All Entries in the "music" Category
Yo La Tengo live in Tel Aviv
Yo La Tengo were here last week, performing at the Barby Club in Tel Aviv. Here’s a quick clip from their show. The American band got good reviews, as they typically do from music critics. Anyone out there actually get to see them in Tel Aviv?
Alan Parsons Project live in Tel Aviv
For fans of Alan Parsons out there, and yes, I know of a few, here is a clip from this week’s Alan Parsons concert in Tel Aviv. The video was taken from the front row, great job! And that’s quite a crowd (check out the closing moments) – I wasn’t aware Israelis were so keen on Alan Parsons…
Israel: the Golden Goose for Rock Gods
OK, I have a nice little guide to who’s coming to perform in Israel this year over on the main site, and even though it’s only January, it looks like it’s gonna be a cracker of a year (especially for bank managers…)! There are some mighty fine names there already, including Elton John, The Pixies, Carlos Santana and, er, Rod Stewart.
And some mighty fine names have already been bandied about this week, with rumors of gigs in Israel to come. Metallica and Bob Dylan were this week rumored to be about to name a date with the Holy Land, and I’m guessing that that little list is about to be added to over the next few days and weeks. I haven’t added Metallica and Dylan to my list yet because they are still only rumors, despite what some sites are telling you…
While it’s great that stars of such high caliber are coming to Israel in their droves, particularly after a number of very dry years for music fans, I can’t help thinking that a few of these bands and their promoters are milking the locals for every shekel they can get. There are some ridiculously high prices for tickets in pretty crap locations (Ramat Gan stadium is a pretty manky stadium to host really big names) for bands that are, er, past their sell by date.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed some great gigs over the last couple of years, including The Stranglers, Blondie, Morrissey, Depeche Mode, Paul McCartney and Madonna. I just can’t help feeling that there are some people making some serious money out of these big names and especially out of Israeli music fans’ desperate desire for musical talent…
It’s like these big names have suddenly realized that Israel is this golden goose that ain’t quite as scary as she was a few years ago. A goose that will lay one nice, fat pay day.
But hey, goose or no goose, I’ll be forking out the shekels for The Pixies!
Nice little Christmas present for Israel – the Pixies are coming!
Oh yes, just in time for Christmas, the Pixies have announced they’ll be performing in Israel this coming summer, on June 9th. One of the most influential bands of the 80s, I know quite a few Israelis who’ll be snapping up tickets for this one (me too!). The venue has yet to be determined, but prices are a reasonable 325 shekels, for now. Go here for ticket information (Hebrew only unfortunately).
2009 was an awesome year for music lovers in Israel – it looks like 2010 is heading the same way!
And if any of you needed reminding, here are the Pixies (mmmm, soon to be in Israel!):
If you’re going to listen to just one Christmas song, this has to be it…
The greatest Christmas song. Ever. OK, not very Israeli-related, but this is the one I’ll be taking with me to that desert island…you can never have enough of Shane McGowan!
Peter Murphy Live in Tel Aviv!
Peter Murphy performed two shows in Tel Aviv this week (Monday and Tuesday nights), both at the Barby Club. According to what I’ve found online, the shows were great, so I’m a little disappointed I didn’t make it.
Not sure if any of the audience came dressed in black with heavy black eye-liner, but never mind, here’s a clip of Peter Murphy strutting his stuff in Tel Aviv!
Israel loves a bit of Anka!
Well, after a memorable year for music fans in Israel, which has seen a multitude of artists performing in the Holy Land, it’s time for 60s legend Paul Anka to stake his spot.
His November 19th Tel Aviv gig is almost sold out, but he has already agreed to perform another show at the Nokia Arena the night before, bless him. And it looks like the Israeli concert-going crowd still hasn’t felt the bite of a weak economy, what with tickets selling between 340 and 1000 shekels. Power to the Anka; if people are willing to pay, then charge.
Some of his hits include the hit that every Israeli over 35 seems to know, “You Are My Destiny”, as well as “Lonely”, and “Put Your Head on My Shoulder”. I have a confession: during my first love-hate relationship with Ofira (back in the early days of my Israel adventure), I got to learn “You Are My Destiny” off by heart. And yes, I still know the words.
Moving on quickly, Paul Anka hasn’t done a lot in recent years but did pop up in the headlines recently when it was revealed he was in line to receive receive half of the royalties for Michael Jackson’s new song, “This is It”, a song Anka originally wrote for himself.
And did you know that Paul Anka is actually of Lebanese descent (well, his parents are)? Another Middle Eastern tidbit for you.
Here he is performing a somewhat blasphemous version of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. Doesn’t work for me…
Leonard Cohen live in Israel
The big man Leonard Cohen performed in Israel last night, at the Ramat Gan stadium. 50,000 fans left apparently very happy and content. I just want to know how the heck they got 50,000 Israelis (well, almost all Israelis) to sit in chairs for 3 hours…
Here’s a clip from the show, with perhaps the most popular song from his repertoire, Hallelujah. Nice shots of the enormous crowd…
