Debo Band: Ethiopian pop, and then some

July 15, 2013 8:26 PM

Debo Band's Ethiopian pop music mixes traditional folk music with American soul and funk rhythms. Listen to their critically acclaimed self-titled album from 2012 for gems such as Akale Wube, Not Just a Song, Asha Gedawo, And Lay and Habesha.
posted by Foci for Analysis (7 comments total)

I saw them opening for the Alabama Shakes in Boston last year! They were fantastic live, so fantastic that I was actually a little disappointed when I got home and listened to the album, which is pretty good in itself. But do see them live if they get near you.
posted by ostro at 8:48 PM on July 15, 2013

I'm loving this! I'd never heard of them before; thanks for the post.
posted by Auden at 9:50 PM on July 15, 2013 [1 favorite]

hah, awesome stuff!
posted by daisystomper at 11:22 PM on July 15, 2013

Debo Band is great! I discovered them on NPR because apparently I've turned into my Dad and I find out about cool music through NPR. They're now a go-to choice to get a party goin' in my house.
posted by entropone at 4:26 AM on July 16, 2013

Yes! Saw them at the YMCA in Cambridge a few years ago, along with the dancers from Fendika. Awesome.
posted by jumpercake at 5:56 AM on July 16, 2013

If you like Debo Band, you might also enjoy Akale Wube, a contemporary French Ethio-jazz group.

(And, of course, you might also enjoy the Ethiopiques albums, Mulatu Astatke, Hailu Mergia, Getatchew Mekurya, Mahmoud Ahmed, etc.)
posted by box at 7:52 AM on July 16, 2013 [1 favorite]

There's another great band with the same theme. Bole2Harlem, Bole being Addis Abbaba's main airport. Nice stuff too.

Hoya Hoye - Bole2Harlem [SLYT]
posted by drinkmaildave at 12:39 PM on July 16, 2013 [1 favorite]