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!