[FA Worldmusic] Rachid Taha

[Rob Weisberg]

Don't want to get too list-y, but I feel a connection coming on...

I happened to see Dengue Fever + Rachid Taha on a Saturday at Central
Park, followed by Goran Bregovic on a Tuesday eve at Lincoln Center.

The vibe / crowd response / old-fashioned rock and roll energy of the
Rachid Taha and Bregovic sets was somewhat similar.  But for Rachid and
band, on a MUCH smaller scale and probably a little less intensity. 
Bregovic is a superstar, and his show which was mainly with his brass band
and singers (not full orchestra) was total pandemonium from start to
finish.  A good portion of the attendees were E. and W. European, which
helps.  But he also hits folkdance people, world music people, etc.  So
Rachid has the same TYPE of impact, just on a smaller scale at least in
NYC.  (I wondered if his Paris and Marseille shows, at the heart of his
fan base, are a little more like Bregovic shows - ?)

Whereas Dengue Fever for example, another on the short list of high energy
world-roots hybridists (drawing on old Khmer rock), who I really like, who
played a fine set, and who have one absolutely fantastic song (see it
perfectly deployed on the cable show Weeds, Season 2, final episode, final
music cue), didn't have quite that same connection with the audience. 
Kind of a different thing there...


Rob W (WFMU)

> Too many to mention! I'm not starting one of those 'women singers' lists
> that was run recently !
>
> And sadly Rachid isn't a superstar, much as we might like him to be. I
> always thought he could be a 'breakthrough artist'. Probably doesn't even
> want to be...too much of a maverick?
>
> David
>
>
>
>> names, please! people at Taha's superstar level in particular...
>>
>>
>> Around the World
>> http://www.spinner.com/category/around-the-world/
>>
>>
>> On Jul 15, 2008, at 11:07 AM, Sasa Music wrote:
>>
>>> In answer to your question, yes, loads!
>>>
>>> David Flower
>>>
>>>> Is there any artist in America or Europe who has covered the scope of
>>>> his or her culture's music to the extent that Rachid Taha has with
>>>> the
>>>> wide range of sounds from Algeria/North Africa and its diaspora?
>>>>
>>>> http://www.spinner.com/2008/07/15/rachid-tahas-music-is-a-world-in-itself/
>>>>
>>>> His L.A. show was typically spectacular....
>>>>
>>>> share and enjoy!
>>>>
>>>> Steve
>>>> Around the World
>>>> http://www.spinner.com/category/around-the-world/
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