The Spirit has the honor of being the first international band to confirm an Israel concert since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023. The German four-piece death metal band confirmed on their Facebook page that they will perform in the Gagarin Club on Saturday, June 15, 2024. Yishai Sweartz of Raven Metal and Gal Gur-Ariehave worked miracles to bring an international metal concert to Israel, despite the emotional, physical and financial risks involved.
The Spirit formed in 2015 in Saarbrücken, Germany. They released their debut album “Sounds From the Vortex” on their own label Eternal Echoes. Word quickly spread of their chilling blend of black and death metal influences, drawing rave reviews from underground metal publications. Their haunting songs and live performances soon caught the attention of Nuclear Blast Records. Their 2020 album “Cosmic Terror” was well received but their touring plans were cut short by the COVID pandemic after only one month of shows. They were eager to get back on the road and conquer the world with their music.
Their third album “Of Clarity And Galactic Structures” pushed their progressive influences further. Lead singer and songwriter M.T. was more confident exploring these elements after challenging himself creatively. He took influence from classic progressive rock bands and discovered new artists in the genre through the pandemic. The band enjoyed experimenting with these progressive textures but ensured the songs still flowed well.
The band is currently working on their fourth album.
Israel is currently at war. There are very few flights into and out of Israel. Large gatherings are restricted in certain areas. As far as I know, there are no international (or even local) bands performing in Israel at the moment.
Some bands are accused of plagiarism. Änglagård is a band that will never be accused of stealing someone else’s tune. Sure, there was a Genesis tape playing as we walked in, and audience members sported a range of prog rock t-shirts, from Jethro Tull to King Crimson, but the complex, instrumental songs performed by this Swedish five-piece are like nothing else.
The show was an act of love and devotion by Shachar Tal, who crowdfunded the entire concert through an organisation he named Highly Unprofessional Productions, and Kumeran Sahar, who led the production team. The event felt less like a rock concert and more like a bunch of friends getting together to celebrate amazing music. Although it had a very intimate feel, the venue was completely sold out with over 300 people coming to listen to the music of Änglagård.
If you are not familiar with Änglagård, they play unplayable songs with even more unpronounceable titles. The band began in 1991, broke up in 1994, reformed in 2002, broke up again in 2003 and then reformed again from 2011-2012, again from 2014-2017 and reformed most recently in 2022. Three of the current members have been in the band since the beginning (or near enough) — bassist Johan Brand, guitarist Jonas Engdegård and drummer/percussionist Mattias Olsson. They were joined on this tour by Staffan Lindroth on keyboards and Oskar Forsberg playing flute, saxophone, megaphone and shaker.
Tal came on stage to welcome everyone who contributed to bringing the band to Israel and he introduced the band.
Änglagård came on to the small, intimate stage as the tape played Prolog. Then they launched into Gånglåt från Knapptibble. Brand explained that this song was originally recorded for an English prog rock magazine as a floppy record. According to him, those floppy singles are very rare today.
If you are not familiar with Änglagård’s music, they weave patterns of sound with syncopated, odd time signatures. I suppose the best description I can give is organised chaos. If you imagine the more tame, sanitised prog rock bands of the past few decades, Änglagård is nothing like that. They are daring and breathtaking and constantly pushing the limits of what is possible to play and to hear.
Brand played his bass as a lead instrument, often venturing up to the dangerous part of the Rickenbacker neck. He alternated between using a pick and fingers on his Rotosound 606s.
Engdegård switched frequently between electric and acoustic guitar, though he also pulled out a classical at one point. His leather trousers contrasted sharply with Forsberg’s blazer and shorts.
Forsberg’s vibrato-drenched flute sparkled like a diamond, while his saxophone augmented the heavy, bassy keyboards. And he even pulled out a megaphone for “Kung Bore.” Lindroth stayed out of the spotlight, but his keyboards held the entire ensemble together.
Olsson was like a magician, pulling one trick after another out from his drum kit. He played drums, chimes, a gong and a host of other percussion instruments. He even switched to guitar at one point. His rhythms took the band out into the deep, dangerous waters of anarchy, yet remained the bedrock of their sound.
The audience was an interesting mix. There were plenty of middle aged men and women along with a contingent of head banging teenagers in the corner of the stage.
Änglagård in Tel Aviv, September 11, 2023. (David SedleyÄnglagård in Tel Aviv, September 11, 2023. (David Sedley
To highlight how personal this concert was, the band came out to chat with the fans (and sell some merch) during the break (yes, they had an intermission). There were a lot of hardcore fans lining up for photos with the guys.
