All posts tagged as: metallica
Golem @ SXSW AKA How I Conned My Way Into Metallica
Golem’s second time at SXSW was exciting, and the usual mix of “this is so amazing!” and “get me out of here!” After two great shows in San Francisco and Los Angeles, we arrived in Austin and played the JDub showcase, the really fun Birthright party, and an insane Austin party called “Gadjo Disko” where we saw that “Keep Austin Weird” is still upheld by a lot of people. I knew it would be a blast when I walked into “The Cockpit” and the DJ was playing a track by our friends, Amsterdam Klezmer Band singer Alec Kopyt and Russen Disko’s Yuriy Gurzhiy. We were preceded by a “transsexual hip-hop gypsy marching band” (they seemed more like a mostly gay, awesomely costumed marching band) which was amazing. By the time we played, the crowd was very sweaty and half-naked. My keytar decided to die at this final performance, but the show went on and no one seemed to notice.
It was also quite an experience being at SXSW while 7 months pregnant. I got a lot of congrats on the street, including one from a pedi-cab driver who yelled “My girlfriend’s taking the test tonight!!!” as he drove by, and high-fived my husband Sasha. The story I’ll be telling the baby forever, though, is how I got into the unannounced Metallica show…
The Real Spinal Tap
By now you might notice that I have quite the soft spot for metal, so when Ultragrrrl tipped me off to a new documentary “Anvil! The Story of Anvil” being released on April 10th, 2009, I had to check it out. Presented by VH1 and directed by Sacha Gervasi (The Terminal), the film follows the Canadian band Anvil (Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Robb Reiner) on their quest for rock n’ roll, and what ultimately seems to be respect and recognition. You see, their 1982 album Metal on Metal remains largely obscure, though it has gone on to shape metal at large–clearly influencing Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax. These two Jews (along with their Israeli manager) make quite the cast, and I can wait to see it next week at the premier! I have included the preview and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll watch it.
Dan Safer and Witness Relocation’s HAGGADAH
Last Sunday i was lucky enough to catch the last showing of Dan Safer and the Witnesses Relocation’s dance/theatre epic HAGGADAH at the historic and beautiful La MaMa Theatre on E. 4th Street in Manhattan. Safer is one of eight Six Points Fellows and Haggadah is an amazing interpretation and production of the interminable family seder. Safer weaves music, dance, poetry, history and a true punk rock aesthetic into a truly beautiful and powerful work of art displayed as a speedy whirlwind of a performance.
The young crew of performers aren’t necessarily re-telling the Passover story as much as they are giving slices of history; the journey of the Israelites and the Egyptians, battles between slave owners and slaves & conversations with g-d and moses, mixed with modern day emotions and pop culture references through the lense of a young generation of performers and artists. The best Jewish theatre I’ve seen in a while.
Metallica and Purim?
Did you know that Metallica’s “Creeping Death”, was actually about the plague of the first born son? To start off your Passover season, go see Six Points Fellow Dan Safer’s Haggadah, created with his company Witness Relocation. In Dan’s words, “This is an all out, dance/theater/spectacle, full of sex, violence, blood, guts, avenging angels, oceans splitting in half, slavery, plagues, etc. Lots of times the Seder can be incredibly dull, but its story kicks ass.” With a great review in The New York Times, this closing weekend at LaMama Annex is going to be packed, so pick up your tickets now.