Posts Tagged ‘Yosi Perlstein’
I HEAR AMERICA
During election seasons like this one, words of patriotism pour out of people’s mouths. Candidates spew platitudes. Pundits and the public respond with their own. But what strikes me aren’t the words proclaimed during presidential campaigns but the music Americans play. Last Sunday, Carolyn and I flew down to Los Angeles to hear our son…
Read MoreTHE RIFF RAFF AT OUTSIDE LANDS
It was another step up on another big stage. Last Saturday, Hurray for the Riff Raff—my son Yosi, resident fiddler—performed at the Outside Lands festival in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Carolyn and I were among the few seniors in a sold-out venue of 70,000 youthful partygoers. Here’s my report. The more I see and…
Read More“THE BODY ELECTRIC”
Last Wednesday night, Hurray for the Riff Raff (Yosi Perlstein, resident fiddler) appeared on the 13th annual Americana Music Awards Show in Nashville. They performed “The Body Electric,” a cut on their latest CD, “Small Town Heroes.” “The Body Electric” should be mandatory listening in every locker room in the National Football League. Alynda Lee…
Read MoreTHREE KINDS OF PEOPLE
Last Friday night, I led Kabbalat Shabbat services at Congregation Sherith Israel. I gave my drash (mini sermon) from notes. My theme: There aren’t two kinds of people in this world. There are “three.” Here basically is how it went. First—appreciating showmanship—I asked three volunteers to choose a card from each of three categories: dessert…
Read MoreTHE CHEMISTRY OF MUSIC
Last Tuesday, I saw my son Yosi play fiddle with Hurray for the Riff Raff at the Independent here in San Francisco. The club sold out a week in advance. The band played a lot of tunes from their new CD, “Small Town Heroes.” Much has gone right for the Riff Raff since I wrote…
Read MoreHURRAY FOR HOLLYWOOD
Hollywood used to make movies about performers suddenly discovered and thrust into stardom. It happens to some. But most take their careers a day at a time, becoming highly accomplished but not necessarily famous. I’ve seen it first hand. My wife Carolyn is a very fine actor. She’s had small roles on two network TV…
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