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July 27, 2012

"Mickey Katz" tribute by Bert Stratton

Why do people here on the right coast follow Bert Stratton's "Klezmer Guy" blog so assiduously and drool at the thought of bringing his band, Yiddishe Cup to perform locally? You can get a hint of it all in his article on Mickey Katz, published in this week's Cleveland Jewish News.

Mickele: Mickey Katz Lives

"Mickey Katz was a shag carpet guy, I suspect, like my folks. Mickey and his wife lived in an apartment building in L.A. in the 1980s. I’ve read enough about Mickey Katz to guess what kind of carpet he went for." [more]

July 15, 2012

Last day of Yidstock

Well, after a whole week of film about various parts of the Klezmer Revival and new Jewish music, and a bang-up concert by So-Called last night, Yidstock ends today with an impressive series of shows starting with a sold-out Brian Bender brunch at 10am.

There are still tix available for the Hankus Netsky and Hebrew National Salvage show at noon (we'll certainly be there) with some recently discovered Yiddish gems. Then, for a change of pace the always-astounding Frank London's Klezmer Brass AllStars—with Eleanor Reissa are up at 2pm (It's true, we would have shlepped out to Amherst just for this.). The Festival finale, a concert with the Klezmatics at 4pm, is sold out (we settled for standing room only).

It's been a great weekend of music, from enjoying the Bang on a Can summer residency at Mass MoCA (North Adams) on Friday, to catching Arlo Guthrie and Family last night at Green River, to today. It will seem so mundane to end vacation and be back to work in the morning.