It’s a SnowDown

Gear up for the second annual SnowDown concert at Lake Tahoe. This year’s headliners are Los Angeles-area ensemble Ozomatli and Bay Area hip-hop group Blackalicious. The culturally diverse Ozomatli—Nahuatl for the Aztec god of dance—is known for its Afro-Latin sound, socially conscious lyrics and political activism. The band made headlines in 2000 when their set was cut short by the Los Angeles Police Department as they performed to protestors marching outside the Democratic National Convention in downtown. The band released an album, Embrace the Chaos, which reflected their feelings about the DNC protests. They were also affected by the events of Sept. 11, which pushed them to explore the music of North African and Arab countries. “I’ve always felt that music is the key to every culture, the beginning of an understanding,” says lead vocalist Asdrubal Sierra. “It’s a language far more universal than politics.” Ozomatli recently released an EP, Coming Up, and is planning a new full-length album for next year. Blackalicious will open the show, which begins 8 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Circus Maximus Showroom inside Caesars Tahoe, 55 Highway 50 at Stateline. Tickets are $25 and $30. Call (800) 648-3353 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.