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Ishtar is Pittsburgh's Classic BellyRock Band. Formed in April of 2006, Ishtar is comprised of Melissa Murphey on clarinet, Jeff Chmielarski on electric bass, Mark DeFilippo on darbuka, and Beth DeFilippo on riq. In August of 2007, Rob Metil joined Ishtar on Fender Stratocaster guitar.
The common love for Middle Eastern folk music and the surf rock sound brought the band together in 2006.
The uniqueness of Ishtar is that they perform authentic Middle Eastern folk and rock songs with their own Ishtar twist, called "BellyRock". Each song contains a completely improvisational solo in the middle, different every time.
The band has performed at several Pittsburgh locations: The Brillobox, Club Café, Zenith, The Sphinx Cafe, Backstage Bar, Khalil’s, Shadow Lounge, The Altar Bar, Your Inner Vagabond, The 31st Street Pub, Bloomfield Bridge Tavern, Howler's Coyote Cafe, The Thunderbird Cafe, The Warhol Museum, Mr Smalls Theater, Modern Formations Gallery and Space Gallery.
Most recently, Ishtar was flimed by Comcast for the Mr Small's Sonic Funhouse series which can be viewed on Digital Cable.
In 2007, Ishtar was a featured band at Balktoberfest and the Turkish Festival both held in Washington DC. Ishtar has performed in Morgantown WV, Akron OH, Charleston SC, Baltimore MD, and Charlotte NC.
Ishtar has had the distinction of being an opening band for Ana-Vey, Bellyqueen, Mandrake Project, PhatManDee, Bubba Hernandez & Polka Freakout, Shtreiml, Alan Bern & Guy Klucevsek, Cellofourte, Black Bear Combo and Raquy & the Cavemen.
Their influences are Mogollar, Erkin Koray, Dick Dale, Gothart, Trakya All Stars, Erkose Ensemble, Baris Manço, George Abdo, The Lively Ones, Gogol Bordello, Devotchka, Bo Diddley and Balkan Beat Box.
Contact: melissa@ishtar-music.com
www.ishtar-music.com
Members of Ishtar teach workshops and play music at the Jalsah events around the United States.
Ishtar is available to play for any event as well as specific dancer performances.
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