Blog
By Michael Croland
Low Tide: New Band Featuring Members of the Shondes
The Shondes violinist Elijah Oberman and guitarist Courtney Robbins have a new indie/alternative/folk side project called Low Tide. They describe their music as “ghostly songs from alternate realities.” Their debut album, The Alchemist, comes out October 25. While the music overall doesn’t sound like the Shondes’ rock/punk, many of Oberman’s vocal and violin parts could have […]
Follow Me on Twitter for More Jewish Punk Updates!
Since Punk Rock Hora came out in January, I have tweeted news, articles, and quotes about Jewish punk more than I’ve blogged about them. It’s quicker and easier to share content on Twitter, and often an entire blog post isn’t warranted. I have some blog posts in the works for the weeks ahead, and about 100 blog […]
Punk Rock Hora: Media Recap!
Punk Rock Hora: Adventures in Jew-Punk Land was published in January, and I’ve been thrilled with the response. The book was a #1 best seller in Jewish music on Amazon. I had a rockin’ book launch at the Brooklyn Jewish Art Gallery, and I did additional events around New York City. The book has gotten love from as far away as Alaska, […]
Good & Bad Religion: Can Punk Pastors Praise Bad Religion?
I discussed Bad Religion in both of my books, Oy Oy Oy Gevalt! Jews and Punk and Punk Rock Hora: Adventures in Jew-Punk Land. When I was the Jewish punk guest on the Christian punk podcast The Shape of a New Thing to Come (read yesterday’s overview post and listen to the episode), it’s no surprise that Bad Religion—”the […]
Jewish Punk Guest on Christian Punk Podcast!
One of the best Jewish punk interviews I’ve ever done was on a Christian punk podcast! It came out this week, and you can listen here. Adam Baker, Jason Evans, and Daniel So cohost The Shape of a New Thing to Come, a monthly podcast about punk/hardcore and new faith communities. I’ve listened to every episode, and […]
The Shondes’ New Passover-Themed “True North” Video
The Shondes released “True North” on their 2016 album, Brighton. Singer Louisa Solomon explained then that the song was about “being at a point in life where our ideals had taken a lot of blows, and yet, the act of imagining (a brighter future, justice, revolution, the mythical messianic ‘Jerusalem’ Jews evoke at Passover) itself could provide a […]
Every Time I’ve Seen Golem Live
I included a recap of the 25 times I’d seen Golem in Punk Rock Hora, but I’ve seen them twice more since the book went to print, for a total of 27 times! Here’s the recap of my first 25 shows for this klezmer-rock band with a punk edge, plus their Hanukkah 2018 and Purim 2019 shows. […]
My Chapter in New Book: Vegetarianism and Veganism among Jewish Punks
“Whether looking at the pages of the Talmud, vegetarian poems written in Yiddish, lyrics written by Jewish punk rockers, or into a pot of vegan matzo ball soup, this book explores the many ways in which Jews have questioned the ethics of eating animals.” —Jordan D. Rosenblum, author of The Jewish Dietary Laws in the Ancient […]
Book Launch for Punk Rock Hora
Last night was the book launch for Punk Rock Hora and the closing reception for a monthlong “Jews and Rock” art show at the Brooklyn Jewish Art Gallery. I gave a presentation, featuring a guest appearance from Damn Dirty Commies, and Moshiach Oi! rocked the house. With Joey Ramone apparently looking on in the background, dozens of […]
Punk Is Center Stage at Opening for “Jews and Rock” Art Exhibit
Yesterday the Brooklyn Jewish Art Gallery had an opening for their monthlong “Jews and Rock” art exhibit, also billed as “The Rebellious and Creative Energy of Jews with Guitars.” Inside a synagogue’s sanctuary, an impressively varied art show featured photographs and paintings of Jewish musicians, including Joey Ramone, Amy Winehouse, and members of Anthrax and […]
