Mofa Ha'arnavot Shel Dr. Kasper
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Mofa Ha'arnavot Shel Dr. Kasper (translation: Dr. Kasper's Rabbits Show, Hebrew: מופע הארנבות של ד"ר קספר) is an Israeli rock band active, from 1991 until now. It was part of a wave of Israeli rock bands that started in the early 1990s and included Knesiyat Hasekhel (Church of the Intellect) and Ziknei Tzfat (Elders of Safad). Their musical style was upbeat grunge funky rock, influenced by bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Rolling Stones, and they describe themselves as the first generation of musicians influenced by MTV — in terms of both music and performance.
Their line-up featured Shai Lahav from Tiberias (vocals and keys), Oren Brazily from Holon (vocals and guitar), Tzvika Cohen from Moshav Lachish (drums) and Itzik Reisenberg from Ramat HaSharon (bassist) who was later replaced by Shy Nobleman.
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[edit] History
The band had its beginning when Shay Lahav received an offer to perform in a small pub in Tel Aviv called "HaAliya Hashnia". He teamed up with guitarist Oren Brazilay, then 16 years old; together they wrote 7 songs in 10 days for their cabaret-style performance. With bass, drums and keyboard programed by Shay on his computer, the band won a small group of loyal fans and as well as their manager, Dudi Levi, who saw their potential. He insisted on signing on a bassist (?), Itzik Reisenberg and, after several false starts, Tzvika Cohen joined the band on drums. Their popularity grew, mainly due to their wild performances which included flannel shirts, black lines under the eyes, costumes, and Brazilay stripping down to underwear with a rabbit sewed on it, along with general chaos on stage.
In the summer of 1993 the band's first album titled Mofa Ha'arnavot Shel Dr. Kasper came out, mostly containing songs from their performance. It was an immediate success, including a rock rendition of an old, classic army entertainment group song. They toured all over Israel, played over 200 performances and were chased by hundreds of fans. By the end of the summer, the band was exhausted and decided to take a break — a month-long trip to New York and California.
In 1994 their second album, titled Mofa Ha'arnavot Shel Dr. Kasper - 2, came out. It was different from its predecessor: slower, heavier, psychedelic, a result of the members' bemused state of mind following their big success. The album describes what goes on in the mind of a girl named Shila, while experiencing a trip, and the different stages she goes through. It was a commercial failure and was soon taken off the shelf.
The group decided to return to their old, fun, light sound in the third album, Ho Ho, which came out in 1995. Despite a return to upbeat songs and many potential hits it, too, failed; the "Golden Era" of Israeli rock was passed. The band blamed poor publicity for the failure; years later some of the songs from this album were still considered Israeli rock classics. Itzik, the bassist, became more religiously observant and stopped performing on Saturdays. Soon he was replaced altogether by Shy Nobleman, but the band soon fell apart.
In 2004 they reunited for a short tour, and again in 2005; that year they released an album of one of their 2005 live performances.
[edit] Aftermath
[edit] Oren Brazilay
The guitarist joined a band named Norma Gin, which recorded a few tracks that were never released. He went to New York, started a band called The Sugar Lights, and gradually fell in love with rap music, became a sound engineer and worked for Def Jam Recordings. He is currently the musical producer of several hip hop artists from Brooklyn, and a member of the band BenLaVain.
[edit] Shay Lahav
After a long break Lahav returned to the music industry as the producer and songwriter of the successful Israeli boy-band High Five. In 2004, he recorded a solo album and went on tour, performing some of Kasper's old songs with Brazilay.
[edit] Tzvika Cohen
Cohen currently runs a hotel in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A..
[edit] Itzik Reisenberg
Now an Orthodox Jew, Reisenberg continues to write songs and play, mainly as a hobby, with an option to record some of his songs.
[edit] Discography
- Mofa Haarnavot Shel Dr Kasper (1993)
- Mofa Haarnavot Shel Dr Kasper 2 (1994)
- Ho Ho (1995)
- Mofa Haarnavot Shel Dr Kasper Live (2005)
