Where Are My Backstage Passess??!!

ד' לחודש השני תשע"ג

Ben Bresky

Last Thursday, I was at an engagement party. I speaking outside with a friend of mine, when local celebrity Ben Bresky arrived. Before going into the party, he came up to say hello.

Good, I thought to myself. I've been waiting for the opportunity to speak with him.

I finished up talking with my friend, and went inside. I quickly spotted Ben, host of Arutz 7's Israel Beat radio show, and then cornered him.

"Do you have an Israeli Press Pass?" I asked him innocently.

"Yes, of course," he calmly replied. Perhaps, he knew what was coming.

"How would you like to take me to the Depeche Mode Concert, in Tel-Aviv, May 7...and get us backstage passes?"

Martin Gore, Dave Gahan, Andy Fletcher
Depeche Mode, 2012

"Sure," he again calmly replied. He then proceeded to recount for me, in tedious detail, the various steps needed to be taken in order to get backstage passes. His rote explanation from memory of the intensely bureaucratic procedure was flawless, never missing a beat (no pun intended).

As he proceeded, my facial expression became increasingly revealing of my dismay and disappointment.

Usually, when I corner him about something or another, he can get a little freaked out by the confrontation. I thinks it's just me, though.

But, not this time. His calm and centered demeanor never wavered throughout his explanations of the various options which can be taken in order to obtain backstage passes, for big groups, for small groups, for jazz groups, and for rock groups.

This had obviously happened to Ben before, people noodging him about getting them backstage passes.
At the conclusion, all I could muster to say was, "It's so much easier in California. All you have to do is sleep with the right people."

Normally, I would have expected an awkward pause at this juncture.

But, not this time. Ben just gave me a shrug of his shoulders, then after the pause, said, "Ill see what I can do."

Overhearing our conversation, by accident, of course, was another friend. This one worked for the Jerusalem Post.

"Why didn't you just ask me?" he exclaimed. "I work with the guy who does the music reviews. He gets tickets and backstage passes all the time!"

Apparently, he had NOT overheard the part about how complicated it was to get backstage passes, let a lone concert tickets, in Israel.

"Yeah, sure," I said, desperately trying to hold up a smile, and not let it seem too fake. "Give it a shot. Let me know."

Meanwhile, somewhere in the back of my mind, a tiny little voice was whispering, "Maybe God doesn't want you to go to the Depeche Mode concert."

"Perish the thought!"

In 2006, they canceled their concert. In 2009, I couldn't go, no money and no time off from work besides.

The third time's the charm, as they say.

Will The Almighty allow me to hang on to this last bit of galuth (exile) enjoyment? Should I feel guilty about going, and paying enough money for two weeks of food, to sit in the crappiest seats possible? What about feeling guilty about going, while everyone else is celebrating the reunification of the City of Jerusalem in 1967?

Stay tuned.

More will be revealed. 

Depeche Mode's "Enjoy The Silence" And Holding Ones Tongue

י"ב לחודש האחד עשר תשע"ג

The lyrics to Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence" are found below after the video box.  Many have called this song one of Depeche Mode's trademark songs.

I suggest that there are hints to the Laws of Guarding the Tongue.

I believe that these hints are in the form of hakhmah (wisdom), hakhmah worthy of our attention.

I did not go through any body of halakhah (Jewish Law) vis-a-vis the lyrics, which records the Laws of Guarding the Tongue such as the Hofetz Hayim or the Mishneh Torah of the Ramba"m.  When going through the lyrics, I only made a few common sense notes here and there.

I believe that you will get the idea.

Warning: This video was filmed on top of one of the World Trade Center towers.  So, if you find this to be kind of creepy, or if this bothers you in any other way, you can easily find another version on your favorite video hosting site.

Dave Gahan-Lead Vocals, Martin Gore-Guitar,  
Andy Fletcher-Keyboards (short hair), Alan Wilder-Keyboards (long hair)

ENJOY THE SILENCE

Martin Gore, 1989

Words like violence 

Break the silence 

Come crashing in 

Into my little world 

Painful to me 

Pierce right through me 

Can't you understand 

Oh my little girl 

All I ever wanted 

All I ever needed 

Is here in my arms 

Words are very unnecessary 

They can only do harm 

Vows are spoken 

To be broken 

Feelings are intense 

Words are trivial 

Pleasures remain 

So does the pain 

Words are meaningless 

And forgettable 

All I ever wanted 

All I ever needed 

Is here in my arms 

Words are very unnecessary 

They can only do harm

Enjoy the silence 

*Lyrics obtained from Lyrics Freak

Words like violence...painful to me, pierce right through me
Words can be hurtful...  "Sticks and stone make break my bones, but names can kill me."

