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.

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.

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.

Full Setlist:

• Tape: Take On Me (a‐ha song)
• Snake Appeal
• Zodiac
• Copache
• I Want to Hold Your Hand (Beatles cover)
• Hammering
• Never Say You’re Sorry
• Evil New War God
• Let It All Be
• Blood Witch
• Your Blessened
• A History of Bad Men
• Honey Bucket
• Revolve
• Night Goat
• Encore:
• Boris

To say the three members of The Aristocrats are virtuosi is an understatement. Last night in Tel Aviv Guthrie Govan (guitar), Bryan Beller (bass) and Marco Minnemann (drums) displayed almost superhuman mastery of their instruments. As well as a fantastic sense of humor.

The June 26th concert was held in Reading 3, a beautiful music venue on the Tel Aviv port. Previously, I have seen two of my childhood guitar heroes perform at Reading 3 — Paul Gilbert and Yngwie Malmsteen. It is possible that Govan and co surpassed them both in their dexterity and skill.

The band walked out before a packed house while Devo’s “Can’t Get No Satisfaction” was still playing over the sound system. So the band joined right in. Then without missing a beat, they segued into “Stupid 7.”

After that, each song was introduced with a story, usually with an element of comedy. So, Govan asked the audience to envisage a rockhopper penguin, patrolling Antarctica on a snowmobile wearing a policeman’s cap before the band played a brand new song — “Sgt. Rockhopper.” He also spoke of his sadness at the asteroid which wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, at the end of the cretaceous period, before launching into “Bad Asteroid.”

Marco spoke of his pride at getting a “Parental Advisory” sticker attached to the band’s first album, even though, like all their albums, it was an instrumental. That was because of a song called “Bluesf***er” which tonight began as a five-minute vamp on “Hava Nagila” — probably the most interesting rendition of the song I’ve ever heard.

While Minnemann performed his 10-minute drum solo, Beller sat on a stool at the side tapping time on his legs, while Govan sat cross-legged on the floor, filing his nails with various gradations of emery board.

Minnemann displayed an impressive Hebrew vocabulary, whereas Beller, who described himself as, “a stubborn Jewish kid from New Jersey” didn’t manage much more than “good evening” in Hebrew.

Occasionally, Minnemann would punctuate a song with an “oink” from a squeaky plastic pig he placed on his cymbal. Beller would reply with a “squawk” from a rubber chicken.

In between songs, Govan managed to sign a couple of his signature Charvel guitars that fans had bought along with them. He also apologized that he wouldn’t be throwing picks out to the front row, but he only had three to last him the year.

The Aristocrats have performed several times in Israel, and tonight the venue was sold out.

The full setlist was:

• (Intro: Devo “Satisfaction”)
• Stupid 7
• Drink Package
• Sgt. Rockhopper
• Bad Asteroid
• Bonnie and Clyde
• Aristoclub / Drum Solo
• Through the Flower
• Ohhh Nooo
• Furtive Jack
• Last Orders
• Encore: Blues F***ers

Due to popular demand, the Melvins will play two shows in the Barbie Club in Tel Aviv, on July 5 and July 6, 2023. The second show was added after the first show quickly sold out. The band is celebrating 40 years since they were formed, and 30 years since their first major-label record “Houdini” was released on Atlantic Records.

The Melvins are an American rock band that formed in Montesano, Washington, in 1983. Since their formation, the band has undergone several lineup changes, with Osborne being the only constant member. The current band is comprised of Buzz Osborne (guitar and vocals), Dale Crover (drums) and Steven Shane McDonald (bass).

In honor of the 40th anniversary, the band rereleased “The Devil You Knew, The Devil You Know” on Amphetamine Reptile Records.

The band has been highly influential in the development of the sludge and stoner metal genres, and is also known for their experimental and avant-garde approach to music. The band’s original lineup consisted of Buzz Osborne on guitar and vocals, Matt Lukin on bass, and Mike Dillard on drums.

The Melvins’ music is characterized by its heavy, distorted sound, slow tempos, and unconventional song structures. The band’s early albums, such as “Gluey Porch Treatments” and “Bullhead,” were highly influential in the development of grunge music, and the band is often cited as an influence by bands such as Nirvana and Soundgarden. However, the Melvins have always been more experimental than their grunge counterparts, incorporating elements of punk, metal, and avant-garde music into their sound.

