Riyaaz Qawwali at Joe's Pub

Gig Alert: Riyaaz Qawwali at Joe's Pub, with Huun Huur Tu, Nachito Herrera, & DJ Nickodemus
Tickets: $15. Show at 9:30PM.

Most people who hear Qawwali music without knowing anything about it just assume it’s party music – what with the rockin’ rhythms, the handclaps, and especially, the soaring vocals. But in fact, Qawwali music is a form of Sufi prayer, associated specifically with the Sufis of Pakistan. But this band, called Riyaaz Qawwali, isn’t from Pakistan – they’re from Austin, Texas. Riyaaz Qawwali share a globetrotting bill at Joe’s Pub with Tuvan acoustic quartet Huun Huur Tu, and Cuban musician Ignacio "Nachito" Herrera tonight.