Vows are spoken, to be broken,...words are trivial
Talk is cheap.  It is more important to walk the walk, than to talk the talk. (See below)

Words are meaningless, and forgettable
Actions speak louder than words.

Words are very unnecessary, they can only do harm

And something else comes to mind...

 משנה אבות א,טז  [יז] שמעון בנו אומר, כל ימיי גדלתי בין החכמים, ולא מצאתי לגוף טוב אלא שתיקה; ולא המדרש הוא העיקר, אלא המעשה; וכל המרבה דברים, מביא חטא

Minshnah Avoth 1:16 [17] Shimon his son says: All my days I have been raised among the Sages, and I found nothing better for oneself than silence; not study, but practice is the main thing; and one who talks excessively brings on sin.

Just my Esser Agaroth (2¢)....

Depeche Mode Returns To Israel!

ו' לחודש האחד עשר תשע"ג

OK. So, I'm late in blogging about this.  I wanted to coordinate this with another post, which hasn't happened yet, so no matter.

David Gahan, Ramath Gan, May 2009 (Photo: Yaron Brener)

YNET: Depeche Mode Returning To Israel
Four years after rocking 50,000 fans in Ramat Gan, British band to perform at Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park in summer of 2013 

Or Barnea, October 15, 2012

British electronic music band Depeche Mode will be returning to Israel in the summer of 2013, four years after its first concert in the Holy Land. This time, the band will perform at Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park, most likely in May.

The concert, which will be held as part of a new international tour, will include the band's songs from all times. Full details about the show will be revealed in the coming weeks.

In May 2009, Depeche Mode performed at the Ramat Gan Stadium to an audience of some 50,000 people. (cont.)

Depeche Mode didn't quite make it to Israel in 2006, and I didn't make it to their concert in 2009.  I would really like to make it this year.  Interestingly enough, they will playing on Yom Yerushalayim, the 45the anniversary of the reunification of the Holy City.

I am not sure how that date was decided upon.  But, it wouldn't be the first "coincidence" for Depeche Mode and Israel.  In 2006, their concert was scheduled for the night immediately following Tisha b'Av fast, when it is still forbidden to listen to live music, as the Miqdash (Temple) burned throughout the night and into the morning.  In the end, that concert was cancelled, due to concerns from their crew over the Second Lebanon War, engaged in at the time.

According to an article on Reuters, Gahan said at a press conference, "To be making music for more than half our lives ... it's pretty incredible to still be able to do that."

Andy Fletcher, Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, 1981

I started listening to Depeche Mode in 1984.  but, the band's first album "Speak And Spell," was released in 1981.  That's over 30 years ago!

Martin Gore, Dave Gahan, Andy Fletcher, 2012

The band members are now 50 or 51 years old.  They are getting older,...and so am I.  

They keep on keeping on, developing and improving upon their work.

They have always inspired me, and continue to inspire me to do the same.

*********

This year will also see the release of another album from Depeche Mode.

Depeche Mode - New Album From Depeche Mode Confirmed For March 2013

11 December 2012

Depeche Mode have confirmed that they will be releasing a new album in 2013. It’s confirmed what we all suspected; the band have hardly been secretive about the fact that they’ve been busy writing and recording new music, but this is the first time they’ve given concrete details about the forthcoming longplayer.

The follow-up to 2009’s Sounds of the Universe will reportedly be released in March 2013. Martin Gore and Dave Gahan have done most of the songwriting for this one. Gore has commented “I am very happy with how the album turned out,” Gore commented. “The music has a similar vibe to Violator and Songs of Faith and Devotion and I think there are a few songs on the album that are among some of the very best we’ve done” whilst Dave Gahan was equally positive about the new release, saying “The album has a very organic and direct feel to it. It's not a blues record, but it definitely has a soulful vibe. During the recording process we really tried to get the elements of performing and the live show into the album more.”

