Music
Press
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
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.
Best wishes,
Przemek Draheim - Przemek Draheim
Bluesmen often improve with age, theirs being a genre of hard-won wisdoms and whiskey vocals. Australian scene vet Joe Galea is no exception to this rule, and his new band may be his finest yet. Galea's voice has worn to a deep husk, and his combo's juicy electric guitars, bayou keyboards, and throaty sax sound as if they've fought some battles too.
- Editor's Review
The Joe Galea Band are one "serious kick arse" band who had the place jumping from their first salvo. You must see them next time they are in town.
- Rob Rowe
The Joe Galea Band have just completed a successful 3 days at the 25th Anniversary of the Gympie Muster Music Festival.
The Festival has approximately 10 music venues catering for all genres of music, the Blues Venue was the place for The Joe Galea Band and their first appearance was on Thursday night.
Gympie is a long way from the familiar venues and crowds of Melbourne and the audience watched the boys set up with curious anticipation. Joe started off with "Is It Alright" and quickly launched in to "No More Doggin" followed by an original called "Money Tree". Joe's great version of "Stagger Lee" confirms what people from the band's home town of Melbourne and other Festivals around Australia already know - that The Joe Galea Band - without a doubt are one of Australia's leading Rockin' Blues Bands.
The second performance on Friday night saw the crowd size double from the previous night. Joe has the ability to reach out to his audience and has them singing along to songs like "Jealous Man". An entertainer every minute he is on stage.
The pace was set for the last song by the precision drumming of Rick Puchala on Congo Square. From the individual solos of Steve Conlin (Sax), Peter Phillips (Keyboards), and Robert "Bomba" Davie (Guitar), to the driving Bass into "Why Me" by Paul Adamson - The Joe Galea Band are fast becoming one of the most sought after bands for Music Festivals around Australia. - Gympie Muster Music Festival
Discography
Things Have Changed
Midnight In New Orleans
Photos
Bio
Growing up in Sydney's notorious King's Cross, Joe was influenced at an early age by American Merchant Seamen on R&R leave, playing their blues and soul records. He heard artists like Solomon Burke, Ray Charles, Little Milton and Muddy Waters to name a few.
In his teen years Joe sang with his band The Midnighters alongside other Sydney up and coming stars of the future such as The Bee Gees, Billy Thorpe and New Zealand's Max Merritt. Working places like Suzie Wong's, Whiskey a Go Go, Surf City and Teenage Cabaret.
Joe, his brother and a couple friends used the family garage for practice where every note they played and word Joe sang was being watched and taken in by several young boys from the local migrant center at Villawood. Who would have thought that several years later they would become one of Australia's leading bands known as The Easybeats.
The family garage was to turn out many popular Australian acts including three brothers originally from England known as The Bee Gees. As Joe's band The Midnighters was the house band at the Teenage Cabaret, they were able to back all the headliners who played there including the Bee Gees.
Joe got the chance to further his experience overseas when he was spotted strutting his stuff at The Down Under Club at King's Cross. He was offered a contract to be the resident band at a new 5 star hotel in Bangkok, The Narai Hotel. It wasn't unusual to have some of America's top artists, travelling through Asia at the time, to sit in with the band for a magical night of entertainment. People such as legendary blues/jazz pianist Roscoe Gordon. This was to last 2 years.
During this period, Joe was spotted by a high level American Officer who offered a contract to tour through Vietnam entertaining American troops and appearing alongside artists like Sammy Davis Jr., Laverne Baker, Duane Eddy and many others.
Joe toured throughout Vietnam for the final two years of the conflict, and was actually the last band to leave Vietnam when the war ended.
After his return from Asia, Joe toured Germany playing to packed houses 7 nights a week. During this time he was fortunate enough to meet the late and great Champion Jack Dupree. Joe has formed several bands over the years, each building a faithful following. The most successful was Cross The Border which worked solidly for nearly 10 years. None came close to the present line up of talented musicians that Joe has assembled in the Joe Galea Band.
Since Joe formed his own band they have been in constant demand at many venues in and around Melbourne as well as earning a reputation at music festivals as being the Highlight of the Festival.
Nicknamed the Nightingal On Steroids by a photographer at the Wangaratta Festival, Joe continues to win audiences wherever he plays. He has the ability to reach out to every last person in the audience and take them on a musical experience that pleases and satisfies everyone.
The Mornington and Wangaratta Festival were well remembered by all. As soon as the music started everyone was on the floor, and the house was jumpin.
I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it! Apart from Joe's vocals, you also have the fantastic wailing solos from sax, smooth bluesy tones of piano /organ, excellent lead/slide guitar along with great bass and drums. Together you have The Joe Galea Band.
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