Rachid Taha

Having been born in Algeria, and raised in an environment that nurtured his culture, Rachid Taha has used Algerian influences to establish himself as an artist with a unique sound.
The beginning of the show is a layering of sounds. First there is the guitar, then the drums, then the synth, and then Rachid’s vocals in Arabic. It immediately picks up into the first song, and from the flashing lights you can see the instrumentalists, lots of equipment and Rachid standing front and center. Because of the fusion of culture in his music, it is interesting to see instruments like a mandolute being played live…not exactly something you get to see at a lot of shows. His vocals are a bit nasal and rough around the edges, but befitting for the songs that he writes. The transitions between songs are a sort of static, or better, they are the remnant sounds of chords not necessarily put together to be anything. His set list includes of variable tempos of music to keep you on your toes. His fans are highly respectful of him, with very little cheering during the songs, but roars of cheers when a song comes to a close.