Woodstock in Jerusalem

August 7, 2009 - 3:24 PM by

Photo courtesy of Yehoshua Halevi - Golden Light Images photography - www.goldenlightimages.com

Photo courtesy of Yehoshua Halevi - Golden Light Images photography - www.goldenlightimages.com


It’s summer in Jerusalem and the living is easy. And thanks to our friends who run the Kraft Football Stadium, the city experienced one of its most enjoyable musical moments this week.

The Jerusalem Woodstock Revival, a 6-hour outdoor show held on Tu B’Av and benefitting American Football in Israel, featured a half dozen English-singing rock & roll acts,

While there wasn’t any nudity, mud, or flagrant drug use, the ‘festival’ succeeded beyond all expectations in channeling the good vibes of yesteryear, albeit with a unique Jerusalem take on things.

The kippot competed with the tie dye – often on the same patron, as the crowd of 1,400 spread their blankets spaciously on the Astroturf, and played frisbee, drank cold beer, juggled and grooved to the music.

The band I’m in – Dolly Weinstein – opened the show, and we had a blast, even though we had a hard time hearing each other due to the fact that we were refused a sound check. Oh well, when you’re playing 60s garage rock like ‘Hush’ and “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man’, sound quality is secondary, right?

Highlights included bluesman Ronnie Peterson and his band performing a scintillating set of Bob Dylan songs, ranging from the plaintive acoustic “With God on My Side” to the sinewy wail of “Highway 61 Revisited.”

Yood, featuring phenomenal guitarist Lazer Lloyd, would have made Jimi Hendrix smile, with a blistering set of Hendrix covers. Chicago bluesman Mark Rashkow joined the band midset to add some of his panache to songs like “Hey Joe” and “All Along the Watchtower.” However, despite an inspired take on “Hatikva” ala Hendrix’s “Star Spangled Banner, the band went a little over the top at some points with its free form histrionics and would have fared better sticking to the songs.

The crowd was also treated to spirited sets by Crosby, Stills and Nash cover band Long Time Gone and Doors tribute group Crystal Ship (featuring my buddy Steve Rodan on bass, and his son on drums), whose lead singer nailed Jim Morrison’s deep baritone. Local celeb Dave ‘The Hairdresser’ Silverman even made a guest appearance on harp.

But the musical highlight for many was the show closer Geva Alon. One of the country’s most gifted singer/songwriters, Alon nailed his tribute to Neil Young, managing to both eerily evoke the legend in versions of “Ohio”, “Heart of Gold” and “Rockin’ in the Free World” but to also infuse his own superlative style into those standards. He ended the night on a truly magical moment.

The crowd, some dressed in full hippie regalia, was a mix of Jerusalem-area middle aged Anglos, and younger native Israeli music lovers. One attendee said he knew so many people that he felt like he was at a bar mitzvah celebration. Adding to the festival atmosphere were the abundance of children running around and freely playing at the stations set up in one corner of the stadium. Even the porta-johnnys boasted long, Woodstock-length lines, but they were orderly and people were full of good cheer.

Organizers Carmi Wurtman, and AFI heads Steve Leibowitz and Danny Gewirtz, along with PR whiz Nadia Levine did an outstanding job in presenting the show, with almost no gaps between acts, plenty of concessions, impeccable sound, and even a huge screen running the original Woodstock film throughout the evening.

At the end of the draining night, Leibovitz announced that the concert would become an annual event. Can’t wait for next year.

Here’s a clip of Crystal Ship, and then one of Lazer Lloyd and Yood remaking ‘Hatikva’ ala Hendrix.
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Tags: , , , , , , , • Category: A New Reality, General, Israeliness, Life, Music, Pop Culture 

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One Comment on Woodstock in Jerusalem

  1. Supplying TP to Egypt | ISRAELITY on Thu, Apr 8th 2010 12:38 PM

    2. [...] to love the different sides of the people you know. I was getting my hair cut by my hairdresser, Dave Silverman, a fellow Anglo with a deep Boston accent. Dave, as many know, gets to work and other destinations [...]

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