Passover….Gefilte Fish….Jam Session!

I had the pleasure of being welcomed to E’s family for Passover. The Saturday that begins the week of Passover kicks off with a large meal called the Seder.

It’s both Thanksgiving and Christmas all rolled into one; Thanksgiving for the food and giving of thanks for the Jewish exodus from Egypt and Christmas by the way everyone shopped like mad the day before (flowers, clothes, food, etc.) and how all the shops are closed on the day of the Passover Seder.

I want to write more about the experience but for now, I’ll give you visuals:





(above) Pre-taste of gefilte fish





(above) Proof of eating the gefilte fish

After dinner, half the family went out back where a stash of instruments were. E’s cousin studies music in Jerusalem and along with half of her other musicially talented family members (including E), an impromptu jam session began.

Guitar, accordion, djembe, daf, and tar. Some very interesting instruments! The daf is a large Persian drum that was played by a family friend who studies at the same music school. The tar is like a miniature sitar (think post LSD Beatles) but played like a guitar. And during the whole evening, all of the instruments were passed around with much gusto. (E’s plays a mean accordion, by the way.)

See the video for yourself!

(Feed viewers may need to visit the site directly to view video.)

Until next time…. Chag Sameach! (Happy Holiday)

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First Time American

I’ve got a new song posted on MySpace! Check it out here!

P.S.  Yes, I know it’s an instrumental.

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The Second Exam

Not nearly as daunting as today’s exam. Still a bit overwhelmed. Can’t write complete sentences. Super greesy exam time face.

Also, I went to try and play an open mic just a minute ago cause I needed to get out and I really wanted to play. The place that hosts it is closed. Weird. Doors locked. Lights off. Deserted. Bastards. Must be a sign to wait till next Monday.

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Repetition is the Way to Success

Ember Swift.  I saw her 3-piece last night in Rockford.  She was exciting and impressive as always.  This will be the 4th time I’ve seen her over the years and all of those times have been in a nice cosey small venue like last night.  (VERY preferable.)

As she went through her set I realized that I recognized most of the songs and was nearly able to sing along to them.  Well, let me clarify.  Although I’ve seen her several times live, I have yet to actually purchase an album of hers.  Shame on me!  So, it was suprising to me that I could remember her set throughout the years without ever having owned an album.

This made me realize that she’s been playing most of these songs for at least 3 years.  (Which is the first time I saw her live.)  Then I considered that she tours at least 10 months out of the year…  shows every other night…  carry the two…  holy crap! 

Hundreds, maybe thousands, of times she’s played these songs?

I really don’t think I could do it year after year after year without feeling nauscious from the effort.  I imagine it feels like someone tapping on your shoulder constantly… tap tap tap tap…  until you just can’t handle it anymore and snap.

Most artists at least mix it up a little and change the words, the rhythm, the break, something!  I know I would.  I’d change the words at the most critical moment just to mess with the people singing it in the audience.

I found myself impressed at her ability to regurgitate these tunes that I’m sure she’s grown to despise.  I love them equally as much as the first time I heard them but felt an ounce of pitty towards Ember and her coherts.  She knows what her audience wants and she gives it to them.  I think it’s great that she realizes this and plays the tunes that people will recognize.  But it really makes you wonder if she’s gritting her teeth in the aftermath?

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The Amen Break

This video is totally fascinating to me. It explains the effect that a 6-second drum loop from 1969 has had on music… our generation… culture… commercialism. I’ll wager that 99% of you have heard this loop and had no idea about it’s origins. I know that I didn’t.

If you have 20 minutes to spare, you should watch it too. It’s a nice musical history lesson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SaFTm2bcac

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