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Guests stole the show

Galactic with Chali 2na / Ohmega Watts
Shank Hall
Milwaukee, WI
Feb. 19, 2008

Galactic

Ohmega Watts

Chali 2na

Story and Photos by Matt Schwenke

While known to have a penchant for funk and to perform alongside a diverse list of musicians in both the jam band and hip hop circles, the New Orleans-based rock band Galactic have pushed their own envelope further with their sixth studio offering From the Corner to the Block (2007), which features a host of established, innovative MC's such as Chali 2na of Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli fame, Gift of Gab and Mr. Lif of Blackalicious and Juvenile, as well as up and coming talent such as Ohmega Watts and Vursatyl.

Bringing a portion of that studio talent to their live show, Chali 2na and his biological brother Laidlaw were the featured MC's in Galactic's set at Shank Hall while Ohmega Watts opened the show. The formula Galactic used to split the night's music was simple-- three songs without and then three songs with Chali 2na and Laidlaw. The set started out in a jam rock mode peppered with Ben Ellman firing up effects-laden sax over Rich Vogel's inherently funky Hammond organ lines in "FEMA." Two more rousing numbers from the band had anticipations high for the easily recognizable baritone voice of Chali 2na, and a take on Jurassic 5's "What's Golden" and the Galactic collaboration "Think Back" had the crowd screaming for more. But, returning to their regular line-up without vocals, Galactic were barely able to match the previous intensity and came dangerously close to sounding like the bar had turned the radio on when the MC's left the stage. The powerful and loose-but-never-off drumming of Stanton Moore got the crowd back up and feeling good in a take on Hendrix's "Manic Depression," with Ellman creating a guitar sound.

But it was Chali 2na's blingless style and ability to draw the crowd in that brought the most cheers of the evening, especially on the material from his forthcoming solo album Fish Outta Water. "Lock Shit Down" was a set-ending thumper with Chali at the helm and an encore featured Ohmega Watts and his accomplice Othello (who make up 2/3 of the Portland-based Lightheaded) joining Galactic, Chali 2na and Laidlaw for a deliciously funky take on Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song." Though their guests may have stolen the show at various points throughout the night, Galactic's choice in talent made for a quality evening of music, even if the transitions between styles weren't all that smooth.

Galactic setlist:
FEMA Bongo The Dog Spiderbite Commin' Thru What's Golden Think Back Garbage Truck Manic Depression Hit The Wall Get Focused	International Rock The Show Root Down Buckit Like A Horse Linthead Hype 2Night Luvsgonnagetcha Lock Shit Down Enc: Immigrant Song