Galactic

Never heard Galactic before?

Galactic are the bridge between the Meters’ funk and the 21st century. Formed in 1994 by drummer Stanton Moore, bassist Robert Mercurio, guitarist Jeff Raines, keyboardist Richard Vogel, and saxophonist Ben Ellman, they took the New Orleans groove tradition and ran it through jazz improvisation, hip-hop, and rock energy. Three decades of relentless touring and Tipitina’s residencies later, they’re one of the hardest-working bands in the city — and one of its most beloved.

🎵 Debut

“Coolin’ Off” (1996)

🎬 Breakthrough

“Ya-Ka-May” (2010)

👑 Carnival Funk

“Carnivale Electricos” (2012)

Ya-Ka-May pairs the band with guests from across the New Orleans spectrum — including Irma Thomas and Trombone Shorty — and its title comes from the Mardi Gras Indian chant “Hey Pocky A-Way.” It’s Galactic’s mission statement in one record.

Why We Love Galactic

The groove is non-negotiable. Galactic’s rhythm section — Moore and Mercurio especially — plays with a precision and looseness that shouldn’t coexist but does, the New Orleans paradox in full effect. They can stretch a vamp for twenty minutes and never lose the thread, because the thread is the whole point.

Then there’s the civic part. After Katrina, Galactic didn’t just come back — they dug in, recording and touring as ambassadors and holding down the city’s stages when it mattered most. They’re proof that the New Orleans tradition isn’t preserved under glass; it’s sweated out, night after night, in rooms full of dancing people.

Biography

New Orleans Funk for the 21st Century

Galactic formed in New Orleans in 1994, bringing together drummer Stanton Moore, bassist Robert Mercurio, guitarist Jeff Raines, keyboardist Richard Vogel, and saxophonist Ben Ellman. From the start, they were committed to a New Orleans-rooted sound that drew on the Meters tradition while incorporating jazz improvisation, hip-hop, and rock energy.

Their early recordings on Capricorn Records established them as one of the most exciting live acts in New Orleans, and their reputation grew through relentless touring that exposed their high-energy performances to audiences across the country and eventually the world.

"We come from New Orleans. The groove is in the water here. You can't help but be affected by it."

— Stanton Moore, Galactic

Galactic have demonstrated remarkable creative evolution over their career, collaborating with a wide range of vocalists — including Boots Riley, Trombone Shorty, Irma Thomas, and numerous others — to create records that speak directly to contemporary musical conversations while remaining unmistakably New Orleans.

They remain one of the hardest-working bands in New Orleans, performing regularly in the city and touring extensively. Their commitment to the city — demonstrated most powerfully in the years after Hurricane Katrina — has made them beloved figures in the community as well as exceptional musicians.