Over the course of their career, the Melvins have released over 25 studio albums, as well as numerous EPs, live albums, and collaborations with other artists. Some of their most acclaimed albums include “Houdini,” “Stoner Witch,” and “The Maggot.” The band has also collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Jello Biafra, Tool, and Big Business. Despite their experimental approach to music, the Melvins have maintained a dedicated fan base over the years, and their influence can still be heard in a wide range of contemporary heavy music.

In conclusion, the Melvins are one of the most influential and innovative bands in the history of heavy music. Their unique approach to songwriting and their willingness to experiment with different genres and styles have made them an enduring force in the underground music scene. While their music may not be for everyone, there is no denying the impact that the Melvins have had on the development of heavy music over the past three decades.

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The Venue:

The Barbie Club. Kibbutz Galuyot Rd 52, Tel Aviv-Yafo.

The Promoter:

ZUZZ Agency

With release of new album ‘Diversum’ progressive black metal band tour with European Neofolk band Rome to support

Norwegian avant-garde metal/progressive black metal In The Woods… are set to perform in Tel Aviv for the first time, on June 24, 2023 in the Haazor Club in Tel Aviv (Harechev 13). The opening band will be the Luxembourgish neofolk band Rome.

Norwegian band In the Woods released their sixth album, “Diversium” on  November 25, 2022.

The band has been active since the early 1990s. The band’s music can be described as a blend of black metal, folk, and progressive rock. In their early years, In The Woods… was heavily influenced by the Norwegian black metal scene, but they evolved into a more experimental sound over time. The band’s music is characterized by complex song structures, atmospheric soundscapes, and haunting melodies.

In The Woods… released their debut album, “Heart of the Ages,” in 1995. The album received critical acclaim and is considered a classic in the black metal genre. However, the band’s sound began to evolve with their second album, “Omnio,” which was released in 1997. “Omnio” marked a shift towards a more atmospheric and experimental sound, incorporating elements of folk and progressive rock. The album was also notable for the addition of clean vocals, which became a key element of In The Woods…’s music.

Despite their critical success, In The Woods… faced numerous lineup changes and eventually disbanded in 2000, after releasing “Strange in Stereo.” However, the band reunited in 2014 and has since released two albums, “Pure” in 2016 and “Cease the Day” in 2018. These albums continue to showcase the band’s unique sound, blending black metal with elements of folk, progressive rock, and even jazz. In The Woods… remains an important and influential band in the Norwegian metal scene, and their music continues to captivate fans around the world.

Rome is a neofolk band formed in Luxembourg in 2005 by Jerome Reuter. Reuter is the primary songwriter and vocalist for the band, which also includes a rotating cast of musicians. Rome’s music is often described as a blend of neofolk, post-punk, and martial industrial. The band’s lyrics often deal with historical and political themes, exploring topics such as war, revolution, and nationalism.

Rome’s debut album, “Nera,” was released in 2006 and received critical acclaim for its unique blend of neofolk and post-punk. The album was followed by a string of successful releases, including “Confessions d’un voleur d’ames” (2007), “Masse Mensch Material” (2008), and “Flowers from Exile” (2009). Rome’s music is characterized by Reuter’s baritone vocals, which are often accompanied by acoustic guitar, piano, and atmospheric soundscapes.

Over the years, Rome has established a loyal fanbase around the world, particularly in Europe and North America. The band has also collaborated with a number of other artists, including Death in June and Current 93. Rome’s music continues to explore complex themes and challenge listeners with its thoughtful and provocative lyrics. The band’s unique blend of neofolk, post-punk, and martial industrial has made them one of the most distinctive and innovative bands in the genre.

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About the venue:

Haazor (The Zone) is a live music venue situated at Harechev 13, 67771 Tel Aviv.

About the promoter:

Raven Metal, founded by Yishai Schwartz, has been bringing international metal bands to Israel for years. Additionally, Raven Metal distributes records and CDs that are otherwise unavailable in Israel. Yishai is also the bass player for Israeli band Tomorrow’s Rain.

The Aristocrats, a progressive rock/fusion supergroup comprised of guitarist Guthrie Govan, bassist Bryan Beller, and drummer Marco Minnemann, will perform in Reading 3 in Tel Aviv on June 26.

This will be the band’s fifth trip to Israel, having played here previously in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2019. The promoter, RK Promotions, just announced that the two Laney cabinets Govan will use in the show will be available for purchase (at just under NIS 2,000) to be collected from Govan after the performance.

