West Oakland meets West Africa in The Dogon Lights, a bumpin’ combo that combines influences from hip-hop and electronica, funk and reggae, rock, trance and far-flung international traditions from Brazil to Mali. What makes this band so arresting is the electro-acoustic blend. Evan Fraser supplies the irresistible twang on the kalimba, berimbau, Malian kamale n’goni, and slide guitar, while Vir McCoy provides monster grooves on Gnawan sintir and djeli-n’goni, electric bass and guitar (Fraser and McCoy also play together in Hamsa Lila). Bongo Sidibe is a native of Guinea and a master djembe drummer. With Ashel Seazuns rapping and rhyming over Garry Norris’ hip-hop beats on the drum kit, The Dogon Lights deliver an Afro-hip-hop sound unlike any other Bay Area band.