Davidavi (Vidi) Dolev, vocalist for the opening band Subterranean Masquerade joined Änglagård for the vocals on “Kung Bore.”
Olsson summed up the love in the room when he spoke of the songs and the audience as being old friends and becoming new friends. He quoted the Beatles, saying, “We’d like to take you home with us, we’d like to take you home.”
The concert ended with a haunting theme played in flute.
Subterranean Masquerade
Subterranean Masquerade in Tel Aviv, September 11, 2023. (David Sedley
I’ve seen the opening band, Subterranean Masquerade once before, when they opened for Sons of Apollo. I was very impressed with them then, and they were even better this time (with a slightly different lineup).
Vocalist Dolev looked like an extra from Fiddler on the Roof and spoke of how he was recently weaned off sleeping pills. He has an amazing vocal range, switching from a baritone to growls and then to a high falsetto.
The band’s analogue keyboard textures transported us back to the early 1970s. The pounding toms ensured it was rocking while the duelling guitars interwove lines in a blend of middle eastern and Celtic lines.
Subterranean Masquerade in Tel Aviv, September 11, 2023. (David Sedley
At times, the band were jumping like hasidim at a mitzvah tantz, while at other times they were thrashing and bashing.
The band, comprised of Dolev on vocals, Tomer Pink, Omer Fishbein and Or Shalev on guitar, Shai Yallin on keyboards, Golan Farhi on bass and Jonathan Amar on drums, are one of Israel’s best. Check them out.
Änglagård Setlist
Höstsejd Ur vilande Jordrök Vandringar i vilsenhet Ifrån klarhet till klarhet Kung Bore Encore: Sista Somrar
The Venue Grey. Ibn Gabirol 30. On floor minus one of a shopping mall with a parking lot conveniently located downstairs. Seated venue with capacity for just over 300 people. There is food and drink available. Tables for four. Best to come with a few mates if you feel uncomfortable on my own.
Reggae legend to also perform in Megiddo on August 15; Ravid Plotnik and Ehud Banai’s Kav Achorei (Back Line)
Reggae legend Burning Spear, who will play a concert in Tel Aviv on August 14th, has now added a Megiddo show to his Israel tour.
He will perform at outdoor concert in the Isaac Ochberg Park in Megiddo. Two well-known Israeli artists will support him — Ravid Plotnik and Ehud Banai with his new band, Kav Achorei (Back Line).
As I wrote previously, 78-year-old Burning Spear only returned to touring last year, after a 20 year hiatus. Born Winston Rodney, Burning Spear is considered one of the founders of roots reggae. He began recording music in 1969 and gained initial fame in the 1970s with albums like “Marcus Garvey,” “Man in the Hills,” and “Social Living.” His deep, commanding voice combined with politically and socially conscious lyrics made him a reggae icon and favorite of Bob Marley.
Ravid Plotnik is a rap and hip-hop artist. He has been performing since the age of 15, when he founded the band Produx. Since then, he has recorded and released seven albums. His most recent record is Toch Kedei Tenua (While Moving), released on Nana Disk in 2021.
Ravid Plotkin: Golem
Kav Achorei is a new project of Ehud Banai. He is one of the Banai brothers, famous in Israel for their music.
Ehud Banai formed his first band in 1982. Since then he has recorded and performed on over a dozen albums. He describes Kav Achorei (Back Line) as “folk, punk-acoustic and dub.”
Isaac Ochberg Park is named for the South Africa businessman, philanthropist, saviour of Jewish children and Zionist visionary.
All Trails describes Ochberg Memorial Lookout as:
Ochberg Memorial Lookout is an impressive and special memorial site, located in Ramot Menashe between Ein Hashofet and Ramat Hashofet. At the site is a scenic lookout spot offering views of a large area in Ramot Menashe and Kibbutz Dalia.
It is named for Isaac Ochberg who was born in Uman in 1878 and died at the age of 59 in Cape Town, South Africa. Yitzhak visited Israel in 1926 and was a delegate to the 1929 Zionist Congress in Zurich, bequeathing a quarter of a million pounds to the JNF in his will which was a huge sum in those days. With his money, the lands of the nearby kibbutzim Dalia and Gilad (1945) were purchased.
One of reggae’s founders, 78-year old to play Tel Aviv for first time in 30 years
Burning Spear is returning to perform in Israel for the first time in 30 years. The 78-year-old reggae and dub artist from Jamaica only returned to touring last year, after a 20 year hiatus. He will perform in the Barby Club in Tel Aviv on August 14, 2023.
