Philadelphia Weekly

MUSIC

Sahara Desert's Group Doueh Begins First Tour in U.S.

By Richie Charles

Add Comment | Comments: 1 | Posted Jun. 29, 2011

They perform like people possessed. Is there a religious element (or even message) to the music?

Some of the songs come from a religious canon, similar to the way that gospel music is performed. A lot of their traditional material comes from a strict modal system that is rooted in Islamic scales and words coming from that sung Islamic poetry.

I hear elements of Jimi Hendrix and James Brown. Is it possible that American rock and funk made it to the Sahara Desert?

Doueh has publicly stated that he loves the music of both of those icons. As a youth, a lot of cassettes were being imported by the Spanish to the [Western Sahara] area.

Anything else you’d like to tell us?

This is Group Doueh’s first U.S. tour and it took a lot of work to get them over here. People should come out and have a good fucking time!

Group Doueh perform Sat., July 3, 8pm. $15. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave. 215.739.9684. johnnybrendas.com

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