In a recent interview with Clash magazine, Dave Gahan explained the secret behind the band’s long-lasting success. “We've been through so much. My band has been through everything together for thirty years. It's the one relationship weirdly enough that's survived… I think it's because we have an understanding, myself, Martin and Fletch, We're like brothers. We have the same quibble fights and the same crap going on that we've had for years. It's definitely a sort of family relationship."(cont.)

Depeche Mode "Sounds Of The Universe" Tour In Danger Of Cancellation

21 of the Second Month 5769

Today News1 reports that the Depeche Mode concert tour is in danger of being canceled.

After the show in Israel, two of Depeche Mode's concerts have been canceled, in Athens and in Istanbul, following the illness of the lead singer David Gahan. It is possible that this will be the end of the tour.

(Tip Credit: Sophomore 74 Studios)

But the day before, DepecheMode.com, the group's official website, had already reported that...

Depeche Mode have been forced to cancel two shows on their 'Sounds of the Universe' tour, yesterday's show in Athens (May 12) and tomorrow's show in Istanbul (May 14), due to the illness of singer Dave Gahan.

Dave fell ill with a severe bout of gastroenteritis shortly before he was due onstage in Athens which resulted in his immediate hospitalization. At this stage, Dave's primary concern is to return to full health and resume the tour as soon as possible.

Fans in Athens and Istanbul have been advised to hold onto their tickets as an announcement will be made shortly with regard to rescheduled dates or cancellation.

But, since this statement was made, it looks as if shows scheduled for Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, have also been canceled. Still, we will have to wait and see if this really is the end of this tour.

The Tel-Aviv (Ramat Gan) show was the official opener of the "Sounds Of The Universe" tour, not counting the "warm-up" show played four days beforehand in Luxembourg.

At the group's Tel-Aviv press conference, a connection was made between opening in Tel-Aviv with the cancellation of the group's Tel-Aviv show three years ago due to the Second Lebanon War. That show, scheduled for the night following Tisha b'Av, was supposed to have been the closing show of "Touring The Angel."

Andrew Fletcher (synthesizers) said...

"As you must remember, we were very disappointed on the last tour, which would be the last [show] of Touring The Angel, when we had to cancel the show. But instead you've got the show of Tour of the Universe...."

(Tip Credit: Israelly Cool)

The show three years ago was reported to have been canceled not for political reasons, but due to the safety concerns of the group's crew.

At the time, I suggested that the show might have been canceled, as it was on a night when listening to live music is forbidden. So now, you might be asking the question, "Then, why wasn't canceled when it was a day before Lag b'Omer? And why were concerts in Athens and Istanbul canceled, but the concert in Israel was allowed to carry on? And am I making way too much out of all this? I don't know.

There are a few more interesting things to point about Depeche Mode and its Israel connection. They concern the lead singer, David Gahan, seen here visiting the Kotel (Western Wall).

His birthday falls on 5 b'Iyyar, Israeli Independence Day (1962).

In the Gregorian calendar, it fell last Shabbath, the day before the concert.

In addition, various conflicting reports have been made about his connection to Judaism. One is that his biological father is Jewish. One is that his parents converted to Judaism, after he was born, but reverted back to Christianity. David himself has also made mention of his affinity for Judaism.

But, enough about the band....

Throughout this post, the question many of you may have had burning a hole through your brains is whether or not I ended up going to the concert myself. No, I did not,...even though a friend claimed he had acquired passes to the after party at the Tel-Aviv Port (where the three band members actually did show up...kicking myself, kicking myself...).

There really wasn't much to discuss and debate, after I found that I had no way to get home after the concert, nor anywhere else to spend the night, except for the beach (been there, done that). So, the issues of whether I should go or not, and why I should or should not go, turned out to be moot.

Well, there's always next time....

Poll Results: "Should I Go To The Depeche Mode Concert?"

26 of the First Month 5769

Well, the results are in, and I still don't know what I'm going to do. I will probably end up not going, but due to laziness more than anything else. It's a pain in the neck to get back home from Tel-Aviv at night. After a bus to Ari'el, I have to depend on tremping to Tapu'ah Juction, then a schlep up the hill to the yishuv. I do not like to try to tremp from Ari'el at too late of an hour, otherwise I'm stuck there for the night. We'll see. Maybe I'll find a place to stay in Tel-Aviv. Who knows.

Irregardless of if I go to the concert or not (and by now, you're probably all saying to yourselves, "Who even cares?"), I found the results of my poll to be rather interesting, albeit they are far from having any scientific reliability.