Burning Spear, born Winston Rodney, is considered one of the founders of roots reggae. He began recording music in 1969 and gained initial fame in the 1970s with albums like “Marcus Garvey,” “Man in the Hills,” and “Social Living.” His deep, commanding voice combined with politically and socially conscious lyrics made him a reggae icon and favorite of Bob Marley. Burning Spear addressed themes of African heritage, militant black pride, and Rastafarian religious beliefs in his music. Hits like “Marcus Garvey” and “Slavery Days” captured the hearts of reggae fans and helped spread Burning Spear’s message.
In the 1980s and beyond, Burning Spear continued recording and touring regularly, releasing over 40 studio and live albums to date. His musical style has evolved over time to incorporate elements of dub, rocksteady, and dancehall but with Burning Spear’s signature socially conscious lyrics and rich rhythms. His commitment to speaking truth to power through music has remained constant.
Burning Spear is considered something of a godfather of reggae music, and his influence can be heard in younger artists who cite him as an inspiration. His seminal early albums and classics like “Marcus Garvey” have attained near religious status among reggae and dub fans. Burning Spear’s important legacy helped spur the global rise of reggae music.
Burning Spear adopted his stage name after a dream he had of Marcus Garvey (a Jamaican political figure) handing him a burning spear.
His 1974 album “Marcus Garvey” is considered one of the greatest reggae albums of all time. Artists like Bob Marley, Stephen Marley, and Damian Marley have cited Burning Spear as an influence and have collaborated with him on tracks.
Burning Spear has been honored with many reggae music awards over the years including several Grammy nominations, Jamaica’s Order of Distinction, and the UNESCO Music Prize.
The Barby Club is one of Israel’s top venues for international and local performers. It is located on 52 Derech Kibbutz Galuyot, in Tel Aviv. It is mostly standing room, though there is a small elevated area with seating.
It is very near the football stadium, so on days with big matches parking can be difficult.
Blues legend says will not travel to region due to ‘unrest’
Blues legend Buddy Guy announced via Facebook on Tuesday that he is cancelling his two scheduled Israeli concerts due to “unrest and recent military operations.”
He had been scheduled to play Caesarea and Tel Aviv on July 19 and 20, 2023.
The Offspring played a wild mix of their old hits and new songs at the Tel Aviv Expo Center on Tuesday night. The band was especially gracious and excited about coming to Israel for the first time, even inserting Hebrew words like “Shalom”, “L’chaim” and “Sababa” into the performance
photo Daniel Lester
The band appreciated the crowd singing along. Lead man, Dexter Holland, and lead guitarist Kevin Wasserman (aka Noodles), paused Bad Habit in the middle and messed with the crowd and warned them they were going to curse.
photo Daniel Lester
Balloons and confetti were thrown into the crowd and the stage was “decorated” with dancing man inflatables.
Come Out and Play
All I Want
Want You Bad
Staring at the Sun
Hit That
Hammerhead
Bad Habit
Iron Man / The Trooper / Sweet Child o’ Mine / In the Hall of the Mountain King
The Black Keys hit the stage in Park Rishon LeTziyon, Tel Aviv, for their debut performance, bringing “Dropout Boogie” to Israel.
The Black Keys
At the same time The Offspring were hitting the stage for their debut in Israel at the Tel Aviv Expo center, The Black Keys hit the stage for their own debut at Park Rishon LeTziyon. The Black Keys opened with “I Got Mine” from 2008’s Attack and Release, and continued for almost an hour and a half playing hits from throughout their discography. In fact only 2 of the songs played were from their most recent album, Dropout Boogie, despite the fact that Tel Aviv was a stop on their Dropout Boogie tour.
photo Aaron Wolfphoto Aaron Wolf
Patrick Carney played the drums in his signature way- almost slumped over the kit, while Dan Auerbach seduced the crowd with his unique blues-rock riffs. The backing band stood behind the two, and the stage was backlit by a large panel that displayed images relevant to the song or album (some of which were probably lost on fellow fans not from northeast Ohio).
The night climaxed with the Keys’ encore where Auerbach played the delicate opening to Little Black Submarines. The entire crowd was silent until Dan began singing along with all 10,000 fans at Park Rishon. The Black Keys finished their set with their (probably) most popular song Lonely Boy.
Swedish virtuosi will perform in Grey Club in Tel Aviv on September 11
Swedish progressive rock band Änglagård will bring their unique style of symphonic prog to Israel for the first time in September. The band is set to play the Grey Club in Tel Aviv on September 11, 2023.
Änglagård was formed in Sweden in 1991. The band’s sound is heavily influenced by the 1970s progressive rock scene, particularly by bands such as King Crimson, Yes, and Genesis. Their music features complex arrangements, intricate guitar and keyboard work, and a strong emphasis on melody and harmony. Änglagård’s music is often described as “symphonic prog.”
