Slavic Soul Party!

Wed., May 9, 8 p.m., with Red Heart the Ticker, International House, 3701 Chestnut St.

by A.D. Amorosi

rock/pop/dance

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The good thing about this Slavic soul party is that — unlike Gogol Bordello's Eugene Hutz and his marble-mouthed mien — you can understand most of what the Brooklyn-based Balkan act is saying. The bad thing? Man, do these nine people make a mess. But that's to be expected, even welcomed, from the mostly brass Slavic Soul Party! Under the leadership of bubanj player Matt Moran, SSP! brings its frenzied, multi-ethnic celebration directly to audiences with a sense of live-band mobility unheard outside of the Mummers. That's because the bubanj is a walking portable drum kit, and Moran's Serbian and Croatian pals' horn-playing more than keeps up the pace. In fact, from the caffeinated Gypsy groove throughout their jittery, jazzy debut, Teknochek Collision , I'd have to imagine that this is what a Slavic workout mix tape would sound like, without the cool-down.

Wed., May 9, 8 p.m., $8-$10, with Red Heart the Ticker, International House, 3701 Chestnut St., 215-895-6542, www.ihousephilly.org.