Golem (klezmer band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Golem


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Origin = New York City
Genre = Klezmer, Punk
Years_active = 2001–Present
Label = JDub Records
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Current_members = Annette Ezekiel
Aaron Diskin
Alicia Jo Rabins
Curtis Hasselbring
Taylor Bergren-Chrisman
Tim Monaghan
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Golem is a New York City-based klezmer band; most lyrics are belted out or wailed in Yiddish, Ladino, or Slavic languages. Golem's chief fan base of American 20- and 30-year-olds shows this self-described "Eastern European folk-punk band" to be on the forefront of a revival of Jewish culture in popular music typified by performers like Hasidic reggae star (and JDub co-labelist) Matisyahu. The band has performed throughout the northeastern United States, as well as in California and London. [http://www.golemrocks.com/shows.php?sub_id=2005.inc]

History

Golem was founded in 2001 by band leader Annette Ezekiel. Original members included Barry Negrin on saxophone and Sarah Ferholt on trumpet/brass.

Critical response

*"Golem produces the sort of music you'd expect if the shtetl were filled with punks instead of peasants." - The Washington Post
*"Stellar! A wild edgy approach with a reverance for Old World tradition." -The New Yorker
*"An edgy spin on the Eastern European music of their Jewish grandparents..." - Time Out Chicago
* [http://www.klezmershack.com/bands/golem/homesick/golem.homesick.html Klezmershack: Review of "Homesick Songs"]

Discography

* "Golem (debut EP)" (2001)
* "Libeshmertzn (Love Hurts)" (2002)
* "Homesick Songs" (2004)
* "Fresh Off Boat" (2006)

External links

* [http://www.golemrocks.com/ Official site.]
* [http://www.roxwel.com/player/golemepk.html?artist=Golem "Warsaw is Khelm" artist commentary]