One of the coolest new Jewish bands of the year has to be 8th Day. The band, fronted by the Marcus Brothers, perform a blend of soul, blues and folk with a bit of rock thrown in for good measure – and bring their Orthodox beliefs to their music with some distinctly heimishe lyrics.
Their first album, 8th Day, released earlier this year, has a fresh sound and an irresistible style and is well worth checking out. Highlights include the album opener Lama Balue, a rousing, catchy song, while the band pay tribute to their heritage with the likes of Hasidic Rambler and the Yom Kippur themed Ku Ka Recoo. Also worth a listen are Yarmulkah – a slow-paced bluesy tribute to Jewish headgear – and the title track, Tracht Gut.
This is an impressive debut, one that proves that Orthodox Jews can indeed rock, and which puts a fresh original spin on modern Jewish music.
The 8th Day band is made up of six brothers, three of which are Hassidic rabbis, one advertising exec, one hard rock bass player and one yeshiva student. The brothers compose, play, and sing their own original music with engaging lyrics and addictive hooks. They also play traditional Jewish melodies, from Shlomo Carlebach to Safam and others. The band appeals to people of all ages, cultures and musical inclinations.
The brothers create a unique onstage presence and energy that is at the same time an entertaining, compelling, and heartwarming Jewish music collection. With the release of Tracht Gut, Jewish music's new group brings diverse styles together in a seamless blend of folk, rock, soul and blues. Listeners enjoy the unstudied perfection of sibling vocal harmonies. The Marcus brothers have composed a new chapter in Jewish music.