The Aristocrats’ music has been described as “impossible to categorize” because it incorporates so many different musical styles and influences. The band calls their unique genre “woozy prog-pop.” While their music may be challenging to play, The Aristocrats try to keep their songs melodic and accessible to listeners not familiar with progressive rock. They are known for balancing technical skill with musicality.

Govan has been called, “Rock’s scariest guitarist” by Rick Beato. He is known for his virtuosic guitar playing and has collaborated with a variety of artists, including Steven Wilson and Hans Zimmer. He has also worked with Asia, GPS, the Young Punx and the Fellowship.

Beller just got off tour with Joe Satriani on June 5th and almost immediately headed back out with the Aristocrats. He has also played with Steve Vai, Mike Keneally and Dethklok, among others.

Minnemann is a versatile drummer who has played with numerous artists, including Steven Wilson, Terry Bozzio, Adrian Belew, Joe Satriani, and The Mute Gods. A decade ago, he formed LMR, named for the initials of the members Tony Levin, Marco Minnemann and Jordan Rudess.

The Aristocrats formed in 2011 and have released several albums, including “The Aristocrats” (2011), “Culture Clash” (2013), “Tres Caballeros” (2015), and “You Know What…?” (2019). Their music is characterized by complex rhythms, intricate melodies, and virtuosic instrumental performances. The band has been praised for its technical proficiency, humor, and improvisational skills.

Some of The Aristocrats’ most popular songs are:

• Bad Asteroid – This is one of their signature songs, featuring odd time signatures, blistering solos, and a very catchy melody. It’s considered a classic among their fans.
• Sweaty Knockers – A fun, upbeat track with a funky groove and witty title. It really showcases their musical chemistry and sense of humor.
• The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde – A beautiful, melodic tune that demonstrates their ability to write softer, more emotive music in addition to their usual high-energy rock songs.
• Boing!…I’m In The Back – One of their most playful and bizarre songs with strange noises, cartoonish sounds effects, and an overall zany vibe. The title gives you an idea of their quirky humor and anything-goes approach.
• Blues F***ers – A bluesy hard rock track with attitude. As the title suggests, it’s one of their heavier and more aggressive songs with plenty of distortion and attitude. The contrast shows their range between lighthearted and abrasive. This is often played as an encore at live shows.

The Venue

Reading 3 is a concert venue that was established in 2002 in the Tel Aviv port area. The address is Hatarucha 3, North Port, Tel Aviv. There is usually parking available nearby.

See a list of other upcoming concerts in Israel

Tickets for Bruno Mars’s first Israel concert, on October 4, 2023, sold out in under two hours. As a result, Live Nation announced a second concert, on Saturday, October 7. But that one also sold out — before the tickets officially went on sale.

Both concerts will be held in Tel Aviv’s Park Hayarkon, which holds over 60,000 people.

Bruno Mars is a singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was born on October 8, 1985, in Honolulu, Hawaii, and his birth name is Peter Gene Hernandez. Bruno Mars is of Filipino descent and was raised in a musical family. He began performing at a young age and quickly gained recognition for his talent.

Mars has released several successful albums over the course of his career, including “Doo-Wops & Hooligans,” “Unorthodox Jukebox,” and “24K Magic.” He has won multiple Grammy Awards for his music, which is known for its blend of pop, funk, R&B, and soul.

Some of Bruno Mars’ most popular songs include “Just the Way You Are,” “Grenade,” “Locked Out of Heaven,” “Uptown Funk,” and “That’s What I Like.” He has also collaborated with a number of other artists, including Mark Ronson, Cardi B, and Beyoncé.

In addition to his music career, Bruno Mars has also appeared in films and television shows, including “Honeymoon in Vegas,” “Rio 2,” and “Saturday Night Live.” He is considered one of the most successful and influential artists of his generation.

A few months ago, Dream Theater played to 100,000 fans at Rock in Rio. On Saturday night in Tel Aviv they played to fewer than a tenth of that number. But what the fans lacked in quantity they more than made up for in quality. People were wearing t-shirts running the gamut of Dream Theater’s previous four trips to Israel.

When vocalist James LaBrie addressed the crowd, it felt almost like a family reunion. “It is so nice to be back,” he said. “How long has it been? Four years? But now we’re back together. It is so nice to be back together.”

