A wacky burlesque punky Rock band Yiddish music meets the Marx Brothers The Jewish Monkeys are masters of identity play, knights of the absurd, musicians and comedians, who deliver an exhilarating show. They love breaking ethnic and religious taboos, combined with liberating salvos of satire.Their neo-Yiddish sound fusion swings between cirque-like chanson and energetically punk-driven pop, while the language alternates between English and Yiddish. They rarely fail to get people on their feet, dancing: from Syrian refugees in a Dresden transit camp to anti-Pegida protesters the next day. Or from culturally savvy music lovers in German, Czech or French clubs and concert halls, as well as to to hipsters in London or Tel Aviv. And now they’re touring with their latest album. Some of the songs on their new “High Words” album are real attention-getters and potential hits: the song “Alte Kacker” is a wry and cynically self-effacing take on the downsides of getting older, with a fresh and upbeat guitar rock staccato that is sure to get everyone on their feet. The other song, “High Words”, takes an anger-laden shot at the establishment that is dragging us into the demagogy of past world wars in this era of global warming, instead of focusing on equity and environmentalism. The selection of iconic Yiddish songs on the album is, as we might expect, light-hearted and socially critical. Wild instrumental capers resurrect the tone of circus and slapstick in new and modern vibes of klezmer and rock. Their new English song “Pupik” elicits tears of laughter, a tragicomic ode to the beloved one, starting with: “Zelda, why do you have this cousin, Zelda, she is much prettier than you”… The name of the band is not easy to digest. In some Arab countries it is used as a deeply offensive insult. Their comment: “We can do that as Jews! It’s always been our right to dare to be politically incorrect and mock our own Jewishness. But in the end, we are looking for what unites us rather than what divides us. We want to heal the rifts and build bridges – which is why we are so happy to play for people from Syria or Afghanistan.” Media reactions: “If Hitler hadn’t nearly won the war, Jewish music would sound like this: naturally stoned, fast, and madly melancholic.” Frankfurter Allgemeine (biggest German Sunday paper) // “Spririted, disrespectful, Jewish humor at its finest.” 3Sat-Kulturzeit (TV channel for Austria/Switzerland/Germany) // “Shades of cinematic heroes such as Woody Allen, with an added dose of high-calibre party mood.” Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (Germany’s leading daily) // “This post-Klezmer, post-Pop, post-Alija band from Tel Aviv has created an album brimming with love, rage and joy. Spiegel Online (German’s No. 1 political webpage) // “Their live performance is overwhelming in its furiously unchained attack on tradition.” S?ddeutsche Zeitung (the other leading German daily) Videos, sounds, lyrics, press, rumours: www.jewishmonkeys.com
