Galactic funks, jams and rocks its way through Dallas

Galactic warmed up a cool crowd at the Gypsy Tea Room last Wednesday. The New Orleans sextet chose Dallas as the first stop on their Sight of Sound Tour Fall 2002.

A large, colorful Dali-like painting stood behind the band on the small corner stage. The art piece, one of three hung in the venue, featured a giant ear absorbing a dark tunnel of sound that’s spewing from a group of speakers.

As Galactic tours the country the band will display art to provide that ties in with the music.

The crowd was thick and there were a few folks getting into the Halloween spirit a little early. A crowd check revealed a surprisingly large number of Louisiana natives out in support of their brethren.

Galactic brought high energy along with a treasure trove of instruments. The jazz saxophone kept things lively and the guitar was pushed to its limits. The keys and peppering of electronic effects added a personal touch.

It was clear after the first round of solos that each musician had the talent to stand alone. The playing, overall, was tight – solid instrumentation with a refined sound.

Emotions rose as each player manipulated his instrument to get the most sound possible. They played so hard, almost as if in competition with one another.

The sax couldn’t be outdone by the keyboard, the keys couldn’t be outdone by the drums, and so on.

Galactic is like confetti ready to shower down upon its audience. There’s plenty of rising action, the highs are strong and sustained.

Veteran soul singer Theryl “Houseman” deClouet adds a smooth and soulful voice to the band’s sound. Upon his first appearance the crowd immediately loosened up and got down.

The way he struts around stage is something straight out of the ’70s. It puts a smile on your face.

Most of the jams were instrumental, with the exception of Houseman’s appearances.

The band played originals, with a few covers sprinkled in. The band had no time to stop playing between songs and the crowd tried to guess where the band would go next.

It was clear that Galactic wanted the first show of the tour to be a memorable one.

It would have been nice to make it down to Austin for the Halloween show. No doubt, the freaks were out.