Babaloo defies labels. That's what happens when a band that expands its linguistic horizons by singing in seven different languages in the space of a single stanza.
In between playing in Tobacco Road in New York City today and in Northern Virginia on Sunday, the seven member multilingual group is giving a free concert tomorrow night at 9 p.m. at Tuttle Coffee House.
Babaloo describes themselves as a fusion of Punk Mambo and Hardcore Juju, which they explain is "a mix of soukous, mambo, chacha, samba, reggae, ska and cumbia, saut
ed with some special ingredients and blended with the energy and wise guy antics of punk."
First-year College student Horace Ballard, who is also co-chair of the Tuttle Coffee House committee, calls the band's music fun and original.
"Their program is really diverse and hip and there is something for everyone. If you don't like the Indian flair there is a jazz section coming up ... and their voices are amazing."
The eclectic-sounding group formed in 1994 in Boston, Mass., and since has produced four albums, the latest endeavor entitled "I am in the Nude for Love." Some of the many instruments featured in the band include the kazoo, congas, trumpet and guitar.
Usually Babaloo charges $2,000 to $3,000, but they agreed to play at Tuttle for the $500 that First-Year Council had to offer them.
"They are psyched and they are ready to come and go with it," Ballard said.
The Tuttle Study Lounge, in the bottom of Tuttle, transforms into the Tuttle Coffee House Thursday through Saturday nights. It was created in the spring of 1998 by First-Year Council as an alternative hangout for first years.
Ballard said he loves the coffeehouse because "it is an amazing alternative for first years. It's a place that is very low-key, it's free, you can come in and out.It's an amazing place to chill with your friends."
Ballard said First-Year Council is excited to make Tuttle Coffee House even more of an outlet for creative efforts. He said that murals, a mini art gallery and another pool table are possibly additions to the lounge.
The band will play until midnight, knocking out a long three-hour set.
"It looks like this band may be big in the near future," Ballard said. "It will be cool to say they came to U.Va. before they became huge."
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