Geoff Berner's latest album, “Klezmer Mongrels” released this October on the 9pm label in Europe, and January 27, 2009 in Canada, is the ultimate expression of his aggressive kind of klezmer. It's a klezmer punk folk dance album about mixed-breeds of all kinds.
This is the third album of his "Whiskey Rabbi" trilogy, all recorded with the rough sound of blaring accordion, the virtuosic, scraping fiddle of Diona Davies, and the thumping, insistent rhythm of Wayne Adams' percussion.
This trilogy declares that the 'klezmer revival' is over. There's no need to revive. Klezmer is alive and infectious, and voracious, and mutating again. The evidence is there in the international radical klezmer scene that's sprung up in the last few years, with artists like Berner, Montreal's Socalled, Daniel Kahn in Berlin, Klezmic Zirkus in Belgium, Michael Winograd's band Jewish Princess in NYC, and literally scores more popping up in the wake of bands like these.
“Today there's a cultural battle going on between the boring forces of purity, fundamentalism and monoculture, and the fun forces of mixed-up, messed-up diversity. This album is a celebration of the triumph of mixed-up fun."
"'Whiskey Rabbi' was mainly about booze, 'Wedding Dance of the Widow Bride' was mostly about women, and 'Klezmer Mongrels' is about the natural consequences of combining the two."
"I believe in this approach, because at the height of its powers, this music, the folk music of Eastern European Jews, was a constantly changing brew of Turkish music, sacred Jewish music, Tango, jazz, and the music of whatever country the Jews were living in at the time."
Berner's message is evident in songs like "Half German Girlfriend", "Luck in Exile", and the ironic "Authentic Klezmer Wedding Band". The music and lyrics are a raw assault on purity that will make listeners, laugh, bang their heads, cry, and feel absurd, all at the same time. Berner began his klezmer journey with a research trip: In 2004, the trio of Berner, Diona Davies (violin) and Wayne Adams (percussion) travelled to rural Romania to investigate the roots of the music with their guide and guru, Bob Cohen, leader of Budapest band Di Naye Kapelye. They returned with a deeper understanding of the culture, and quite a few stories to tell.
Now, after courting Olympic controversy at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, numerous international tours, festival appearances, airplay on national radio in 7 countries, and slots on tour with artists such as Billy Bragg, Kaizers Orchestra, Balkan Beat Box and the Be Good Tanyas (who covered his song "Light Enough to Travel", selling over 100,000 copies), he's garnered critical acclaim and a fast-growing cult following for his sharp songwriting and cabaret performance style.
"It was weird on this last tour, to play places like Amsterdam, Berlin, even Nuremberg, and have people I'd never seen before singing along, not just to the choruses, but the verses. Something strange is happening out there. But it's good."
Hey Whiskey Sour Rabbi. Are you ready for another trans-European bout of... fancy cocktail drinking?!! It doesn't quite sound right. No time to say hello. Goodbye! I'm late, I'm late, I'm late. Best wishes, The Whiskey Rabbit
The new True Margrit CD - The Juggler's Progress - is now available for pre-order, along with t-shirts and artwork, photo and drumheads, check it out here: http://bit.ly/7Cu8J
Next shows: November 5, Molly Malone's in West Hollywood, CA November 12, Fox and Goose in Sacramento, CA November 15, Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco, CA!
Our tour wraps up with the big show at San Francisco's best rock club, Bottom of the Hill! For the complete show schedule, check here: http://bit.ly/1UgGqQ
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Greetings WondrousGalacticCreature ~I am sending... ☼Light to Shine Thy Inner Core ❤ Love to Fill Thy Mighty Soul ☆Strength to Walk Beside Thee
Have most adventurous mucho L ♥ve & Respect ~Ann R.
Eternal Universal Explorers
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sacred refuge within conquer layers challenging the mystic enigma endless boldly walk the path purifying
explore limitless mysteries an eternal light indestructible swirling in an unfathomable vastness harmonious complete and magnificent
LAST EVENT WE’RE PUTTING ON FOR A FEW MONTHS…Features…BELLVILLE- Luscious Lilting Gypsy Jazz!! JAMES BROWNE- Boogie Piano Riot!!! And the return of COMPETITION TIME and a whole heap of nonsense!!!! PACKHORSE FRIDAY 27th NOV.Woodhouse Lane opp. Library Pub
PLUS SAT 6th NOV. we’re in WETHERBY, At the St JAMES CHURCH CRYPT With TOM ATTAH, RUBY CORSET, and more…
Hi There Geoff Berner Your music is great. So you are. Thats why I am big fan of yours Geoff Berner. Keep up the good work. I am proud being your fan. D
Greetings Sinners,As part of their on-going quest to rid the world of ennui and other French philosophical maladies, THE DEVIL’S JUKEBOX are rolling out the ragtime red carpet and humping it ‘till the weave gets pilled, THISFRIDAY 23rd OCTOBER, at THE PACKHORSE supported by English Music Hall Maestros BISCUIT HEAD and the BISCUIT BADGERS-expect ukulele, tuba and a sense of the absurd akin to Vivian Stanshall’s Bonzo Dog Band, featuring Dino Casino, not to be missed.PLUS the frankly quite splendidTOM ATTAH- expect stompin’, raw delta sounds from the kick-ass king of Shipley!
Also, for those who are interested, ‘Righteous!’ is back, end of November, DR B.
TOYKULT plays British Music Week 2009 & we invite you to download our latest EP featuring tracks from our new album FREE @ 192kbps: http://www.toykult.com
we are trying to get The Scent of Evil featured on MTV's It's on with Alexa Chung! so need thousands of people to watch the trailer belowor at http://vimeo.com/6906638:-
So if you like the trailer please forward this to all your myspace friends and post on websites etc...spread the word tx.
"Wer sieht wenn ich weine - wer hört meinen Schrei ? Wer fühlt wie ich leide - wer liest was ich schreib ? Sag wer nimmt mir meine Ängste und wer gibt mir neuen Mut - wer kanns tun - wenn nicht Du ?"
Ich bin diese Woche der featured Artist auf Myspace und komme zusammen mit Afrob auf die neue Juice-CD.
Als Dankeschön für jeden der seine Stimme beim Voting für mich abgegeben hat , präsentiere ich nun den neuen Song "Wenn nicht Du" und das dazugehörige Musikvideo:
Viel Spass mit dem Video + dem neuen Song (der Downloadlink steht in der Videoinfodatei)
Bitte schreib mir ein Kommentar bei Youtube und gib mir 5 Sterne - liebe Grüße aus Neuss