Joe Galea Band

Gympie Muster 2007
The 2007 Gympie Muster will be known as the wettest in the history of the Muster, but the Joe Galea Band was not going to let a little rain dampen their enthusiasm and made sure the crowd that had braved the wet weather were not disappointed.
Due to the rising flood waters, the boys could not reach the Festival on the Friday evening, but with the weather improving each day, the band was able to perform on Saturday and Sunday.
As the boys took to the stage on Saturday evening, it wasn’t long before the crowd let them know who they had been waiting for and Joe did not let them down.
The Joe Galea Band know the meaning of the word “entertain” and Joe encourages the crowd to participate - uniting the large “Blues Venue” tent in one big chorus.
Joe closed the Blues Venue on Sunday evening being the final act of the Festival. As they promised - the crowd from the previous evening - plus others, returned with even more enthusiasm.
The dance floor was packed and the seats were full as Joe and the boys had all the crowd yelling for encores. Every member of the audience either danced, clapped or tapped their feet. Towards the end of the show Joe had the crowd in a frenzy and during the song “Do You Have a Garter Belt” (from his latest C.D.) the band were showered with women’s bras!!! And the odd pair of briefs!!
The band took it all in good fun and had a good laugh, it reminded them of their earlier years on stage! The girls were a quarter of their age but it is obvious that age is no barrier when it comes to appreciating great music.
Joe, Bomba, Paul, Rick, Jimmie and Peter know how to let the audience know - they’ve been “entertained”!

- Gympie Gazette

This album gives new meaning to the old adage "you can't judge a book by it's cover". Melbourne & New Orleans might have a lot in common but it sure ain't the rivers on which they're situated. Behind a cover pic of night time on the Yarra the Joe Galea Band's new CD oozes Mississippi mud as it updates a host of New Orleans rhythm & blues classics, some Memphis soul'blues gems and a rousing original. Fat sounding soprano, alto, tenor & baritone sax charts, arranged & played by Ken Maling, add muscle to Robert Davie's ballsy guitar, Peter Phillips' rolling keys, Barry Hills' solid bass & Rick Puchala's thundering drums. Galea's powerful pipes compare favourably with those of early U.K. bluesman Long John Baldry from whose songbook comes the title track.
From the opening bars of Denise La Salle's Wild Thang(All Night Long) to the closing strains of Lloyd Price's "Stagger Lee". nearly 50 minutes later, Galea's band keeps the pressure on through thirteen hard-rocking songs in the style created all those years ago in Cosimo Metassa's legendary New Orleans French Quarter studio. Clarence "Frogman" Henry's "Ain't Got No Home". Delbert McClinton's "Why Me". Rosco Gordon's "No More Doggin" Bobby Bland's "Who's Fooling Who" and Wilson Pickett's "6345789" are
given fresh work-outs. Although some lyrics have been changed & Maling puts his own twist on Herb Hardesty's distinctive smoky sax solo, the Joe Galea Band's take on Fats Domino & Dave Bartholomew's "Blue Monday" stays true to the original. Full credit also goes to Galea for a bold attempt at Sonny Landreth's Crescent City anthem "Congo Square". Immaculately produced by David Briggs. "Midnight in New Orleans demonstrates why the Joe Galea Band have become a crowd-pleasing festival attraction.
- Al Hensley

Dear Joe,
Just a short note to let you know that the parcel you sent me with two of
your releases came safe and sound, thank you very much. I was away from home
for a couple of days and when I came back the parcel was already waiting for
me.
Having a voice like yours must be a God's gift. Your singing made my hair
stand on it's end, just great. Together with a tight band of professional
musicians and catchy arrangements your CDs made me sway from the first track
to the last one.
It will be my pleasure to play your music in my shows. I'm sure that my
listeners will enjoy it as much as I do.
Thank you again Joe for the music you've sent me. Let us stay in touch.

- Przemek Draheim