Artists play locally, think globally.

Byline: Serena Markstrom The Register-Guard

Many a music writer has made the observation that one of the upsides of globalization is the unselfconscious blending of musical traditions by artists who either lived in the countries of influence or just felt like appropriating their music.

Sometimes, visa difficulties delay or cause cancellation of performances when artists try to cross real-life borders. But when it comes to artistic license, at least five bands coming to town this week know no borders.

Gogol Bordello

Gypsy-punk band Gogol Bordello, led by Ukrainian-born band leader Eugene Hutz, plays Tuesday at the McDonald Theatre, 1011 Willamette St. The band is touring behind a new release, "Super Taranta!"

"Gogol Bordello is going to conquer the world," Hutz says in a news release about the album. "Everything on the album is taken to the next level. It's more direct, more abstract, more focused, with more dark humor.

"The dub parts are deeper; the fast parts are faster. It's pure orgasmo hysteria."

Dancing at a Gogol Bordello show is a good way to get a workout to the group's fast, predictable beats and contagious energy. Today's group is even more diverse than when it was formed in the late '90s. Dancers Pam Racine and Elizabeth Sun have joined the act, and also contribute percussion parts.

The band's bio describes the sound as "an Eastern European cousin of ska, augmented by punk, metal, rap, flamenco, roots reggae, Italian spaghetti, Western twang, dub" and more. The common thread: the music is generated by rebels.

Hutz, at least according to one of his songs, believes everyone should wear more purple. But the band itself favors wild, colorful outfits vaguely reminiscent of circus clothes, with a definite vaudevillian flair.

A Gogol Bordello show is not recommended to those of you prone to panic attacks due to overstimulation of the senses.

Romani group Kal opens Tuesday's show, but it headlines tonight the at Erb Memorial Union ballroom, 1222 E. 13th Ave.

Romani is another word for Gypsy, and one defining trait of European Gypsies is the ability to adapt. And Kal considers itself to be an adaptable seven-piece band.

Based in Serbia, Kal is on its second tour of the United States. Its self-titled debut topped European charts when it came out in 2006, a news release says.

Unlike Gogol Bordello, which performs songs in English, Kal doesn't have any English songs on its album. It plays music from Bosnia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Serbia.

The release describes the Kal sound as a "dynamic blend of traditional instruments, rock 'n' roll in attitude, fueled on dance beats and rooted in the Balkan blues."

Kal's show at the EMU ballroom starts at 8 p.m. today. Tickets are $6 for students and $12 for the general public.

Tuesday's show at the McDonald Theatre starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $22.50 in advance or $25 at the door.

Global Drum Project

At the McDonald tonight, former Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart brings in his Global Drum Project for a concert that also features international percussion greats Zakir Hussain, Sikiru Adepoju and Giovanni Hidalgo.

A news bio says Hart has had an interest in ethnic music since a young age, when he listened to his mother's folk recordings. He also has a long history of exploring multicultural sounds and bringing artists he's met during his travels onto stage with the Dead.

Hart's latest recording project features eight performances from tabla virtuoso Hussain and master conguero Hidalgo, with Adepoju on talking drum, a news release says.

The release describes Hussain as a longtime friend and collaborator. It says he is one of the world's giants in Indian classical music.

All four musicians were part of the 1991 "Planet Drum." That album won the first Grammy for world music and stayed No. 1 on the Billboard world music chart for 26 weeks, the release says.

The seated show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance and $38 at the door.

Circled by Hounds

Jumping up to Ireland, an Oregon band with Irish influences will entertain those of you on a club-show budget with a taste for pub music.

Circled by Hounds presents original and traditional acoustic Celtic music Saturday at the Axe and Fiddle and Sunday at Sam Bond's Garage.

Irish flutist and singer Hanz Araki, who is in the ultra-hip Pogues tribute act KMRIA, is a guest at this show and on the upcoming Circled by Hounds CD. For a completely strange comparison between Araki and Hank Azaria, visit the Ticket Files blog for the link.

Cary Novotny will sit in on guitar for both shows, which each cost $5 to attend and start at 8:30 p.m. The Saturday show at the Axe and Fiddle is at 657 E. Main St. in Cottage Grove, and Sunday's show at Bond's is at 407 Blair Blvd.

- Serena Markstrom