Where Are They Now??

What's up with the Israelity Tour cast members now that the tour has ended?

Coolooloosh is recording their new album in Philadelphia with noted producer David Ivory, and occasionally gigging in New York City (JCC next week as part of Israel Non-Stop, and March 15th at Joe's Pub, check them out).



Subliminal is collaborating with the legendary Israeli band Givatron, creating a new version of their song "Bat Shishim" (sixty years old) in commemoration of Israel's 60th birthday this spring. Check out this clip from Channel 2 (in Hebrew) which brings you inside the studio.

BooSkills Video: "Oleh Shalav"

For all you Israelity-Tour-TACT Family converts, here's a just-uploaded video from BooSkills, featuring Subliminal and Metro.

It's Over, But The Music Continues

The Israelity Tour is officially over, but the memories and the music remain--tour members are busy adding each other as MySpace and Facebook friends, and the particularly YouTube obsessed among us are combing the vast recesses of the internet for videos of the Israelity Tour or about the Israelity Tour artists, and coming up with some amazing stuff, particularly regarding the unofficial anthem of the Israelity Tour trailer, "Toro," by Subliminal.

We've found versions that are grainy and shot with poor-resolution cameraphones, versions that provide the lyrics (karaoke-style) for your recitiation convenience, and even a line dance, which I'm happy to share with you below.

LA Tonight; Vegas Tomorrow Night

We've been to Seattle, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Diego, and Los Angeles.

The caliber of the shows has been unbelievable.

The energy of the performers has been incredible.

The enthusiasm of the audience has been overwhelming.

And tomorrow night, we've got one last night to do it all over again.

So won't you join us for one last Israelity Tour dance, as our amazing and talented performers -- Coolooloosh, Michelle Citrin, and Subliminal and the T.A.C.T. Family, all hosted by comedian Mo Mandel -- unite for the Las Vegas performance that will officially close out Taglit-Birthright Israel's 2008 Israelity Tour?

The DETAILS:

TAO at the Venetian, Sunday night, February 17th

Tickets here

The Unique and Eclectic Sounds of Coolooloosh

I'm sitting here on the floor at Stevenson Center on the UC Santa Cruz campus. After another stunning set by Michelle Citrin, I'm listening to Coolooloosh...they sing mostly in English, but are an undeniably Israeli band. The six band members seem to have very different skills and styles, but somehow become a whole that is undefinably awesome. They inspire devotion among their regular fans, recruit more fans with every performance, and bring everyone to their feet for funk/hip-hop infused dancing that leaves the crowd jumping and wanting more.

Lead singer Rebel Sun's rhyming mastery is perfectly complemented by Yuval Gerstein on guitars and vocals; Ori Winokur on bass; Yogev Shitrit on drums; Arik Levy on saxophones; and Itamar Borochov on trumpet.

If you haven't seen them yet, check them out...we have shows lined up in San Diego, Los Angeles and Las Vegas for the Israelity Tour, and then beyond that, who knows? They're recording a new album in Philadelphia after the tour, so they'll probably become one of those bands that's too big for you...so get your tickets right now while you can still afford them!

You know the address: Israelity.BirthrightIsrael.com -- good tickets still available!

Ramada Takeover: Santa Cruz

In Santa Cruz, California, the weather hasn't been nice in weeks, the locals tell us. The hotel pools are closed, because it's still winter here. But in what perhaps indicates the power of music and the human spirit, sunshine has now come to Santa Cruz, in the same moment that the Chinese bus containing three musical acts arrived. And beware, Ramada residents...we've taken over the place.



A visit to a local eating establishment (the word "restaurant" isn't quite descriptive) provided the waitress with company for the first time all day--"we've been waiting for you all day," she giggled at the visiting Israelis as they ordered their burgers, wings and chicken strips. On the phone with her manager, she noted that they hadn't been busy, but that then "30 kids just walked in." Everyone laughed at the use of the word "kids," except for one member of the group. He thought he heard her say "30 Jews just walked in," and strode over ready to defend the faith and the nation, if need be. But all was well, and the conversation continued as people chomped on fried and barbecued foods.



This blogger played a rocking game of Pac Man which really got her blood pumping, and between that and the bottomless Diet Coke, she's buzzing with fake energy that may or may not prevent a ten-minute nap. But even if she drifts off despite these odds, tonight she will awaken, for there is a show: Coolooloosh and Michelle Citrin will play Stevenson Event Center at UC-Santa Cruz tonight to celebrate the opening of registration for Summer 2008 Taglit-Birthright Israel trips. If you haven't gone on your free Taglit-Birthright Israel trip to Israel, register now!



Tomorrow we roll towards San Diego, with a big show coming up at House of Blues. Get your tickets now!

Israelity Tour Video Rewind: Seattle

The Comedy Stylings of Mo Mandel...

Mo's our resident master of ceremonies, and he's been doing a stellar job entertaining the crowds between the musical sets. Check out this newest promo for the Israelity Tour, featuring Mo's, um, inimitable style.

Israelity Tour: Seattle -- UW and Nectar

[at left: Kobi Shimony (Subliminal) meets with a fan and U-W student after his lecture]

I didn't know that much about Seattle before we arrived here on Wednesday. I don’t have the connections here that I have in other cities, and I had no clue whether the young Jews in the community would come out to hear Israeli bands play at a club, or what kind of reception rapper Subliminal (Kobi Shimony) would get at the class on Israeli culture at U-W, or if students would show up at U-W Hillel to hear Michelle Citrin and Coolooloosh, and hear from our mifgash participants. There was also the persistent rumor that on the night of the performance, Nectar was going to be surrounded by left-wing protestors who were against having Israeli bands play.