Although the band split up in 1994, it reformed in 2009 and has been active ever since. The current band lineup is Mattias Olsson (drums), Johan Högberg (bass), Jonas Engdegård (guitars), Oskar Forsberg (flutes, saxophones, keyboards) and Staffan Lindroth (keyboards).
Israel band Subterranean Masquerade to open
The band is being brought to Israel by a brand-new promoter called Highly Unprofessional Productions. The promoters say that the concert is, “crowdfunded as a purely non-profit initiative. A work of passion, by fans of the band.”
Well established, highly renowned Israeli band Subterranean Masquerade will open the concert. I last heard them open for Sons of Apollo and was very impressed with their tight sound and impressive musical talents.
History of Änglagård
Änglagård’s debut album, “Hybris”, was released in 1992 and was a critical and commercial success. The album features a blend of acoustic and electric instruments, with a strong focus on the mellotron, a keyboard instrument that was popular in the 1970s. The album’s intricate compositions and complex arrangements garnered praise from fans and critics alike, and helped to establish Änglagård as one of the leading bands in the progressive rock scene.
After the release of “Hybris”, Änglagård went on hiatus for several years before reuniting in 2002. The band released its second album, “Epilog”, in 1994, which further cemented their reputation as one of the premier progressive rock bands of the era. The album features a more mature sound, with a greater emphasis on acoustic instruments and a more subdued approach to the use of electric instruments.
The band’s intricate compositions, virtuosic musicianship, and classical influences have inspired countless other musicians to explore the boundaries of progressive rock.
The venue
Grey Club (Tel Aviv) is located at 30 Ibn Gabirol Street. It is one of three Grey Clubs (the others are in Modi’in and Yehud). There is a wide variety of music happening at Grey – check their website (Hebrew) for more concerts.
The Washington band played loud, rocked hard, and the crowd loved it
The Melvins tore up the Barby Club on Wednesday night with a fast-paced, no-nonsense crowd pleaser of a gig. And they will do the same again on Thursday night, July 6, 2023. The last time The Melvins played in Israel was in 2007. Just like buses, you wait 16 years for a Melvins show and then two come along at once.
There was no time wasting with this band. They came onstage at 10pm exactly, to A-Ha’s “Take On Me” and launched into an hour’s worth of material (In that time they got through 14 songs) with no breaks, no time for anyone to catch their breath and hardly any time to applause at the end of each song. Then, after a very brief break, they came back for a one-song encore. Though that song was “Boris” which lasted 15 minutes, including at least five minutes after two-thirds of the band had left the stage.
I have heard of The Ramones blasting through a dozen songs in half an hour, and trying their best to shave off a few seconds when they could. The Melvins (who’s name I’m sure was at least partly inspired by The Ramones) were the next best thing. One strong song after another. No introductions, no “thank you”s, no “ifs” or “buts.”
Buzz Osbourne stomped around the stage in heavy boots and a wizard’s robe. With his fleece of grey hair he looked like a dandelion that had taken up magic and guitar. Unusually for a guitarist, his pedal board was at the back of the stage, next to his amps. Which meant that some of his greatest moments were played with his back to the crowd, while he was absorbed in the musical mayhem he was creating.
The Melvins’ Buzz Osbourne, Tel Aviv, July 5, 2023. (Aaron Wolf)
Steven Shane McDonald wore a sharp red suit and mangled a hot red bass. In contrast to Osbourne’s moody stomping, McDonald danced, jumped, posed and shape-shifted for the entire hour. He both threated and made love to the crowd with his bass.
The Melvins, Tel Aviv, July 5, 2023. (Aaron Wolf)The Melvins’ Steven Shane McDonald, Tel Aviv, July 5, 2023. (Aaron Wolf)The Melvins’ Steven Shane McDonald, Tel Aviv, July 5, 2023. (Aaron Wolf)
Dale Crover kept the entire show moving with his drumming. While Osbourne and McDonald were tuning their instruments, or searching for the magical optimal feedback point, his incessant rhythms kept the crowd hopping and jumping. The only time he stopped drumming, and almost the only time the band spoke to the crowd, was when he came up front to introduce the others. While the other two had big pic stands, Crover’s head mic allowed him to harmonize and syncopate the vocals almost without anyone noticing.
The crowd last night was like a fourth member of the band. They were moshing and bopping and even a few — very slow motion — stage dives. Not like diving into the deep end of the pool, but gingerly climbing in at the shallow end.
If you are looking to rock your socks off tonight in Tel Aviv, head to the Barby Club — if you are lucky, there may be a few tickets left.
