With a wrecking-crew rhythm section, debonair vocals, and a guitar concoction that’s one part shred and two parts soul, it’s easy to understand why South Africa’s BLK JKS took music mega-gathering SXSW by storm last year. Now on its debut U.S. tour, the band shoots an African musical sensibility through the tenets of rock, electronic, and soul, reclaiming styles that have been stolen, watered down, and regurgitated for generations. BLK JKS’s fresh, forward rhythms, layered harmonies, elliptical guitar vernacular, and infectious urban Zulu mbaqanga blues combine in a swirl of experimentation and tribal energy. Catch the newest voice in African music’s 21st-century sound on this blistering opening night of the Cedar Cultural Center’s four-day Global Roots Festival. – (Walker Art Center, Buy Tix)

BLK JKS – “Molalatladi” (MP3)

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Let’s be honest. That Chairlift song in the iPod commercial was brutally beat into our heads. Even to those without a “television set” it is somehow impossible to escape. Other than that song, however, they sound pretty cool. Phoenix having played the Electric Fetus earlier today, aren’t the only band on the two-band bill to be playing another Minneapolis hit, swing and.. find out for yourselves tonight around midnight @ the newly functioning Milford Amusement Center. (Cleverly atop another amusement arena)

John Maus (of Ariel Pink’s Haunted Grafiti) is also playing, with according to Josh Brown: COMPARABLE BUT MORE STOICALLY 80s SYNTH MUSIC TENDENCIES.

This show is brought to you by SAC (Soothing Almond Collective)

Chairlift – Evident Utensil (mp3)

John Maus – My Whole World Is Coming Apart (MP3)

Obchod Na Korze (MySpace)

The Superfluous Glowshoes (MySpace)