Answer	# Votes	%
1. Yes, you'll enjoy it.	13	44%
2. Yes, but go incognito.	3	10%
3. Yes, but go incognito and stand outside the concert and listen.	0	0%
4. No, it's a waste of NIS 300.	5	17%
5. No, it's galuthi and mixed, and thus hypocritical for you to go.	8	27%

Sixteen voted for me to go, and 13 not to go. Personal e-mails to me indicated that there were definitely some MO's (modern orthodox Jews) and others who did not see anything wrong with me going, except for those few you felt it was a waste of money.

Those who voted for option number five I am guessing are my like-minded neighbors and fellow bloggers who have only their best interests for my soul at heart.

As to everyone else who voted, I have no clue what kind of person voted for which option.

Poll: Should I Go To The Depeche Mode Concert?

27 of the Twelfth Month 5769

I have been a Depeche Mode fan for over 25 years. I have not seen them in concert since 1988, and my last opportunity would have been Motza'ei Tisha b'Av 5766, when it would have been assur (prohibited) to go to a concert. As it happens the concert was canceled, apparently due to complications caused by the Second Lebanon War.

Depeche Mode is expected to come back to Israel on May 10.

So, the question is, should I go to the concert?

Please participate in the poll in the upper, right-hand corner of this page.

You may list your "other" and "none of the above" answers, wise cracks, and queries below in the comments section of this post.

Here are a few videos to help you decide. Let me know if any of you begin to feel any nostalgia.

"Shake The Disease" (1985)




"Never Let Me Down Again" (1987)




"Enjoy The Silence" (1992)

Shmagged!

Hanukkah Day 5/Erev Rosh Hodesh Ha'Asiri 5768

There is an expression of sorts:

"Be careful what you ask for, because you just might get it."

Well, I happened to have mentioned to Jacob Da Jew, and a few other bloggers that I would not actually mind being "tagged" to do a meme.

Jacob took me up on that, and "shmagged" me, which I suppose is something like being "tagged." Well, that's how I intend to interpret it.

Of course, knowing MY luck, I get tagged for a very loooooooong meme, you know the "Number 8" one that's been going around.

Why 8, and not 5 or 10? I don't know.

But, here are some interesting notes on the number 8:

I was born on the 8th day of the Sixth Month (Ellul).

The gematriah qetanah of my full name is 8.

As 7 in the number of Shabbath, 8 is the number of Mossa'ei Shabbath (Saturday night), as well as HaOlam HaBa (The World To Come).

And, of course, this post is written during Hanukkah, which has 8 days.

8 passions in my life:

• Authentic Judaism
• Correspondence
• Communication
• Writing
• The Beach
• Meeting New People
• Science Fiction/Fantasy
• Coffee

8 Things to do before I die:

• Get married
• Have children
• Write a book
• Publish said book
• Complete the Ramba"m's Mishnah Torah with Rav Yosef Qafah's ztz"l perush
• Achieve spiritual maturity
• Own my own home
• Write another book

8 Things that I say often:

• Right (alla Dr. Evil in "Austin Powers")
• What's up?
• By the way...
• Um,..'K (alla Kyle from "South Park")
• Mah Nishma'? (Heb.: "What's up?")
• Slihah (Heb.: "Please, get out of my way.")
• Nu. b'Emet! (Heb.: "Oh, puh-lease!")
• K'ilu (Heb.: "like")

8 books I read recently:
(The answer to this can be found in my cool, "Good Reads" widget. It actually lists 20 books. In the event the widget is being insolent, you can view the 8 most recent books I read in the comments section.)

I thought Jacob might be interested in Good Reads. He [and you] can click on my Good Reads Profile above, join in, and add me as a friend.


8 Songs that mean something to me:

• Roam - The B-52's, 1990
• Enjoy The Silence - Depeche Mode, 1990 (video)
• Never Let Me Down - Depeche Mode, 1987
• It's A Wonderful Life - Black, 1987
• Shake The Disease - Depeche Mode, 1985
• The Power Of Love - Frankie Goes To Hollywood, 1984
• The Look Of Love - ABC, 1982
• Poison Arrow - ABC, 1982

8 things I look for in a friend:

• Listens
• Loyalty
• Hold a decent and intelligent conversation
• Have something in common with me
• Doesn't take my inventory (heshbon nefesh)
• Doesn't use the word "should" with me
• Doesn't take crap from me
• Is a Virgo, Capricorn, or Pisces (not a hard & fast rule)

I think I'll just let others "shmag" themselves.

