Last year it was Of A Revolution; this year Ozomatli lives the revolution. Ozomatli’s insurrection is one of music, a language far more universal than politics.

Headlining this year’s Loup Garou – tonight at Tipitina’s Uptown – Ozomatli is an Afro-Latin-and-beyond musical group that’s known for its unique blend of the political angle of hip-hop with the irresistible rhythms of Latin music.

“Music is the key to every culture, the beginning of an understanding,” trumpet player and co-vocalist Asdru Sierra said. The band, composed of Sierra and percussionists Jiro Yamaguchi and Justin Poree, bassist Wil-Dog Abers, guitarist and lead vocalist Raul Pacheco, tenor saxophonist Ulises Bella, drummer Mario Calire, turntablist Rene ‘Spinobi’ Dominguez, MC Jabu Smith-Freeman and trombonist Sheffer Bruton, lives this belief through its recordings and especially its legendary live shows.

With its recent release “Street Signs,” Ozomatli has embraced the influence of Eastern Culture into its sound.

What’s great about Ozomatli’s music, and this release in particular, is that the band has total control over everything. This artistic freedom is possible thanks to its label, Concord Records. Concord allowed the band to take members’ ideas and run with them, to do what they wantedwith their songs. This kind of generosity is rare in today’s music business, but Ozomatli is proof that the practice can work for good bands.

“Since we started, our perspectives have changed as our lives have changed. We just trust each other more now. Everyone gives everyone the space we all need,” Bella said. “This band did not start, at all, to get a record deal. It started out of love for the music we made, and that’s exactly where we still are.”

Ozomatli has been together for the past eight years, building on the musical relationships inside the band and writing new original material.

That’s what’s so great about Ozomatli: it doesn’t sound like anything you’ve ever heard before, but it’s still great.

Loup Garou has been a Loyola tradition for the past seven years. Groups featured in past years have been They Might be Giants, Cowboy Mouth, Better Than Ezra, The Roots and Run DMC.

Loup Garou is one of the best events for all music lovers at Loyola to come together and enjoy an amazing band together at the most historic venue in our city.

The show begins at 10 p.m., and the price of admission is only $10 for Loyola students.

Greg Heaney can be reached at [email protected].