"The Wailing Wall" began as a solo recording project by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jesse Rifkin in late 2004, and became a real band in October 2005. Live, the Wailing Wall can be anything from Jesse playing alone to a sprawling collective of musicians. To date, they have shared stages with the likes of A Hawk and a Hacksaw, Mount Eerie, Circulatory System, Man Man, Jason Anderson, Castanets, Mary Timony, Karl Blau, TW Walsh (ex-Pedro the Lion), Thanksgiving, The Instruments, Woelv, Harry and the Potters, The New Sound of Numbers, and others. Though based in NYC, they are willing to play absolutely anywhere, and if you would like to set up a show, feel free to email Jesse at rifkin.jesse@gmail.com.
releases:
The self-titled debut Wailing Wall CD-R EP icontains 6 songs - "Bread In Your Belly," "Feudal Lords (Instrumental)," "Vibrating Bones, My Working Blood," "Oh My Lord," "Sacred String," and "Feudal Lords/Gated Community." It was recorded and performed entirely by Jesse, and it comes lovingly packaged in a manilla envelope featuring a stunning drawing of a bird by Michelle Yu. This release is out of print in its physical form, but is now available as a free download here: http://www.archive.org/details/TheWailingWall-Ep
Our second release was a 7" record with "For My Baby Brother" on the A-side and "Nails and Wood" on the B-side. These songs, which were again recorded by Jesse, feature instrumental and vocal contributions from Giancarlo Sutton, Michelle Yu, Jamie Cook, Matt Elkin (The So-So Glos), Taylor Pavlik, Zach Mazzola (The Wooly Moon), Vincent Del Signore, Holly Fulton, Meghan Crotty, Jason Anderson (Wolf Colonel) and Adrian Orange (Thanksgiving)! This record is a limited release of 300, pressed on stunning yellow-y gold-colored vinyl, and comes packaged in a gorgeous silkscreened cover made by Amy Fleischer, with an equally attractive insert designed by Matt McCann. These 7"s may be purchased for $5.
In March 2008, we released our first full-length album, Hospital Blossoms. The album has the following tracks: "Morning," "Sister, I," "Drums," "Nails and Wood," "Hospital Blossom," "No Wind," "Dear Mother," "Drums," "Floral Park," and "Morning 2." It was recorded by Chris Roush at The Boathouse in Stone Lake, WI and Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY, except for three songs which were recorded by Jesse at home in Annapolis, MD. It features instrumental and vocal contributions from Luke Bace (Butane Variations), Holly Fulton, Taylor Pavlik, Alixandra Macmillan-Feidel (Alixandra and the Tailor Sea), Natalie Mirsky, and Chris Roush (Soul Saint Marie). It comes in an environmentally-friendly, 100% recycled cardboard arigato pack made by Stumptown Printers, with the cover images designed and hand-stamped by Jenny Adolfson and Jesse Rifkin. These albums may be purchased for $8.
Released simultaneously with Hospital Blossoms, The Hospital Blossoms EP consists of four outtakes and demos: "Vibrating Bones, My Working Blood 2," "Hospital Blossom," "The Words We Choose," and "Dear Mother." All four songs were recorded by Jesse Rifkin, and feature additional contributions from Jamie Cook and Zach Mazzola. It is available as a free download here: http://www.archive.org/details/HospitalBlossomsEp-TheWailingWall
please note that a shiping charge of $1.00 will be added for each item.
Additionally, you can now buy one-of-a-kind, hand-drawn Wailing Wall t-shirts! Simply specify size and color, and you will receive a t-shirt made especially for you by Jesse, featuring a unique image (of my choosing) unlike any other in the world! These T-shirts are available for $10, plus $2 for shipping and handling. Photo examples forthcoming.
We also have the following songs on the following compilation CDs: -"For My Baby Brother" (from our 7") appears on the JDub Records compilation Rooftop Roots Vol 3, which also features Golem, Balkan Beat Box, Deleon, Soulico, Sagol 59, and others. We have copies if you want them. They are free with purchase of any of our records, just tell me you want one. -"The Words We Choose" appears on the Firecracker Firecracker Records compilation ...And Through The Woods, alongside such artists as Soul Saint Marie, Human Host, Rick Weave and the Ruined Frame, The Wooly Moon, No One and the Somebodies, and others.
Hello from Cuba! You are missssed!!! I am sooo jealous I can't follow you to every show of your tour with Chris. Have a fantastic, brilliant, lovely time. I can't wait to seeeeee you in four and a half months or something! xo Becca
It was delightful to get to see you and watch such a swell pile of musics. The new songs are so strong and such powerful performances of the old ones. Dang sir! Thanks for coming to our little town and rocking so deliciously.
Jesse! I've just been introduced to this great Irish pub in the Village, and their songwriters' circle on Wednesday nights run by musician Niall Connolly. It was sooo much fun! There is a downstairs section with a smaller bar and lots of seating, and it is quiet and people listen intently and the sound is great quality. None of that seediness or pretentiousness, just kind folk and good tunes. I hope you can make it one Wednesday, he told me to recruit if I could. I hope your tour is going fantastically! I am a little bummed that you're playing NY after I leave for Mexico then Cuba, but hopefully I'll get to hear you before then. Lots of love and well wishes to you! -Becca
Hello. Just taking a minute here to stop by and say thanks so much for being on my friend's list. I appreciate any support you may offer my music and welcome your comments and thoughts. Looking forward to hearing from you.
hey! how are you? saturday june 28th we are going to be playing a cool bbq 3pm show at the silent barn with Warmer Milks - please come and hang out if you can (flyer on our page)
