Event

History doesn’t stand still. It impacts, influences, and inspires the ebb and flow of the future by informing the present. Galactic draw on 25 years together in order to progress with each performance and subsequent record. After 10 albums, over 2,000 gigs, and tens of millions of streams, the proud New Orleans, LA quintet—Ben Ellman [saxophone, harmonica], Robert Mercurio [bass], Stanton Moore [drums, percussion], Jeffrey Raines [guitar], and Richard Vogal [keyboards]—have kept the torch burning through five U.S. presidential regimes, the turn-of-the-century, Hurricane Katrina, a Global Pandemic, and a much-anticipated recovery. They’re the rare collective who can support Juvenile on Jimmy Kimmel LIVE!, contribute music to a blockbuster soundtrack such as Now You See Me, and light up the stages of Coachella, Bonnaroo, and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (a staggering 22 times). 

Joined by vocal powerhouse Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, they continue to forge ahead with a 2021 headline tour and more new music.

“There is a history to the band, yet we continue to release and perform new material,” says Stanton. “I’m truly excited for our fans and audience to hear this next record we’ve been working on. I think it’s some of our best work yet.”

They laid the groundwork for this future upon coming together in 1994. Two years later, the guys dropped their full-length debut, Coolin’ Off, and hopped in a Ford Econoline van (with trailer in tow) for their very first official tour. Along the way, they released seminal albums such as 2007’s From the Corner to the Block, boasting collabs with the likes of Chali 2na, Juvenile, Trombone Shorty, DJ Z-Trip, and Boots Riley. During 2015, Into The Deep marked their first debut in the Top 25 of the Billboard Top 200 and second straight #1 bow on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums Chart. Not to mention, it boasted the title track “Into The Deep” [feat. Macy Gray], racking up nearly 20 million streams and counting. Along the way, they performed alongside the likes of Dave Matthews Band, The Roots, Jack Johnson, Talib Kweli, the Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic, B.B. King, Counting Crows, James Brown, and many more.  They’ve also recorded and performed with the likes of Allen Toussaint [“Bacchus”] and Big Freedia “Double It”]. Most recently, 2019’s Already Ready Already garnered acclaim from New York Times, NPR Weekend Edition, Exclaim!, and many more, while they’ve appeared on the covers of Downbeat and Relix Magazine.

Around the same time, they welcomed Jelly to the fold after joining forces on stage for a handful of unforgettable performances.

“I was super nervous at first, because I had some pretty big shoes to fill—but like those other singers I had to bring myself and I think I’ve fit in pretty well,” Jelly smiles.

“Jelly came to Fuji Rock in Japan with us to sing background with Macy Gray,” recalls Stanton. “We needed someone to sing one of our Galactic originals, and she stepped up. Since there was no time for rehearsal or soundcheck, she showed up prepared, knew the tune completely, and rocked it. When it came time to find someone new to sing with us, she was our first choice. She has such effortless stage presence and a very comfortable rapport with audiences. She also brings an element of unbridled fun!”

That fun came across loud and clear on the 2020 single “Float.” Uplifted by Jelly’s powerhouse pipes, it hinted at the potential of their collective chemistry.

“I love listening to Galactic’s older records, because they were very funk driven,” Jelly goes on. “Now, it seems like they’re incorporating more pop, rock, and soul to create a newer sound.”

As they continue writing, recording, and performing, Galactic always keep New Orleans close to their hearts at all times. In 2018, the band purchased and took over one of the city’s most hallowed venues—Tipitina’s Nightclub. Their history with the venue even predated the band as Ben’s first job was as a cook in the old kitchen, while they’ve graced its stage more than 100 times over the years.

In the end, Galactic keep moving forward as they add more chapters to their incredible history.

“We’ve just achieved 25 years as a band of brothers, so we know how to work with each other and move ourselves through the next 25 years,” Robert leaves off. “We’re always trying to push ourselves with our songwriting and studio collaborations. I look forward to where the future will take us.”