The unspoken message throughout the evening was that we’re all back together, and Dream Theater has a new album, despite COVID-19 (or perhaps because of the pandemic). A year ago, it would have been unthinkable to have thousands of people crammed together into Hangar 11 for a concert. And without the pandemic, Dream Theater would have continued touring their previous album, and would not have written and recorded “A View from the Top of the World.”

The concert kicked off with the band’s Emmy-winning song, “The Alien.” The song as a 17/8 time signature, and guitarist John Petrucci said in his award acceptance speech that it was impossible to dance to, but that did not deter a few young men standing behind me from stomping around (and crashing into quite a few others around them). An almost 10-minute song is an ambitious way to start a show, but that is what this crowd was here for.

Each song was accompanied by an epic video presentation, shown on the giant screen behind the band. This gave the impression that they were playing on alien landscapes, or above a hot air balloon, or in the depths of the sea.

The band launched immediately into “Six O’Clock” accompanied to a backdrop of clocks — most, but not all, going clockwise. Then came the live debut of “Sleeping Giant” off the new album, followed by “Bridges in the Sky.”

They played “Caught in a Web for the first time since 2015, accompanied by images of crawling spiders and webs (not ideal for anyone in the audience suffering from arachnophobia).

They performed four of the seven songs off the new album, including “Answering the Call,” followed by “Solitary Shell,” which they haven’t played live since 2010. Digging even deeper into their back catalog, they brought out two songs that haven’t been on stage since 2006, “About to Crash” and “Losing Time/Grand Finale.”

Finally, they got to a song that everyone knew and could sing along with — “Pull Me Under.” The lyrics seemed very poignant for a band and audience recovering from the trauma of lockdowns:

This world is spinning around me
This world is spinning without me and
Every day sends future to past
Every breath leaves me one less to my last
…
Pull me under
Pull me under
Pull me under, I’m not afraid
All that I feel is honor and spite
All I can do is to set it right

As LaBrie said, “Music is magic because it brings everyone together.”

Finally, they ended the set with the epic, 20-minute “A View From the Top of the World” — the final song on the new album.

After leaving the stage, they then came back for a 20-minute encore with “The Count of Tuscany.”

Almost two and a half hours of show, 12 songs, great show.

Nick Johnston, the Canadian guitar master, gave a masterclass in Tel Aviv on Friday afternoon.

The even was sponsored by Wild Guitars and it was a packed full house.

Johnston came on, asked everyone to first cheer and then boo him which he recorded for a mini-documentary he is making. He asked what we think of his mustache. The answer was not the resounding positivity perhaps he had been hoping for.

He played a couple of songs on a red signature Schecter Nick Johnston Traditional HSS (basically a Strat shape but with a humbucker in the bridge position).

Then he answered questions. He even offered a sweaty, used pick to the person who asked the first question.

We learned about his biggest inspiration — the boy who moved in to the house next door when Johnston was 13 and the neighbor was 14. We learned about the order he creates album titles, song titles and album art (in that order).

The question answer of the day was to the question, “Can I jam with you?” (“No!”).

The longest answer was about chromatics. The tl:dr version is that it is either all about intervals or just chucking in some extra notes to fill up the space between notes.

Who does Johnston consider is the best chromatic guitar player in the world? Brett Garsed (an Australian guitarist I had never heard of before).

What does Johnston like best about Israel? He thinks we have the best beach in the world.

Nick grew up on all the Shrapnel bands I heard back in the 80s, but he was listening to them in the 90s (because he is only 35). This allowed him to develop his “orchestral” style with beautiful sonic lines interspersed with lightning fast runs.

How does he compose music? It all starts at the piano. He locks the guitar up in a cage until the melodic outline of the song is composed. Because if he would compose on the guitar, it would be all shred and no music.

Why did he stop using the whammy bar a few years ago? Because he became too reliant on it (also because he beat up his hands on it a lot). Why did he start using it again recently? Because it is so much fun. Also, the Schechter non-locking tremolo that stays in tune is just amazing.

How does he do the legato runs but make them sound so percussive? Partly because he is left-handed. Partly because he practiced eight hours a day for 20 years. Also, by resting the fleshy part of his right hand lightly on the strings.

It was a great afternoon of music and conversation from Nick Johnston. And the main comment I heard afterwards was, “He is such a nice guy.”

If you ever get the chance to join him in a master class you totally should.

