I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED : May 18, 2024] Galactic Empire

I was intrigued by Galactic Empire even though I was there more for Bit Brigade.  I love the idea that the band played Star Wars music and dressed in costume (I understand that they may have been sued and have had to modify their costumes so as not to completely break copyright?).

I’m not the huge Star Wars dork that many people are, but I do like the music.  And I thought a heavy metal version of some of the songs would be great.  I had watched one video online and I liked it a lot.  And the backstory is pretty fun

Comprised of some of the most infamous and feared villains in the galaxy — lead guitarist Dark Vader, drummer Boba Sett, guitarists Red Guard and Shadow Ranger, and bassist Bass Commander — GALACTIC EMPIRE’s commitment to their mission is unparalleled.

When they came on, all the tall dudes who were hanging in the back came rushing forward so I couldn’t see them all that well (and that was the whole point, right, seeing them).  So that kinda sucked.

But when they came out and played the 20th Century Fox Fanfare, that was pretty cool.

I was actually surprised that they were such a djent sounding heavy metal band, but the guys in the band (who may have changed over the years) are in other (more serious) metal bands as well.

Overall, I enjoyed them more than the music.  They were clearly having a great time, with two of the guys walking out into (and through) the audience.  Their technical proficiency was really impressive with some fantastic soloing skills on display.

In between songs someone had a Darth Vader filter on his voice and made amusing comments about the audience and the upcoming songs.  And, at one point n the show, a fan in a Star Wars helmet of some sort was brought on stage and “sacrificed” by the faux Vader.

I was especially impressed that they could play so well under all that gear.  They must have been very hot indeed.

Overall it was good fun, although I was a little tired and honestly, a little bored by  the end.  I’m not enough of a Star Wars head to have recognized more than half a dozen of the pieces.  I’ve never seen The Mandalorian, so I didn’t know that theme and the deep cuts (the guy in front of me went bananas with excitement for the encore song) was completely lost on me.  They also threw in a lot of solos, so I’m not sure if they were just stretching out the themes or if they really are that long and they were just adding shredding to the mix.

Mostly I was annoyed at all of the fanboys blocking my view, because honestly this is a band to see as much as it is to hear.

About half way through the set I moved to the side of the stage where I could see (and appreciate) everyone much more.

I enjoyed the set but don’t need to see them again.

1. 20th Century Fox Fanfare
2. Star Wars: Main Title
3. The Imperial March (Darth Vader’s Theme)
4. The Force Theme
5. Battle of the Heroes
6. Cantina Band
7. The Mandalorian
8. The Battle of Hoth
9. Ben’s Death and TIE Fighter Attack
10. Throne Room / End Credits
11. Theme From Jurassic Park
12. Indiana Jones Theme
13. Pirates of the Caribbean
14. The Avengers
    encore
15. Duel of the Fates