List of Jewish rock bands explained

The following is a list of Jewish rock bands and artists, bands which have Jewish themes in their music.__TOC__

List

Established Artist Notes
1959Shlomo CarlebachGerman-born Hasidic rabbi. Lllllll and musician. Drew inspiration from then-contemporary folk music and hippie culture. Founded Moshav Mevo Modi'im, birthplace of several influential Jewish rock bands.
1976Diaspora Yeshiva BandFormed at Diaspora Yeshiva in Jerusalem. Played a bluegrass and rock fusion with Jewish lyrics.
1976Safam"Jewish-American" folk rock band formed by members of the Zamir Chorale of Boston.
1981Yosi PiamentaJerusalem-born Orthodox singer-songwriter and rock guitarist. Described his music as "klezmer with electric guitar".
Craig TaubmanConservative singer-songwriter, best known for his children's music.
1982Isaac Bitton
1984Tofa'ahAll-female Jewish rock/blues/jazz band from Jerusalem.
1985John ZornAvant-garde composer and founder of Tzadik Records.
1987Shlock RockKnown for their Jewish-themed parodies of popular songs.
1991Steve LiebermanAmerican Jewish outsider musician with elements of punk and metal. Also known as "The Gangsta Rabbi".
1992Sam GlaserLos Angeles-based Orthodox singer-songwriter.
1993Reva L'ShevaCarlebach-influenced folk rock band. Bassist Adam Wexler was in Diaspora Yeshiva Band.
1996SoulfarmCarlebach-inspired folk rock band. Lead singer Noah Solomon Chase is the son of Diaspora Yeshiva Band's Ben Zion Solomon.
Dan NicholsReform singer-songwriter from Raleigh, North Carolina; founder of the band E18hteen.
Hasidic New WaveExperimental klezmer band from Manhattan.
1998Moshav BandFounded at Mevo Modi'im in 1995. Members Yehuda, Yosef, and Meir Solomon are sons of Diaspora Yeshiva Band's Ben Zion Solomon and were neighbors of Carlebach growing up.
Rick RechtSt. Louis-based singer-songwriter who made his name performing at Jewish summer camps. Founded Jewish Rock Radio in 2010.
Adi RanHasidic musician based in Ramat Gan. Songs featured in the 2004 Israeli film Ushpizin.
2000YidcoreAustralian comedic punk rock band.
Pharaoh's DaughterAmerican psychedelic folk band with Middle Eastern and klezmer influences, promoted through Tzadik's Radical Jewish Culture series.
2001La Mar EnfortunaSide project of Elysian Fields focused on rediscovering Sephardic music. Incorporates jazz, folk, rock, Middle Eastern, and Latin music. Formerly signed to Tzadik Records.
2002Oi Va VoiBritish Jewish experimental klezmer band.
2003Blue FringeCarlebach-inspired pop rock band, formed at Yeshiva University in 2001.
SefaradTurkish Sefardic rock band.
2004MatisyahuFormerly-Hasidic reggae fusion artist; experienced mainstream success with his album Youth and its single "King Without a Crown".
Black Ox OrkestarCanadian folk/jazz/rock band performing Yiddish folk songs.[1]
2005GolemNew York-based klezmer/folk punk band.
2006Rav ShmuelHasidic rabbi and singer-songwriter playing alternative rock and anti-folk music.
HeedooshAmerican-born Yemenite grunge/britpop band led by brothers Yaniv and Yahav Tsaidi.
Aharit HayamimIsraeli reggae rock band influenced by Carlebach and Nachman of Breslov.
2007Aryeh KunstlerOrthodox alternative rock singer-songwriter from Queens, New York. Bassist in Yaakov Chesed.
HamakorAmerican-Israeli grunge/trance band from Mevo Modi'im. Lead singer Nachman Solomon is the son of Diaspora's Ben Zion Solomon and has brothers in Soulfarm and Moshav Band.
YoodIsraeli blues rock trio from Beit Shemesh. Formed by Lazer Lloyd of Reva L'Sheva.
Yaakov ChesedOrthodox alternative rock band from Long Island. Won Yeshiva University's Battle of the Bands in 2007.
2008The ShondesBrooklyn-based Jewish feminist punk band known for their political activism.
2009Moshiach Oi!Breslov-oriented hardcore punk band from Long Island.
AshiraAll-female Orthodox Israeli band formed at Bar-Ilan University.
Breslov Bar BandEnsemble combining traditional Breslov melodies with styles including rock, punk, funk, jazz, reggae, and klezmer.
2010JudaBlueOrthodox rock band formed in Silver Spring, Maryland. Lead singer Shlomo Gaisin later formed Zusha.
The GroggersA Modern Orthodox satirical pop punk band from New York.
2011SchmekelTransgender Jewish folk punk band from Brooklyn, known for their humorous lyrics.
Moshe Hecht BandFolk rock band fronted by Moshe Hecht, a Chabad rabbi from Brooklyn.
8th DayFormed in California by nephews of Avraham Fried. Incorporates klezmer, funk, blues, and reggae.
ShtarHaredi rap rock band composed of American, British, and Israeli members. Formed at Aish HaTorah yeshiva in Jerusalem. Uses elements of Sephardic music.
2012Bulletproof StockingsAll-female Hasidic alternative rock band from Crown Heights.
2013DeveykusPhiladelphia-based drone/doom metal band incorporating traditional Hasidic nigunnim. Signed to Tzadik Records.
2014Distant CousinsLos Angeles indie pop band. Formed by Dov Rosenblatt of Blue Fringe and Duvid Swirsky of Moshav Band.
ZushaNeo-Hasidic folk/soul band specializing in nigunim. Co-formed by Shlomo Gaisin of JudaBlue.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Marvin Lin. Black Ox Orkestar - Nisht Azoy. Tiny Mix Tapes. 22 December 2015. 2006.