January 16, 2011

Broadcast Date: 
Jan 16 2011

Our monthly music special looks at the importance of Jewish performers and Jewish music in the development of Metal music, with klezmer violinist Alicia Svigals, rock critic Mike Rubin, and a tribute to the cult rock doc Anvil.

Episode segments
  • Jews and Metal
    Music, Arts & Culture

    Violinist and composer Alicia Svigals, a founder of the Klezmatics and of the all-women band Mikveh, is considered by many to be the world's foremost klezmer fiddler.

    Mike Rubin is a freelance journalist who writes about music for The New York Times, Tablet and other venues.
    Jenny Romaine

    Here's the list of what we played today:

    Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love, Van Halen

    Master Race Rock, The Dictators

    Hot Rails To Hell, Blue Oyster Cult

    Sister Ray, The Velvet Underground

    Now I Wanna Be a Good Boy, The Ramones

    20th Century Boy, T. Rex

    Strutter, KISS

    Hatikvah, Marty Friedman

    Avinu Malkenu (Our Father Our King), Mogwai

    And click here to view the trailer for Anvil! The Story of Anvil and

    here to read the NYT film review.

    Correction:  We've since learned that the melody for Hatikvah is not by Grieg.  According to Wikipedia, it has been attributed to a Roumanian folk song, and to a 17th century Italian song.  Smetana used the melody in his symphonic poem, Vitava (Die Moldau).