Follow Nick Johnston on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/nickjohnstonguitar

Follow Nick Johnston on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NickJohnstonOfficial

Follow Nick Johnston on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickjohnstonmusic/

Follow Nick Johnston on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickjmusic

Swedish prog-rockers end Imperial European Tour 2022 with phenomenal Israel gig

Soen, the Swedish supergroup, ended the first leg of their 2022 European tour on May 29 at the Havana Club in Tel Aviv. The band ended in style with a phenomenal show playing to a packed crowd who were clearly hungry for music after a two-year covid drought.

As the lights dimmed, the band walked onstage. Lead guitarist Cody Lee Ford looked like everything Russel Brand dreamed of being; rhythm guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist Lars Åhlund looked like Thor wielding a Gibson Firebird (except when he switched it for a Flying V); bassist Oleksii Kobel is new to the band, but he fit right in, trading jokes and licks with the others while whipping his incredible dreadlocks. Drummer (and founding member) Martín López began beating out his polyrhythms and the band kicked off with “Monarch.” Vocalist Joel Ekelöf then came onstage looking not unlike Rob Halford (though later he switched the leather jacket for his more traditional dark blazer).

In terms of musical ability there is no question that the five band members are all at the top of their game. The musicians all come from extreme metal backgrounds but their sound is far from being merely fast riffs and growls. Lopez once described their heavy prog-rock sound as, “melodic, heavy, intricate and very different than everything else” and it is difficult to come up with a better description. They appear to have outgrown and evolved from their earlier days when they were dismissed as clones of Tool (in the past, Soen said that, they consider Tool, “not only a band, but a genre.”

This tour is in support of Soen’s latest album, “Imperial” which was released way back in January, 2021. The songs move effortlessly from heavy riffs to hammond keyboard block chords, to shimmering, echo-laden arpeggios to a sound verging on Southern blues rock. There is no screaming from Ekelöf, but rather his vocal style is controlled, versatile, and his range is quite impressive.

“Israel is a land of mystery,” Ekelöf said. “And the biggest mystery is how do you make that hummus so f&@#ing great.”

The hundreds of fans who ventured out on a hot and steamy Tel Aviv night joined in with every line of every song. Almost every song title is a single word, but the lyrics are complex, long and meaningful.

For me, one of the highlights was the opening of “Savia” when Kobel’s bass took the lead. The band as a whole were incredibly tight, the harmonies were perfect, and Åhlund moved seamlessly from the front of the stage to the back as he switched from guitar to keyboards (with a little bit of bongos for good measure).

Even after the encores of Lascivious, Sectarian and Lotus, and even though it was well past midnight, the crowd did not want to leave.

“This is such a wonderful end to our tour,” Ekelöf told the crowd. “There’s going to be more visits in the future. I promise you that.”

And it was clear that Tel Aviv looks forward to seeing the band on their next time through the city.

Before Soen took to the stage, Israeli band Artland kicked things off with their multimedia, melodic shredfest. The three guitarists, bassist and drummer, all originally from the former Soviet Union, showed off their phenomenal technical skills which were the equal of any international band. I look forward to one day seeing them share their melodies and textures, over complex rhythmic structures as a headline act.

The concert was put on by Progstage Productions. Since 2012, Progstage have brought over 120 international artists to Israel. Over the next few months, Progstage will also bring Alestorm, Arch Enemy and Three Days Grace to the Holy Land.

Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. It currently consists of lead vocalist Adam Levine, keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Jesse Carmichael, lead guitarist James Valentine, drummer Matt Flynn, keyboardist PJ Morton and multi-instrumentalist and bassist Sam Farrar. 

Adam Levine considers himself Jewish. According to Wikipedia, ” Levine’s father and maternal grandfather were Jewish, while his maternal grandmother was a Protestant.”

From 2011 to 2019, Levine was a judge on the TV Show, The Voice.

Coral Bismuth, an Israeli street performer, will open for the band after Adam spotted her from his hotel.

Levine and the band toured Jerusalem on May 8th and were photographed at the Western Wall.

Maroon 5's @adamlevine at the Western Wall, ahead of two shows in Tel Aviv this week
📸 @israelphoto pic.twitter.com/cRL0AtS2tC

— Lahav Harkov 🎗️ (@LahavHarkov) May 8, 2022

The band will perform in Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park on May 9th and 10th, 2022.

Here is the setlist from the Maroon 5 Tel Aviv concert on May 9th.

Here are some videos that others took from the concert on May 9th: