Though the sound of New Orleans-based Galactic might be changing on record, with shorter songs and even some vocals and non-organic sounds, the group still thrives off audience energy and spur-of-the-moment improvisations.
“Ruckus,” the band’s latest disc, will surprise those familiar with the group’s funk-rock-jazz-fusion sound. In addition to the vocals on more than half the tunes, there are loops and found sounds layered over the band’s characteristic organic instrumental work.
“This album reflects the band’s evolving tastes,” says guitarist Jeff Raines, who founded the band along with bassist Robert Mercurio in the early 1990s. “We call it art by democracy.
“The songs on the record are already starting to evolve as we play them live which is really interesting to see where you end up. In the end this band is a live band. That’s where things happen for us. That’s where things evolve.”
The group, which plays Friday at the Vic, remains focused on creating a fresh and more interesting live performance and as a result has been shaking it up more on tour lately, Raines says. They’ve integrated video into the show, and singer Latrice Barnett is injecting her R&B-influenced vocals into the on-stage mix alongside Galactic’s vocalist Theryl “The Houseman” DeClouet.
Before, the success of a Galactic show was based on cool grooves and searing solos. But now the band is seeing the crowd react at the start of songs as new tunes from “Ruckus” (produced by Dan “The Automator” Nakamura) are recognized. “They know the songs and you can build solos and climaxes off that,” says drummer Stanton Moore. “I think it helps relate the music to the audience a little more.”
“We definitely weren’t trying to pander to the fans that we have,” Raines says. “We were trying to broaden our horizons a bit more by using new techniques.”
Moore agrees. “We wanted to make music that was more relevant to what’s going on today. It was just a natural progression. . . . In order to keep ourselves interested, and our audiences interested, we have to grow and change.”
But even though Galactic’s latest is more adventurous with sound and has catchy vocals, it doesn’t mean the band has abandoned its sonic strengths.
“We have to keep one foot in the history of what we’ve been doing,” Moore says.
This also means Galactic doesn’t plan to change itself just to garner radio play.
“We see ourselves as part of the alternative jam band scene,” says Raines, promising that isn’t about to change.
While they may be making songs now that crowds can sing along to, it’s not part of a conscious effort to break out on America’s airwaves, Moore says. “If radio happens to pick up something that we do and dig it that’s cool, but . . . it’s not like we’re trying to cater to some imaginary sound that will get us on radio.”
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Galactic
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave.
Price: $24-$26; 312-559-1212
