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Tuesday at 8:00 p.m., Java Jive played host to the Galley Rats. This acoustic duo had great vocal talents and a wide repertoire of music. The North Dining Room of the Memorial Union was filled to the brim with fans and the band handedly delivered.
The duo consisted of Colin Graebert and Seth Grondin, both of whom shared vocal duties and displayed a great range of musical talents. From the start of the show, the most striking trait of the Galley Rats’ music was their vocal harmonies. Both performers had amazingly strong vocal talent and used it to their advantage.
Grondin, who played guitar, most often took up the lower register while Graebert, who began the show on keyboards, crooned above him. Obvious signs of showmanship could be felt throughout the show, as one song would often blend right into another. The first few songs were done with great energy and kept the rowdy post-St. Patrick’s Day crowd pleased.
Covers dominated their set, especially at the beginning, but many were obscure in nature. The duo did a great cover of “Englishman in New York” by Sting. The first real sing-along came about when they busted out “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. This staple of acoustic performances was done well with the duo’s vocal harmonies, thoroughly enhancing the song. Grondin began to show his proficiency with guitar as he soloed in “Simple Man” as well as in other songs. The crowd really got into his pentatonic riffs several times throughout the night.
Gradually the band took more risks in their musical selection. Keeping in theme with Monday’s holiday, they played a Celtic tune, featuring Graebert on the fiddle and ample lyrics about whiskey. Emerging from their set list were some originals such as a bluesy song called “Too Late.” The two showed obvious signs of being comfortable on stage and were able to create some great musical moments, such as when they would stop playing instruments and let a cappella harmonies capture the crowd.
Towards the end of their first set, the Galley Rats played “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd and flowed seamlessly into “Comfortably Numb,” also by Pink Floyd. This double-dose of Floyd did wonders for the classic-rock fans in the audience. They ended the first set with another Irish-infused tune, this time an original. It featured Graebert once again on the fiddle and an intricate intro between the guitar and fiddle.
A short break allowed for socializing among the crowd, but before long, the Galley Rats were ready to finish up their business.
Opening up the second set completely a cappella allowed for the audience to truly grasp just how vocally talented the two young men were. Being once again unable to avoid cliches, the group performed “Hotel California” by the Eagles. To be fair, it was a classy cover. Toward the end, the duo made an effort to play original songs. They played a funky original that got the whole audience dancing right along with them.
Overall the Galley Rats were able to provide a great night of entertainment, going strong all the way until 10:00 p.m., with the exception of their short break. A few forgotten lyrics intermittently detracted from the music, but overall Graebert and Grondin displayed amazing vocal talent, a deep passion for three-chord rock songs and occasionally some creative song writing.
Bangor Daily News