Photos by Jim Mimna
The Scene: It’s been another fantastic summer at Red Rocks Amphitheatre and a Thursday evening Funk party was next in line with Galactic, Boombox and The Pimps of Joytime. The night showcased a trio of seriously soulful artists who bring diverse talents to the stage. The mood in the park was carefree as the evening alpenglow descended across the venue.
Opener: Pimps of Joytime. The Brooklyn based soul revelers have strong connections to Denver with the sultry, smokey voiced Kim Dawson now singing with them. That said, Denver or not, it’s always a wise decision to head out to their shows. Thursday was the first time Pimps of Joytime had taken the stage at Red Rocks and a large crowd gathered early to witness the Funk. You can’t help but get down to the floor at PJT shows and the pure grooves of “Janxta” and “Freedom Dancer,” punctuated the short set. My only wish was to see Pimps of Joytime in a later slot although the placing of sounds did the night justice.
Boombox: Boombox took the stage at 8:30, just as the last rays of sun were disappearing from the sky. Zion Rock Godchaux was on guitar while Russ “The Captain” Randolph handled the keyboard and electronic elements. The duo took the stage with a firm 70’s vibe. They were standing on matching glowing squares, Zion in a full sweat suit, headband, and orange bug-eye sunglasses. Hazy pink and blue light descended on the stage as smoke softly filtered through the colorful setup. We heard classics like a rousing “Boogie Man,” which contained the best guitar work of the evening by Zion. Alongside were plenty of groovy beats, and two new tracks. The crowd was in a highly spirited party mood at this point and everyone quickly became intimate dancing partners.
Galactic: Since their inception in New Orleans in 1994, Galactic have established themselves as legendary purveyors of Funk and they fit amazingly well into the Jam and Festival scene having crushed huge stages across the globe.
Tonight’s lineup featured Jeff Raines on guitar, Stanton Moore on drums, Rich Vogel on Keyboard, Robert Mercurio on Bass and Saxophonist Ben Ellman. Shamarr Allen also joined the band on trumpet. Original Galactic vocalist Theryl DeClouet (House Man) sat in and wowed the appreciative crowd for a few songs. His enthusiasm was undeniable as he willed the crowd to keep on partying. As a few tears were shed around me for his appearance, Theryl retreated to his wheelchair in the back. His presence still permeated across the stage as the show continued.
The always-sassy Erica Falls took the reigns on vocals for most of the performance. Her vocal range and incredible charisma quickly enveloped The Rocks in stunning Soul. Busting into “Heart of Steel,” she brought many smiles and some truly unique dance moves from the well-lubricated crowd. Robert and Stanton had amazing chemistry on lengthy jams throughout the set and there were no stopping bodies from moving wildly.
There was unquestionable energy in the building as Shamarr Allen pierced the air with raging trumpet notes until the show ended at 11:30. On the opposite side, Robert kept thumping rhythms as one of the best in the business.
This was certainly the best Galactic set I’ve seen and should have its place in this summer’s concert hall of fame. Here’s wishing House Man the best of health as we look forward to another Galactic appearance at The Punching Mule Music Festival in Denver on September 10th.
Energy: A+
Musicianship: A+
Sound: A+
Stage Presence: A-
Set/Light Show: B+
Overall: A
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