Summer of rock
A consumer guide to the big shows coming to Israel in 2017
Imagine Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Guns & Roses front man Axl Rose bumping into each other at the smoked fish table at the Tel Aviv Hilton breakfast buffet. Whether or not they would have anything in common beyond small talk about pickled sturgeon, that bong-dream scenario could conceivably be consummated when both bands perform at Tel Aviv’s Park Hayarkon within four days of each other – G&R on July 15 and Radiohead on July 19.
“We’re on the map!” Israeli basketball legend Tal Brody exclaimed back in 1977. And while his now iconic statement referred to Maccabi Tel Aviv’s stunning victory in the European Cup Basketball Championship, the phrase also seems applicable to the Israeli international concert industry.
The announcement earlier this month that giant US promoters Live Nation had purchased a majority stake in Tel Aviv’s Bluestone Entertainment and launched Ticketmaster in Israel is an indication that Israel has arrived as a respected destination for international touring acts, boycott efforts be damned.
Bluestone, founded in 2014 by Madonna manager Guy Oseary, Guy Beser, Shay Mor Yosef and Gadi Veinrib has brought over Bon Jovi, the Backstreet Boys and Enrique Iglesias and is handling the Guns & Roses show as well as Aerosmith at Park Hayarkon on May 17.
“The Israeli fans have proved in the last three years that there is a real market and demand for live international shows,” said Beser and Mor Yosef in an announcement. “The collaboration between Live Nation and Bluestone will firmly establish Israel as a ‘must-play’ market on any world tour.”
Barring any Gaza escalation, the next few months promise to be arguably the busiest musical season Israel has ever seen. Besides the return of Radiohead and Guns & Roses, a slew of acts current and archaic will be touching down at Ben Gurion Airport and entertaining their fans.
The discerning music fan with a limited budget is going to have to make some tough decisions. Here is a admittedly subjective consumer guide rating from one to 10 which shows are best to rock and which you should roll over.
Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman
March 7, Menorah Mivtachim Arena, Tel Aviv Tickets: NIS 235-640 Core members of 1970s progressive rockers Yes – Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman and Trevor Rabin – take listeners on a time machine-ride of hippie/sci-fi lyrics, choir-boy harmonies and intricate instrumental passages. Wakeman’s Tel Aviv solo show in 2014 was loads of fun. Grade – 7 The Orchestra March 23-26 in Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem Tickets: NIS 250-500 No Jeff Lynne, and only violinist Mik Kaminsky from the original Electric Light Orchestra will be onstage. But as shown by their previous performances in Israel, the Orchestra puts on a crowd-pleasing, professional and faithfully rendered replication of the British band’s pop hits. Grade – 6
Grandaddy
March 20 & 21, Barby Club, Tel Aviv Tickets: NIS 209 Quirky California psychedelic pranksters Grandaddy never fail to deliver a show full of surprises and fun. Jason Lytle and company give skewed rock a good name. Grade – 8 March 30, Shlomo Group Arena, Tel Aviv Tickets: NIS 150-300 British comedian and actor Eddie Izzard brings his ‘Force Majeure’ show to Israel for the first time. From Darth Vader to Greek mythology to human sacrifice, Izzard offers a smart and hysterical viewpoint worthy of Monty Python. Grade - 8 April 6, Masada Amphitheater, Dead Sea Tickets: NIS 495-2,995 Subtitled the Zero Gravity Concert, this will be spectacle of the first order, with the French godfather of electronic music going full laser and fireworks for this late-night show at the foot of Masada. Watch out for the brown acid. Grade –
7.5
May 3, Park Hayarkon, Tel Aviv Tickets: NIS 395-1125 The Canadian teen pop idol didn’t sell out Park Hayarkon on his first visit here in 2011 but reviews cited a sterling performance full of glitz, dancing and heart. The show of the year if you’re under 18. Grade – 6 May 17, Park Hayarkon, Tel Aviv Tickets: NIS 295-875 The bad boys of Boston rock on their farewell tour, back in Israel for the first time since 1994. Expect a lot of their latter-day middle-of-the-road hits, but also a fair share of bluesy raunch from Tyler, Perry and company. Grade – 7.5 May 21, Menorah Mivtachim Arena, Tel Aviv Tickets: NIS 199-449 The blue-eyed soul veteran returns to Israel with his greatest hits, like “Wherever I Lay my hat,” “Come back and Stay” and “Every Time You Go Away.” The voice may not be as strong but the songs endure. Grade – 6 June 13, Barby Club, Tel Aviv Tickets: NIS 184 One of Down Under’s sterling indie rock bands, Pond is an offshoot of Tame Impala, who won Israeli hearts last year in Rishon Lezion. See them in an intimate club before they head off to Primavera and Coachella. Grade – 7 June 14, Park Hayarkon, Tel Aviv Tickets: NIS 255-795 One of late 1960s/early 1970s rock’s greatest singers and song stylists is sure to present a mixed bag jukebox – the great (“Maggie May”) and the not-so-great (“Do Ya Think I’m Sexy”) from his uneven career. A Las Vegas revue in Tel Aviv. Grade – 6.5 June 30, Menorah Mivtachim Arena, Tel Aviv Tickets: NIS 194-354 Some comic relief amid the music – the last time Gaffigan was in town, he did an impromptu set at the tiny Off the Wall club in Jerusalem. This time, even though it’s full Seinfeld arena mode, it should still be just as funny. Grade – 8 July 15, Park Hayarkon, Tel Aviv Tickets: NIS 355-1,355 The fabled hard rockers’ “Not in This Lifetime” tour marks their third appearance in Israel (the second with the core trio of Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan). By all accounts, they’re firing on all cylinders and Axl is even showing up on time. Grade – 8 July 19, Park Hayarkon, Tel Aviv Tickets: NIS 484
Israel helped break them back in 1993, and the British superstars are returning the favor, albeit at a hefty price. The only fear is that Thom Yorke’s haunting falsetto and the blips and bleeps of the band will be drowned out by fans yelling for “Creep.” Grade – 9
Pixies
July 25, Caesarea Amphitheater Tickets: NIS 204-366 What are these aging Boston indie rockers doing in a classy place like Caesarea? Bringing the’90s back to life, albeit without Kim Deal. Based on their 2014 show here, expect a lot of music and no talk. Grade – 7.5
Tears for Fears
July 5, Menorah Mivtachim Arena, Tel Aviv Tickets: NIS 290-799 The quintessential ’80s MTV band (save for Duran Duran) make their Israel debut to perform hits like “Mad World,” “Shout” and “The Seeds of Love.” Nostalgia for a time nobody really liked that much. Grade – 5.5
Nick Cave Foreigner
November 19-20, Menorah Mivtachim Arena, Tel Aviv Tickets: NIS 234 The dark prince returns to Israel after a long absence at a career peak – his 16th album Skeleton Tree, recorded after the death of his 15-year-old son, is one of his best. With Leonard Cohen and David Bowie gone, Cave carries the torch of stormy poetry and jagged hearts. Grade – 9 December 2, Menorah Mivtachim Arena, Tel Aviv Tickets: NIS 204-604 The Mick Jones-led classic rockers keep lumbering on with another visit to Israel as part of their “Flame Still Burns” tour. As pleasing and professional as it will be, it unfortunately won’t feel like the first time. Grade – 5