The joe Galea band

Following a career spanning four decades, beginning in “sixties Kings Cross clubs and taking him across south east Asia and Europe, Joe Galea has finally done what he should have done in the first place, got his own band together.

The band have become the perfect compliment for the soul, funk and blues style that Joe has made his signature,

Joe has just finished recording his latest album at ex “Little River Band” David Briggs’ recording studio “the production workshop” in North Melbourne.

Joe’s past recordings relied on the heavy rocking blues guitar licks and solos, but on this album he opts for a much different sound.

This album contains some original songs, plus covers. No matter what he may choose to sing on this album, I’m sure he’ll inject the old Joe Galea trademark excitement and balls.

Growing up in Sydney’s notorious King’s Cross Joe was influenced at an early age by American G.I.’s on R & R playing their blues and soul records by such artists as Solomon Burke, Ray Charles, Little Milton, Howling Wolf to name a few.
n his teen years Joe sang with his band The Midnighters along side other Sydney up and coming stars of the future such as The Bee Gee’s, Billy Thorpe, and New Zealand’s Max Merritt working places like Suzie Wong’s, Whisky a Go Go, Surf City & Teenage Cabaret.
With his new line up, which included Mike Downes (ex rythmn guitarist with Billy Thorpe) Joe entertained American G.I’s enjoying R & R in Sydney’s Clubs. This partnership with Mike Downes was to last 8 years – taking them through all parts of Asia, and even to Vietnam during the Vietnam war entertaining the American troups
Playing what they loved the most – “Soul”.

On his return to Australia, Joe worked up and down the coast of Australia with his band “The Orient Express” before accepting a short stint in Germany at the American Air Force Base, although this was a short contract, they played to packed clubs seven nights a week.
By this time Joe was tired of living out of a suitcase and decided to put his music on the backburner for quite a few years, but it was inevitable that he would one day take his microphone out of mothballs – and so was born the soul band “Melbourne to Memphis”which included none other than ex lead guitarist from Procul Harem Dave Ball.
This was the lead up to the more recent and highly successful Cross The Border which worked constantly around Melbourne for many years and now finally under his own name – “The Joe Galea Band”.

BAND MEMBERS

JOE GALEA VOCALS

ROBERT DAVIE LEAD/SLIDE GUITAR

Started playing late sixties early seventies around Melbourne with such bands as "Benefit", "Palais" and stints with Wendy Saddington, Jeff St. John, Gulliver Smith and Ray Brown. Joined Cross the Border with Joe in 1991, the rest is history.

ROB CHUGGS BASS

Bass Player "beamed to this planet" - since late 60’s has performed with Dutch Tilders, Matt Taylor, Margret Roadnite, Champion Jack Du’pre, Robert Jnr Lockwood. Melbourne’s ZZ Top Tribute Band, Eliminator, and Hawks Show Band.

RICK PUCHALA DRUMS/PERCUSSION

The list of artists that he has played and recorded with reads like a who’s who of Australian rock, Richard Clapton, Russell Morris, Glyn Mason, Christie Allen (Queen of pop) Bobby James Syndicate, The Giants and The Lisa Bade band.
He has a very strong background of session work, doing lots of jingles and working with people like Raphael Ravenscroft (sax on Gerry Rafferty’s Baker Street) and Chris Pinnick (guitarist with Chicago).
Rick lived and played in Los Angeles for a period of ten months (whilst with Richard Clapton) and had the benefit of playing with some of Americas finest.
He has played on such Australian classics as "Hush" by Russell Morris, Down in The Lucky Country and Deep Water by Richard Clapton.

He has done multiple TV appearances on the Don Lane Show, Countdown and Hey Hey it’s Saturday along with concert performances on such events as The Concert Of the Decade on the steps of the Opera House in front of 100,000 people.

From then till now, by joining Joe Galea, this has given Rick yet another opportunity to work with an experienced and professional performer.

