Zebrahead Heavy With A Light Touch

Zebrahead’s musical stripes come in a number of hues. There’s hard-rock guitar, hip-hop beats, pop melodies and rapped lyrics.

You could say Zebrahead is a horse of many colors.

Formed three years ago in La Habra, Calif., Zebrahead is just one of a number of bands taking metal aggression and mixing in hip-hop’s thumpy beats and rapid-fire raps. There’s Dial-7 and hed (pe) of Southern California, and News A.D. from Spokane. Leading the pack, though, were Rage Against the Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

“Everybody has such diverse influences and when we all put in our parts it turns out to be something pretty unique and pretty special,” says singer Jutin “Goldtoof” Mauriello.

Mauriello and rapper Ali Tabatabaee share Zebrahead’s vocal duties. They’re joined by Greg Bergdorf on guitar, Ben Osmundson on bass and Ed Udhus on drums.

Zebrahead appears in the upcoming movie “Clubland” — the directorial debut from Alanis Morissette producer Glen Ballad. They also have songs in the films “Lost and Found” and “Idle Hands.”

The band has opened for groups such as Sevendust, Sugar Ray and Cypress Hill and will appear on a number of Warped Tour dates this summer, including stops in Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, B.C., and Boise, Idaho.

Although the band’s music leans toward the heavy end, Ali points out: “We try to have a positive outlook on life. I notice that a lot of the music that’s out there lately is focused on the negative, and that’s one of the things about Zebrahead that I like.

“It’s OK to be happy, and to look on the positive side.”

ZEBRAHEAD In concert Tuesday with Pilfers at the Spokane Convention Center. The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door, available through G&B outlets.