What I Like About Jew is more irreverent than unorthodox, which is typical of artists immersed in what critics call the bourgeoning \”hipster Heeb\” movement. Like Jewcy T-shirts and the \”Jewsploitation\” flick, \”The Hebrew Hammer,\” their work sets out to replace images of the neurotic nebbish with an new persona: the cocky, hard-ass Jew.
Zeroing in on 30, rocker Jen Trynin gave herself an ultimatum: either make it now or get out of the game. Her youthful looks belied the years she spent slogging through the Boston music scene without much to show for it besides too many hangovers.
This is not your grandmother\’s Jewish music. Like other recent Jewish parody CDs, \”Meshugeneh Mambo\” carries on the tradition of Jewish humor popularized by such forbearers as Mickey Katz and Allan Sherman.
Some high-powered connections forged through the boys\’ parents landed them an appearance on Fox\’s \”Good Day L.A.\” and placed some of their Lucky Pix around the necks of celebrities. Intuition, a trend-setting Web boutique known to cater to celebrities, is the sole outlet for Lucky Pix, giving the boys the kind of publicity and panache other retailers covet.
Does New York\’s Orthodox Jewish rock band Blue Fringe have groupies? \”It\’s not really sex, drugs and rock \’n\’ roll,\” lead singer Dov Rosenblatt, 22, said. \”One father e-mailed us and he wrote it reminded him of \’Beatlemania.\’\”
The boychick is Etan G, who calls himself The Jewish Rapper and whose CD, \”South Side of the Synagogue,\” features songs such as \”Yo Yo Yarmulke\” and \”Hava Na Wha?\” Even so, it\’s startling when he ushers a visitor into a living room that appears to be decorated by the set dressers from both \”Yentl\” and \”Shaft.\”
The Los Angeles Jewish Festival, known until recently as the Valley Jewish Festival, originally began as the Exodus Festival to drum up support and awareness for the rescue of Soviet Jews, under the leadership of The Federation\’s Jewish Community Relations Committee.
With chapters organized by decades, \”Stars\” devotes chapters to some shopworn but necessary rock pioneers — Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Bob Dylan, Roth — as well as more eclectic entries: late T-Rex frontman Marc Bolan, Lee Oskar of WAR and Phish bassist Mike Gordon, suddenly topical after he was arrested Aug. 16 and charged with endangering the welfare of a minor.
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