Mucca Pazza: Punk orchestra circus with 30 members takes over MOCAD for colorful party

Mucca Pazza is a 30 piece self-described "circus punk marching band" based out of Chicago. Conceived by composer Mark Messing, the band, whose name comes from the Italian for "crazy cow," has been performing in and around the Chicago area for over four years. The group's musical influences are as colorful as the bright spandex glitter-encrusted outfits they flaunt. Their repertoire ranges from Balkan-brass to covers of 1960's television show themes as well as innovative classical works by Shostakovich and Bartok. They have performed at Lollapalooza, Michigan's Rothbury Music Festival and have beeen guests on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

The group's debut album, A Little Marching Band, was released in 2006 and is distributed by Southern Records. Their second full-length album, Plays Well Together, was released last year. The band's song "Borino Oro" was featured in an episode of the hit Showtime television show "Weeds."

Friday July 3, at Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD), 4454 Woodward Avenue, in Detroit's Midtown. 8 p.m. $7.