GEORGE is the one who plays guitar mostly with lots of delay pedals and such. He also dabbles with the keyboard and sings. JESSICA is the one who plays the shiny green bass with the occasional blast of Big Muff. She also sings. DAN is the one who plays the drums. He never sings, but he does like to work the percussion here and there. They are all nice people.
Influences
EL JEZEL
Not to be pretentious, but this could be anything...like the color of the sky or an old photo, or whatever. Oh shit, that was pretentious. Anyways, if you mean what music do we like well that would be Tortoise, Ride, Yo La Tengo, Karate, Luna, Panda Bear, Led Zeppelin, Cholo, Police, Elysian Fields, Slowdive, Sunny Day Real Estate, Mogwai, Talking Heads, Radiohead, De La Soul, DJ Shadow, most of the stuff released on Ninja Tune between 95-00, Nick Drake, Wilco, Funkadelic, The Autumns, Stooges, Sonic Youth, Pixies, Black Lips, The Sea and Cake, Afghan Whigs, Massive Attack, Lee Perry, Dizzy Gillespie, Blonde Redhead, Wilco, Sigur Ros, Deerhunter, Bark Psychosis, PJ Harvey, Broken Social Scene, Prince and any song that happens to get stuck in our head on any given day. DISCLAIMER: We might not sound like any of these bands.
I think that I've probably had El Jezel's record Elements Of Being Put Together in my "to listen to" pile for damn near 6 months. I'm sorry I didn't listen sooner. It is a really solid album on which the trio plays dark and melodic post-rock that is just as comfortable venturing into blissed-out shoegaze territory as it is just riffing it up and rocking out. El Jezel also features both male and female vocals that counter and complement each other very well. Consider it indie rock for late nights. I bet this is music that really translates well live. El Jezel, if you are reading this, come to Chicago.
-CAN YOU SEE THE SUNSET FROM THE SOUTHSIDE?
El Jezel, lovers of all things shoegazy and unbelievably fucking beautiful (it's also worth mentioning that they're one of the most impressive things our ears have found in all of New York City this year)...
-THE CULTURE OF ME
El Jezel is a three-piece from Queens and they happen to be that rare breed of band who can treat you to a rollicking good time for three songs in a row only to entrance you with an ode to spaghetti westerns the next. Or, the other way around. Sometimes they pull off mindbending genre shifts like this mid-song. They'll go from shoegaze inspired glide to post-rock jam, and back again, leaving you going "hm, wow, what the...I like it!" Then, just when your senses are telling you "more, give more El Jezel" they pull out a cover song and end with "Michigan".
-EARFARM
While I've always dug their off-kilter bass heavy pseudo Sonic Youthish vibe - what they've evolved into - an off-kilter bass heavy very Sonic Youthish pop inspired vibe with stage presence to spare and then some was quite a pleasant surprise and made for a very enjoyable set indeed. Mos def a band on the rise and not to be missed - feel the love for yourself.
-JENYK
El Jezel started our Union Hall residency off with some dreamy post rock. As the crowd gradually shuffled in and began their long journey into soused, dramatic shifts and emphatic climaxes gave that swimming feeling a healthy nudge. I suspect this sort of thing might work better in total darkness, or sound tracking some seriously majestic nature footage (as Earfarm once suggested) but there were no complaints to be registered. I will note that it's odd to see such seemingly nice people play such intense music, but that's hardly a drawback.
-MERRY SWANKSTER
El Jezel put on a great set. They impress me even more each time I see them. I think the thing that really impresses me about the band is their presence. They genuinely look like they want to be up on stage. They want to be playing their songs for anyone who will listen. They have fun. And because of that, I have fun each time.
-UNDERRATED
George, Jess, and Dan are three incredibly talented and almost impossibly sweet people, and the music they make shows it. Though they've got the wistful shoegaziness down like nobody's business, they can rock it like you wouldn't believe in an instant.
-SUBINEV
Muted strings, ambient rhythms, and soft voices carry El Jezel through their debut, "Elements of Being Put Together". Almost experimental at points, the music gives you a sense that something explosive is about to happen, then stops just as that moment nears. It's simple but intelligent indie rock that's headed into an immense future.
-INDEPENDENTS ONLY
"Elements of Being Put Together” is a melodic and interesting album, perfect for late-night listening under glowing stars.
-MERCURIAL SOUND
As you can see by *our* new photo, we appear to be shamelessly morphing into an El Jezel tribute band (Fem bass player... 3 piece... insatiably handsome guitarist...) x G
Hi, thank you, it was great sharing the stage with you, wonderful songs and musicianship the three of you, we really enjoyed the rendition of Do You Love Me Now? Until the next time, may it come soon. Shine a Light on You! The Soundscapes
Didn't get to see you at Rehab.... no no no. Wanted so bad to make it... but I couldn't go go go Hope it was swell I love El Jezel and hope to see your next show show show...
I just read your blog, what an active week! As exhausting as it might have been I bet every moment of it was fun! Well, I am eager to hear this new album so you guys can't take a break just yet. You must push forward and ROCK, ROCK, ROCK! Love y'all
