With the passage of marriage equality in New York last month, Isle of Klezbos has reason to celebrate. The “best-looking nonconformist eastern European Jewish party music band” is the perfect fit for the times: the all-female group, founded in 1998 by drummer and bandleader Eve Sicular, specializes in the energetic dance tunes traditionally played at Jewish weddings and celebrations. The band will host a party to recognize the Empire State’s legalization of same-sex marriage at the 92Y in Tribeca on July 26, two days after the Marriage Equality Act goes into effect.
“We are of course thrilled that now same-sex couples in New York State have been granted the rights and recognition to be able to legally marry at long last. And we sincerely hope this becomes a catalyst for national and international changes in this direction,” Sicular tells GO. “But for now, it’s time to party! And of course, as bandmates, we have happily played weddings for years already, both for [opposite gender] couples and lesbian and gay partners. The New York Times has featured numerous couples at whose same-sex weddings we’ve played, so we’ve been prepared to see this day a long time. Even so, it’s likely to be an emotional time seeing so many of our friends and community finally able to bring their commitment to this level.”
Though they’re known for their klezmer chops, Isle of Klezbos promises a rollicking dance party as well as soulful, romantic Yiddish swing, tango, custom arrangements of American songbook standards and genre-defying original compositions. Moreover, Nedra Johnson—well-known in the women’s music scene—will open the show with her own poignant love songs. “We played our very first Isle of Klezbos show on a double bill with Nedra 13 summers ago, just before we flew off to perform at Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival for the first time,” Sicular recalls. “So this show not only celebrates marriage equality, but also starts Isle of Klezbos on our bat mitzvah year!”
92Y is located at 200 Hudson Street, just south of Canal Street. Doors open at 7pm, concert lasts from 8pm to 10pm. For tickets, which are $10 in advance and $12 at the door, go to
http://www.92y.org/tribeca/tickets/production.aspx?performanceNumber=76114.
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