The group that some have dubbed the hottest new band in Jewish music is coming to Kansas City May 22 for a Lag b’Omer concert sponsored by the Torah Learning Center and the Jewish Community Center. (For more information, see below)
The band was started in 2005 by brothers Bentzi and Shmuel Marcus. That’s when its debut album, “Tracht Gut,” which is Yiddish for think positive, was released. They have played hundreds of shows across the globe, including at Lincoln Center in New York, American Airlines Arena in Miami, Universal Studios Citywalk in Hollywood, Hong Kong, Montreal and South Carolina.
“He is lead singer and I am lead guitarist,” Bentzi Marcus said.
8th Day also includes drummer Jason “Rosy” Rosenquist, bassist and Grammy nominee Phil Bynoe, and klezmer specialist Leo Chelyapov, who plays keys and horn.
Marcus described 8th Day’s sound as “very eclectic, klezmer-funk-rock band.” Lyrics are sung mostly English with some Hebrew and Yiddish mixed in.
“We have a very wide range of influences. Since we grew up in a very musical family we were exposed to a lot of music,” he said.
Marcus said that brother Shmuel, who is also a Chabad rabbi in Los Alamitos, Calif., was always a very talented writer. The group came together after Bentzi started getting serious about music.
“He (Shmuel) wrote poetry and I started putting his lyrics to chords and making songs. Our brother Chaim, who owns an advertising agency, pushed us to record and helped us produce our first recordings,” Marcus explained.
The first recording was a four-song demo, produced by Chaim.
“It started to make its way around and word of mouth spread about our little project,” Marcus said. “I remember walking in the old city in Safed, Israel, when I was in yeshivah there, and I heard our song playing from one of the houses!”
The Marcus brothers were raised in a “very Chasidic home” in California where their parents are Chabad emissaries. Marcus said he and his brothers always wanted to inspire people through music.
“But at the same time it was all about reaching out to others and bringing joy to our neighborhood. We were taught that if one was given talents and skills, they must use them to spread positivity and to promote good things,” he said.
Marcus said the name 8th Day is significant because it is transcendent, or higher than nature.
“The number seven represents nature, routine, mundane. Eight is beyond, supernatural. (Through our music) we are given the ability to transcend our boundaries and achieve great heights no matter the challenge,” Marcus said.
He said 8th Day’s current album “Chasing Prophecy” is the band’s best album “production wise” to date.
“We worked with some amazing engineers and producers, which helped us get a really good sound. We have also grown a lot as a band so, I think, the songwriting matured a lot, and each song stands on its own. The style of songs range from Middle Eastern, rock, folk/country, jazz/blues. It’s got everything. The reactions have been amazing so far, thank G-d, from the album. Our music video for the song
“Ya’alili” got close to 500,000 hits in under two months.” You can hear the song on http://my8thday.com.
TLC’s Rabbi Simcha Morgenstern thinks people will be in for a surprise if they come to the concert.
“When people think of Chasidic music they generally picture an old bearded man with a violin. I want people to see Chasidic guys playing cutting-edge music who are totally hip and can rock the house!” Rabbi Morgenstern said.
“Shmuel and Bentzi show today’s Jewish youth that one can remain true to their heritage yet still remain cool,” the local rabbi continued.
Marcus thinks people who come to the concert will get their money’s worth.
“They are in for the show of a lifetime! We don’t pull any punches when it comes to live shows,” Marcus said.
8th Day
Torah Learning Center and the Jewish Community Center present 8th Day
Date: Sunday, May 22
Where: Lewis & Shirley White Theatre
Time: Doors open at 5 p.m., concert begins at 5:30 p.m.
Advanced tickets are on sale now by calling (913) 948-2200, e-mailing or visiting www.torahkc.org. Tickets will also be sold at the door.