Life leaves its imprint on us in the form of memories, scars, and lessons. Like a well-trodden and trusted highway, John Hollier proudly brandishes the wisdom and experience of a fascinating personal journey in his music. The Louisiana-born and Nashville-based singer, songwriter, and guitarist shares honest stories over a backdrop of gruff heartland rock with a twist of country soul. He’s gone from accompanying multiplatinum stars such as Carly Pearce and Cassadee Pope to generating north of 1 million streams independently and packing houses as a solo artist. Now, he formally introduces himself on his self-titled 2023 full-length debut, Hollier.
“I’m trying to tell a story,” he emphasizes.  "I’ve done a lot of growth as an artist, as a writer, and as a person. I wanted this record to be raw and show some scars, but I also wanted it to have subtle moments. I hope people hear the honesty in these songs.”
Hailing from Central Louisiana, John absorbed a passion for music through his family. His uncle performed in a Cajun zydeco band, while his brothers picked up guitar. He initially experienced live music through the church and honkytonks, teaching himself chords on the internet and gigging with local bands. At the same time, he listened to everyone from Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Byrds to Ozzy Osbourne. After two years at Louisiana State University, he transferred to Belmont University and settled in Nashville. He joined Levi Hummon’s band as a guitarist, hitting the road with Dwight Yoakam and more. During 2018, he handled guitar duties for Cassadee Pope before serving as a touring guitarist for Carly Pearce.
Not long after, he made a crucial decision…
“I made a personal pact to not simply be a hired gun by the end of the year,” he recalls. “I wanted to put out my own material.”
During 2019, he dropped “War Cry” and gained coveted playlist placements on Spotify, racking up nearly half-a-million streams. “Living in the van,” he logged 55 shows coast-to-coast and chronicled the experience with “Jeff Buckley’s Ghost.” He caught the attention of GRAMMY® Award-nominated producer Eric Masse [Miranda Lambert]. They hit the studio to record what would become the album with a little help from Cage The Elephant guitarist Nick Bockrath, multi-instrumentalist Robbie Crowell of Deer Tick and Midland, and Miranda Lambert drummer G. Maxwell Zemanovic.
“We did everything analog,” he goes on. “We got in one room and cut the tunes live. I’d never done anything like that before, but I trusted the system. I’m so happy with how it turned out.”
The first single “Reckless Love” ebbs and flows between gruff verses and a skyscraping refrain uplifted by unpredictable guitars and airy keys as he assures, “I don’t mind, if you don’t mind, a little reckless love.”
“At the time, we were playing to audiences who were as gritty as the bars and clubs themselves,” he admits. “Henry Conlon and I wrote several songs about the scene, and our muse was an imaginary traveling songwriter girl. She’s on a perpetual tour, and she’s always looking for love in the wrong places.”
Piano and guitar entwine on “Devil’s in the Details” before a soaring saxophone solo shines in the spotlight.
“It’s a personal favorite,” he grins. “It tells another story. You let some guy into your house, and you tell yourself it doesn’t bother you how he creeps you out. I was watching a lot of NETFLIX documentaries at the time,” he laughs.
Slide guitar glows on “Wrestle My Heart” as he sings “about laying it out there for someone who loves you even though it’s going to be tough love.” Then, there’s the rollicking “St. Germain.” Channeling New Orleans folklore, the track sinks its teeth into the lore of vampire Jacques St. Germain who “folks still apparently see to this day,” as he notes.
A steady beat simmers on “Malina” as he bottles the tension of mythic tale amidst evocative instrumentation. It burns off on the embers of multiple acoustic guitars around a lone microphone.
“Malina is an Inuit sun goddess,” he elaborates. “She ran so fast she became the sun, and Anningan ran so fast he became the moon chasing her. The tribe witnessed the chase every day like a spiritual clock.”
In the end, Hollier puts everything he’s gained on his road into his songs—and he makes an instant connection.
“At this point, I’ve been playing for as long as I can remember,” he concludes. “This embodies a 20-year journey. It shows what music always was for me—plugging in and not being afraid to make mistakes. I hope you hear that. I’m being as honest as I can be with the sounds and my storytelling.”