Sorry Adam Sandler. You very well might have to do yet another Hanukkah song. I have a Jewish duo - a "Jew-O" if you will - who should be added to your arsenal of triumphant Jews. Off topic, you might want to add Ben and Jerry and Coreys Haim and Feldman but I digress. Getting back to my point, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more entertaining duo in New York City today. The Jewbadours (Ariel Hammerstein and Yakob Veivelman) have been gaining fans everywhere they play, and by this time next year, it's quite possible they'll be Jewish household names. Here's why: the musicians can really sing and really play but add a semitic flavor in the cover songs they perform. Case in point: Lionel Richie's classic "Hello" becomes "Shalom."
Earlier this week, Hammerstein and Veivelman stopped by the Music Conservatory of Westchester to film a very acoustic A-Sides session. There, the two sat down for an interview, and performed two cover tracks with subtle Jewishness thrown in which each showcase their love of pop music hits and unappreciated gems from the late '70s and early '80s. On Tuesday, Dec. 23, The Jewbadours will perform their third annual retirement show entitled The Last Schmaltz at Manhattan's Highline Ballroom. The "farewell" performance features the pair backed by an eight-piece band of - as their bio states "the finest semitic sidemen," who are collectively known as The Full Minyan Band. This year's guests include Ari Hest, Julian Velard, Toby Lightman, Chrissi Poland (Scissor Sisters/Bette Midler), Jay Jay French (Twisted Sister), and Amanda Brown of The Voice Season 3. Comedian Dan Naturman, who appeared on season nine of America's Got Talent , will open the show.
"Shalom" (Lionel Richie "Hello" cover)
"Thank You For Being a Mensh" (Andrew Gold, Golden Girls Theme Cover)
Ten-Minute Interview
The other day I dropped my Top 54 songs of 2014. Here are the remaining 46 in my top 100. What a killer year for music!
55. "Careful You" - TV on the Radio
56. "Cigarette Daydreams" - Cage the Elephant
57. "Every Breaking Wave" - U2
58. "Break the Rules" - Charlie XCX
59. "Two Weeks" - FKA twigs
60. "Gooey" - Glass Animals
61. "i" - Kendrick Lamar
62. "All This Could Be Yours" - Cold War Kids
63. "Silhouettes" - Colony House (Watch on A-Sides here.)
64. "Love Me Like a Stranger" - Kitten (Watch Chloe Chaidez on A-Sides here.)
65. "Peninsula" - Dinosaur Pile-Up (Watch on A-Sides here.)
66. "Happy Idiot" - TV on the Radio
67. "Something from Nothing" - Foo Fighters
68. "Kathleen" - Catfish and the Bottlemen
69. "Everything is Awesome" - Tegan & Sara/The Lonely Island
70. "All the Rage Back Home" - Interpol
71. "Hunger on the Pine" - alt-J
72. "Rollercoaster" - Bleachers
73. "Shut Up and Dance" - WALK THE MOON
74. "Latch" - Disclosure with Sam Smith
75. "Mr. Noah" - Panda Bear
76. "All of Me" (remix) - John Legend
77. "Overdose" - Little Daylight
78. "I'm Only Joking" - KONGOS
79. "So Now What" - The Shins
80. "Do You" - Spoon
81. "Birth in Reverse" - St. Vincent
82. "Get Hurt" - The Gaslight Anthem
83. "Geronimo" - Sheppard
84. "Heavenly Father" - Bon Iver
85. "Gimme Something Good" - Ryan Adams
86. " A Sky Full Of Stars (Hardwell Remix)" - Coldplay
87. "Animals" - Maroon 5
88. "Reflections" - MisterWives (Watch on A-Sides here.)
89. "Cool Kids" - Echosmith (Watch on A-Sides here.)
90. "Hymnals" - Grizfolk
91. "Be Okay" - Oh Honey (Watch on A-Sides here.)
92. "West Coast" - Lana Del Rey
93. "Who Needs You" - The Orwells
94. "You Know My Name" - Courtney Love
95. "Stop Motion" - Vinyl Thief
96. "Agora" - Bear Hands
97. "Somebody New" - Joywave
98. "Don't" - Ed Sheeran
99. "Gold" - Chet Faker
100. "Blank Space" - Taylor Swift
About A-Sides with Jon Chattman:
Jon Chattman's music series features celebrities and artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track, and discussing what it means to them. This informal series focuses on the artist making art in a low-threatening, extremely informal (sometime humorous) way. No bells, no whistles -- just the music performed in a random, low-key setting followed by an unrehearsed chat. In an industry where everything often gets overblown and over manufactured, Jon strives for a refreshing change. Artists on the "show" have included: Charli XCX, fun., Imagine Dragons, Courtney Love, Air Supply, Obi Trice, Eric Benet, Echosmith, and more!