Ever thought about the possibility of mixing the raw energy of punk rock with the spontaneity of Algerian Rai? That is precisely what Francebased Rachid Taja proposes to do with his music. Growing up as an Arab immigrant in Europe, he often faced intolerance and xenophobia. The resulting feelings eventually seeped into his music, whose lyrics speak of the everyday issues he faces. One of the major hits of his career is “Rock El Casbah,” a carefully adapted version of The Clash’s classic, which appears on his latest disc of the same name. The song received the blessing of guitarist Mick Jones, who has appeared on stage with Taja to perform it. Taja plays on Saturday, July 5 with quirky San Francisco-based Cambodian disco band Dengue Fever.