks." As Haynes left the stage, Galactic reminded us that they were than their guests with a sensational version of "Heart of Steel." Rejoined again by Corey Glover and Corey Henry, they ended the set with a slowed down, rocked out version of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.”
In these two nights, Galactic has proven that they are truly a dynamic and skilled band. Both shows were equally musical and whimsical, but were also both very different from each other. Galactic has a very unique sound that is clearly influenced by many different types of music, and they have proved time and again that they can adapt to playing with big name guests. Not only do they maintain their own sound from guest to guest, but they know how to highlight the various stylings of the guests and layering it within their own playing.
There's two more nights left of Galactic at Brooklyn Bowl, tonight 6/23 and 6/24. The 6/24 show is sold out, but there are still some spots available at the door starting at 6pm. Trust me- you do NOT need to be there that early. Get there by 7-7:30 the latest to be safe, but you should be fine around that time. I definitely recommend going if you've never seen Galactic!
