Galactic

Recorded live at the legendary Tipitina's nightclub in their home base of New Orleans, LA, The Other Side of Midnight affirms the new plateau that Galactic attained with last year's Ya-Ka-May. More to the point, this is a scorching, "all-killer, no-filler" live set. If you've ever wondered why this sextet have amassed such a fanatical following on the concert circuit look no further, as all the elements in the Galactic gumbo ― the rhythm section of bassist Robert Mercurio, drummer Stanton Moore and guitarist Jeff Raines ― deliver stringently wicked grooves simmered to perfection. Of course, this wouldn't be a Galactic album without the requisite guest spots and Midnight is peppered with plenty: Trombone Shorty steps in on a rambunctious take on Ya-Ka-May's "Cineramascope" and Cyril Neville drops some appropriately weathered vocals to a stanky cover of classic Meters' jam "Gossip." Add to all of this a fantastic, clear and dynamic sound mix and you've got a spirited, essential hour of crescent city music at its best.