Yako<br />
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Carrying the torch of afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, this 10-piece outfit from Asheville, N.C., scorches through polyrhythmic global beats and horn-driven, dance-inducing grooves. The large ensemble follows the direction of bandleader Kevin Meyame. Originally from Cote D’Ivoire, West Africa, Meyame has performed throughout West Africa and France with the drum and dance troupe Tanably. He moved to the Southern mountains in 2004 to perform as lead dancer with Ballet Warraba. But now with trilingual vocal stylings in French, English, and his native language of Baoule, he leads a group of seasoned players through an authentic yet progressive take on the nu-afrobeat movement. The band’s debut album, “Scare Tactics,” pulses through driving percussive odysseys, tribal funk, and big band synchronicity—a tightly focused snapshot of the group’s aerobic live shows. Catch them at The Orange Peel on December 1.