PETER PHILLIPS HAMMOND/KEYBOARD
Performed with many bands around Melbourne including "Grand Wazoo", "P.D. Hale" and "The Blue Room" from 2001 till 2003. Was Classically trained from the age of 5 and started playing the Hammond Organ at 12 years of age.

His influences are: Booker T, Memphis Sound, Otis Redding, James Brown, Soul R&B, Rock, Jazz and Funk.

KEN MALING SAX

Has played with various Blues and Jazz Bands over a 28 year period, including - "Redliners", "Oozin’Blues", "Howling Time" and various big bands, jazz trios, and dance bands. Played at most major venues in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland.

Dates for the Joe Galea Band

Sunday September 12th Dandenong Workers Club, Wedge St Dandenong 2.00-5.00pm

Sunday September 19th Lattitude Wine Bar/Restaurant, Beach Road, Mordialloc 5.00pm (opposite Windows On The Bay Restaurant & Scallons Reserve)

Sunday September 26th Dandenong Workers Club 2.00-5.00pm

Saturday October 9th Lattitude Wine Bar/Restaurant 9.30pm

Friday October 15th Rye RSL 8.00pm-12.00pm

Sunday October 17th Lattitude Wine Bar/Restuarant 5.00pm

Saturday October 30th Wangaratta Music Festival 7.15-8.30pm

Hope to see you at some of the gigs, note change of time for Dandenong Workers Club from 1.00 to 2.00pm

REVIEW FROM MORNINGTON BLUES FESTIVAL

Mornington Swing’n’Blues Affair

We all remember the cartoon - the three little pigs dancing to rock n roll music in their house with the house and windows jumping up and down.

Well, that was the scene at the Mornington Swing’n’Blues Affair on the Queen’s birthday weekend at Barry’s Bar and Beaches Restaurant when the Joe Galea Band played their stuff!

On arrival at Barry’s Bar the boys were a wee bit perturbed that there were “not many people” - but hey, a few notes in to the first song and the dedicated followers plus more streamed in to do their stuff to the upbeat sounds they love to dance and listen to of the Joe Galea Band.

When the boys moved from Barry’s Bar next door to Beaches, the place was already jumping to the exciting sounds of Kelly Auty who had the crowd at her fingertips calling for more. It wasn’t hard for Joe and the boys to keep the momentum going with their Rock’n Blues and included the likes of Ken Maling on Tenor Sax and the guest appearance of Keith Nudd with his Chicago blues style Harmonica playing.

From the first song the crowd were on their feet and did not sit down until after Joe had done his encore that the crowd were screaming for.A good time was had by all and the festival introduced a lot of people to a lot of very talented Australian musicians, who have now adopted quite a lot of new followers, joining the ever growing number of dedicated followers of the Joe Galea Band.

COMMENTS AND REVIEWS FROM -VIC ROCK
http://www.vicrock.com.au/cms/component/option,com_simpleboard/Itemid,/func,view/catid,9/id,1152/#1152

Thumbs up to the Joe Galea Band - 2004/07/05 20:17
Saw the Joe Galea Band for the first time at the Dandy Workers Social Club last Sunday afternoon. Blew my mind away with their brand of Rock & Soul music. Reminded me of the good old days of Motown music - and just fantastic for dancing if you are into both rock & roll and/or jive.

Check them out - they are playing there every Sunday afternoon in July from 1 to 4 pm

Re:Thumbs up to the Joe Galea Band - 2004/07/12 17:48
Yeh Buggsy, I pretty much like all forms of music except that of the head banging, heart thumping or rap type of crap.

Anything with a good beat, and lyrics that you can hear is even better.
Joe Galea certainly belted out some good vocals and the keyboard player was great. I thought the guitarist, although good, was a bit too Country and clean for a blues band and if I am able also to say, they were great to listen to, but a tad loud for the small venue. Almost all great music touches on the the fringes of the blues, but I find that a lot the songs end up sounding the same, with the same layback beat and in particular, when there is only one singer.
I wouldn't go back again, but would suggest that if you like blues and listening to a great, tight band, then you should get along to the Worker's Club while they are still there.