But I needn’t have worried. The young Jews turned out in veritable droves for the concert events at Hillel and Nectar, and the U-W class was extremely receptive of Kobi (report to come)--an auspicious start as we kicked off our first major Israelity Tour concert.

Nectar’s two levels began to fill quickly after doors opened at 8, with the upper level devoted to 21+ and the floor open to all ages. One of the bar’s features, a large wall length garage style rolling door opened to reveal beautiful outdoor garden with tables, chairs and a full bar; despite the cold night air, many braved the patio for a drink or a cigarette under the heat lamps. Downstairs, the no-alcohol-served bar was no competition for the packed dance floor. Upstairs, the temperature climbed as visitors climbed the stairs to a VIP-style area with chairs, tables and a full bar for the guests of legal age.

And oh, the music! Michelle's popular set, again prefaced by fresh comedy from Mo Mandel, was followed by the first collaboration between Michelle and Coolooloosh, as she accompanied them with additional vocals on their first song of a set of eclectic tunes. After a phenomenal set, Subliminal and T.A.C.T. closed out the evening with some shoutouts of thanks to the executive team of the Israelity Tour. The long line for merchandise formed as patrons tried to extend the evening even after the encores, leaving with stacked armsful of signed CDs, t-shirts and hats.

Seriously, if you haven’t bought your tickets yet for the concerts in the other cities, you’re tempting fate. Get online and make sure to reserve your spot as part of this remarkable experience. See you in Berkeley and then in San Francisco…

Israelity Tour Liveblog: Opening Night (Seattle, WA)

[at left: Birthright Israel's Director of New Initiatives Sydney Henning greets the crowd at the opening night for the Israelity Tour]

I'm sitting here on the floor of the auditorium at UW Hillel, where Michelle Citrin just finished her amazing and transfixing set of melodies, and Coolooloosh (that's six o's, in case you're counting) just took the stage with their remarkable and indescribably eclectic sound. Heads are bobbing, feet are moving back and forth, and you can hear the vibrations coming through the floor and bouncing off the walls.

[photo at right: Rebel Sun of Coolooloosh (credit Joel Magalnick, Jew-ish.com)]

"Good evening, Seattle," greeted rapper Joel "Rebel Sun" Covington. "Our next song is called 'Someplace,' someplace that you gots to be." The vibe mellowed out and some swaying is transpiring, as UW students and interested local young people settled into a slow groove, then the funky backbeat picks up and Rebel Sun resumes his rapping.

All this--musical performances from Coolooloosh and Michelle Citrin--followed a hilarious hosting job by LA-based comic Mo Mandel, and an edifying presentation by our Israelis who are traveling with us.

Tomorrow night we hit Nectar for a huge show, featuring tonight's two acts, as well as Israelity Tour headliner Subliminal and members of the T.A.C.T. Family. If you don't have tickets (only $15) yet, go to Israelity.BirthrightIsrael.com and make sure you don't get closed out.

More photos to come!!

Pick Your City, Buy Your Ticket, Join the Tour!!

Visit Israelity.birthrightisrael.com for your tickets!!

Let My Parents Go!

If you loved your Birthright Israel trip and wish your parents could understand your newfound connections to the Jewish people and to Israel, this new initiative, "Let My Parents Go" is for you! View it, and upload your own video that explains why your parents should be sent to Israel!

Featuring the special return of Rosh Hashanah Girl...currently on tour with the Israelity Tour and rocking venues on the West Coast. (One more show in Vegas, tomorrow night!) Enjoy!

What's Subliminal's Music About?

According to blogger Mere Rhetoric, Sivan [of Subliminal's T.A.C.T. Family, coming on the Israelity Tour with us this week] "Emphasizes Social Justice, Under-Emphasizes Own Hotness." Apparently the music is the message, and we're fine with that, just as MR is fine with the fact that she and Subliminal "missed the memo that they're supposed to be insane and racist. Maybe they just don't consume enough international media or hang out in enough college seminar rooms."



Subliminal, Sivan, the T.A.C.T. Family and the other artists on the Israelity Tour are coming to campuses this week and next, including to MR's general neighborhood, undoubtedly to interesting results. Stay tuned here for discussion, recaps and clips from concerts and programs.

An Open Letter to Famous Jews on the West Coast

Dear West Coast Famous Jews,

This means you, Seth Rogen, Judd Apatow, Jason Segel and all the rest of those guys --you gave a shoutout to "Munich" in "Knocked Up," and now it's time to take your Jewish pride to the next level. Natalie Portman, you sabra you, can translate the lyrics for Zach Braff. Mia Kirshner, your new "L-Word" is "L'hitraot," so we'll see you at the show. Lisa Edelstein, it's time to leave the House and get out for an evening. Ditto to you, Paul Adelstein--leave Private Practice and bring your wife Paris Geller with you. Speaking of Gellers, Schwimmer, get your Friends together and come to Avalon. (Seriously--you already went to that Heeb party in New York last year.) Greg Grunberg, be a hero and join us, and bring J.J. with you if he's done destroying New York.

And as for you, Mark Zuckerberg, we at the Israelity Tour blog want to thank you for creating our events notification system, or as you call it, Facebook.

You work hard to entertain us and give us the tools we need to stay in touch with our culture and our lives. So come to the Israelity Tour. Seriously...it's hip-hop, funk and acoustic-style music plus Israel. In SF on February 10, in LA on the 16th and ending the tour in Vegas on the 17th. Plus, lots of other concerts and events between Seattle and Vegas starting this Wednesday. All courtesy of Birthright Israel.

Join us! Non-celebrities, click here. Celebs and/or publicists, RSVP here.

Israelity Splashcast Channel - Check it Out!