Golem (klezmer band)

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Golem
Image:Golem members.jpg
Background information
Origin New York City
Genre(s) Klezmer, Punk
Years active 2001Present
Label(s) JDub Records
Members
Annette Ezekiel
Aaron Diskin
Alicia Jo Rabins
Curtis Hasselbring
Taylor Bergren-Chrisman
Tim Monaghan

Golem is a New York City-based klezmer band; most lyrics are belted out or wailed in Yiddish, Ladino, or Slavic languages. Golem's chief fan base of American 20- and 30-year-olds shows this self-described "Eastern European folk-punk band" to be on the forefront of a revival of Jewish culture in popular music typified by performers like Hasidic reggae star (and JDub co-labelist) Matisyahu. The band has performed throughout the northeastern United States, as well as in California and London.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

Golem was founded in 2001 by band leader Annette Ezekiel. Original members included Barry Negrin on saxophone and Sarah Ferholt on trumpet/brass.

[edit] Critical response

  • "Golem produces the sort of music you'd expect if the shtetl were filled with punks instead of peasants." - The Washington Post
  • "Stellar! A wild edgy approach with a reverance for Old World tradition." -The New Yorker
  • "An edgy spin on the Eastern European music of their Jewish grandparents..." - Time Out Chicago
  • Klezmershack: Review of Homesick Songs

[edit] Discography

  • Golem (debut EP) (2001)
  • Libeshmertzn (Love Hurts) (2002)
  • Homesick Songs (2004)
  • Fresh Off Boat (2006)

[edit] External links