This weekend I dropped by a little kick-ass record store called Origami Vinyl in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles to see if they had a 12” copy of “Belvedere Cruisin.” Alas, poor Yankovic, they not know you well. Buuuuut, the two dapper chaps behind the counter talked me into sticking around for a slick ass group from Israel.
Electra, no not that awesome movie where Jennifer Garner is a super hot ninja, is an Israeli Garage Rock band with a smidgen of 60’s pop and a dollop of Rockabilly. The trio did a nice job of rattling the rafters high above the crowd in Origami’s magic rock attic. The jangly sound diving down from on high was at times reminiscent of The Beatles 12 string tracks of 64’ yet swayed as far left as Broken English. A damn fine show full of energy and somehow the right amount of trepidation.
I grabbed lead singer Nitzan Horesh for a couple of questions after the show.
Tell me something I don’t know about you.
Nitzan: What do you know?
I know you’re from Tel Aviv. Do you spend most of your time there?
Nitzan: Most. But we just put out our first album last year, “Heartbreaks For Fools-Anova Music” and a second EP “Radio On” just a few months ago so we are starting to tour the US and Europe now.
How long have you guys been together?
Nitzan: About 5 or 6 years.
What genre of music do you guys most identify with?
Nitzan: Rock n’ Roll!
Well that’s a little broad these days. Who do you most identify with? Old skool or new.
Nitzan: That’s a tough question for us right now.
Really? (Author’s note: shocked)
Nitzan: Yes. It is a question that we are dealing with right now. You see the music industry is made up of scenes. It’s like you are expected to be Rockabilly or Garage rock or Indie music. But we are mixing together everything we like from the 50’s until current bands.
Where would you say the majority of influence comes from? Israeli rock or European? American?
Nitzan: Ooooo, it’s definitely American. Definitely English music for us.
Who’d you grow up listening to?
Nitzan: 60’s music.
Like the Beach Boys?
Nitzan: HAHA no. The Stones and some punk like the Buzzcocks. We love The Clash.
How do you like the venue tonight? Play many a show in an attic?
Nitzan: Sadly, no. Usually it’s a basement. We play lots of shows in basements.
Big shout out to Origami Vinyl for elevating your music then?
Nitzan: Definitely.
Doing any sightseeing tonight while you’re here in L.A.?
Nitzen: No. Probably not. I have a bit of a cold. I’ve been under the weather for three days now and this is the first night I have been able to use my voice.
So no fun tonight?
Nitzen: No drugs tonight. But tomorrow night, sure.
Words and Pics by Dustin Downing
Catch em’ while you can:
12-Oct Seattle, WA Funhouse, 206 5th Ave N, 98109
14-Oct Fargo. ND The Aquarium, 226 Broadway, 2nd Floor, 58102
15-Oct St. Paul, MN Turf Club, 1601 University Ave W, 55104
16-Oct Milwaukee, WI Cactus Club
17-Oct Chicago, IL Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., 60622
18-Oct Cleveland, OH Now That’s Class, 11213 Detroit Ave., 44102
20-Oct New York, NY CMJ – Trash Bar, 256 Grand Street, Brooklyn
25-Oct Boston, MA The Church 25-Oct, 69 Kilmarnock St., 02215
