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Concert Preview
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Chicago Reader, Concert Preview >>
KAL Guitarist and singer Dragan Ristic, leader of this energetic Romani combo from suburban Belgrade, works hard to distinguish its output from the flaccid, synth-driven treacle that’s flooded the Balkan scene—the group’s lead voices are all acoustic, and sorrowful, soulful Romani melodies provide the heart of its music. But Ristic’s devotion to tradition doesn’t prevent him from tossing bits of tango, bhangra, and rock into Kal’s sound, and programmed beats drive many of the tracks on the band’s self-titled 2006 debut for Asphalt Tango. The group puts its own spin on standards like “Djelem, Djelem” and refits age-old dance forms, creating a high-energy froth of pumping accordion, acrobatic clarinet, throaty violin, and punchy, vivacious rhythms, both electronic and handmade—a testament to the vitality and adaptability of the Romani tradition. Arrow 7:30 and 10 PM, Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln, 773-728-6000, $20. All Ages
—Peter Margasak 10/16/08 >> go there
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