I first met Ori Kaplan, one of the founders of Balkan Beat Box, at a Billionaires for Bush party in 2004, where, under the BBB name, a quartet had the honor of the 4am slot. BBB was creating their album across international borders, sending files between Tel Aviv, Williamsburg, Syria, and Bulgaria. For Purim 2005, JDub produced Balkan Beat Box’s official New York City debut with a full band line up, two stages, flamenco dancers, vaudevillian clowns, and Tomer Yosef’s first (but certainly not last) performance hanging upside down from the ceiling of SOB’s. Since then, I’ve heard stories of climbing guides introducing their clients to BBB in the mountains of Turkey, read about young Palestinians dancing – happily and knowingly – at BBB shows in France, and danced along myself to their insanely high energy shows in Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Manchester, Tennessee. Choreographers set new works to their songs, and environmentalists created a falafel oil & bicycle powered stage for them to play on for Earth Day.
Throughout the years, individual members have released albums of noise-rock, Cantorial Afrobeat, orchestral punk, and Israeli reggae and hip hop. Today, though, BBB’s founding members, saxophonist Ori Kaplan and drummer/producer Tamir Muskat, along with BBB bassist Itamar Ziegler and guitarist (and Bored to Death composer) Stephen Ulrich released their own side project, and it is a beast.
They describe the sound as “Mediterranean trash rock.” I call it the second coming of Morphine. Or better yet, a 21st Century film noir soundtrack. Its moody but not brooding. At times frenetic, at others mellow and simmering, Shotnez‘ self titled debut is a (mostly) instrumental rock masterpiece. It owes much to the vibe and creative spirit nurtured at Tonic, the now shuttered NYC club created by John Zorn, where the band’s members got their pre-BBB start.
Today on Jewcy we’re premiering the entire Shotnez album. Enjoy!
I’m really loving the theme/design of your website. Do you ever run into any internet browser compatibility issues? A couple of my blog audience have complained about my site not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Chrome. Do you have any advice to help fix this problem?
You made some decent points there. I looked on the net to the issue and located most individuals is going coupled with with all your internet site.
Hello, you used to write great, but the last several posts have been kinda boring¡K I miss your super writings. Past several posts are just a little bit out of track! come on! Pristina Hotels
It’s nice to definitely arrive a website the location where the blogger is skilled. Thank you for creating your website.
I am not sure where you’re getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for great info I was looking for this information for my mission.
You have observed very interesting details! ps nice web site.
I had been wondering should anyone ever considered changing layout , design of the blog? Its very well written. I enjoy what youve have got to say. But you could a tad bit more when it comes to content so people could connect with it better. Youve got a lot of text for only having a couple of images. You may could space it out better?