Pittsburgh Live, Concert Pick >>
Some of the most joyous, upbeat and fun pop music in the world comes from Central and West Africa, which is known by names like soukous, highlife and rumba. But some of the best purveyors of the classic Afropop styles come from outside Africa, like Chicago's Occidental Brothers Dance Band International.
Occidental Brothers is filled with veterans of the city's vast, complicated jazz, indie rock and world music scenes. Vocalist-trumpet player Kofi Cromwell, originally from Ghana, sings in a mixture of English and his mother tongue, Tiwi. It's not strictly about tradition, however -- they're not above throwing in an Afropop cover of, say, New Order's "Bizarre Love Triangle" to keep people on their toes.
Occidental Brothers will be at Club Cafe starting at 8 p.m. Tuesday, with guests Akrasia and Thirteenth Rune. Tickets are $7.
Details: 412-431-4950.
-- Michael Machosky
01/01/09 >> go there