Tagged Twice

15 of the Fourth Month 5767

Well, now that I've been tagged twice, I guess I can no longer be a party-pooper. First I was tagged by Batya. I told her that I didn't have the ko'ah. Then she said I'd hit by lightening or something. Now, I've just been tagged by Doodlehead. Since he recently provided me with some secret, crucial information, I guess it's time to pay the piper.

Here are the rules. In the immortal words of Eve Arden in the movie "Grease:"

"Rules are rules."

Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. My father was an art professor.

2. By the age of 14, I had visited 20 countries on two continents, besides the U. S./N. A.

3. I was a lifeguard for five years. My mother, brother z"l, and sister were as well. I'm one of the few native San Diegans who does not surf. I probably will get on a board one of these days. In the meantime, I can still do a 360 on a boogie board!

4. I am a brother in Alpha Epsilon Pi,...and am looking for others in Israel.

5. I have this annoying talent of being able to quote lines from films, like The Breakfast Club, by heart.

6. I've lived most of most of my 10 years in Israel in Yehudah and Shomron.

7. I have eclectic taste in music, including classical, New Age, and 80's. (No Country) I've been a fan of Depeche Mode almost since their beginning in 1981. Along with Beethoven, Mussorgsky, and Stravinsky, they have had a profound effect on my life.

8. I'm a Harry Potter fan. I read books 5 and 6, three times each. I don't think that R. A. B. in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will turn out to be Regulus Black,...too obvious. It'll be Neville's grandmother Augusta for sure!




OK. Well, I cheated, having crammed more than one fact/habit into each line. But at least they're related.

Now, I'll tag....

1. Irina, which I feel the most guilty about because I know she's incredibly busy. 2. HaKav HaYorim, now that he's out of the army, and must have tons of time on his hands. 3. Faith In Nathan 4. Derech HaMelech 5. Ezra HaLevi 6. Tel-Chai Nation 7. Brooklyn Habiru 8. Sultan Knish, 8 1/2. Frum Satire, because I'm intrigued as to what these guys might list.

*I will NOT tag Erica, because she's been bugged enough by bloggers' memes.

...and I don't have to noodge Kalashnikover Rebbe nor Rafi G., because Doodlehead already did.

Another Divine Cancellation

13 of the Fifth Month 5766

Last week, while those in many religious communities, in and out of Israel, were celebrating the cancellation [for the second year in a row] of the so-called "pride parade" in Jerusalem, another cancellation may have squeeked by without your notice.

The Depeche Mode concert, scheduled for the night following Tisha b'Av in Tel-Aviv, was also cancelled.

Although I haven't been following Depeche Mode's journey through music and time that much for the past several years, I really have been a fan of theirs almost since their inception in 1980. At one point, I even had my ears pierced just like lead singer David Gahan. The earrings have long since been removed, and, well,...that's another story for another time....

Months ago, when I heard that Depeche Mode was coming to Israel, I debated as to whether I should go. Could I afford the NIS 300 ticket? (approx. $68) Should I go to a concert with mixed [gender] seating? Maybe I could stand outside, and just listen, like we sometimes did in California. Or, should I even go to such a concert at all?

Well, after many months of not even thinking about the Depeche Mode concert, I was walking around Jerusalem with friends who were visiting from LA. We turned up Hillel Street, in a neighborhood where I am almost never seen, and sure enough we ended up passing a ticket office. There in the window was a huge poster announcing the concert, with that blaring date: Aug. 3. My friends asked, "Hey isn't that Tisha b'Av?" What did I know? Back in Teveth (January-ish), I didn't think anything of the date. Other than the occasional form to be filled out at an Israeli government office, I hadn't been the position of having to be bothered by the Western date for a very long time.

My friends quickly checked their calendars. The decision as to whether to go to the concert had been made for me. The concert fell on the night following the Fast of the Fifth Month (Tisha b'Av - commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples, among other things). Even on the night following this fast, I would be unable to attend the concert. Most Hallachic (Jewish legal)authorities rule that several of the fast's observances of mourning continue through noon of the next day, just as the Temple continued to burn.

As the soldier abductions and rocket-firing by Hizbollah YSh"W turned into a war, I thought it hardly appropriate to go to a concert anyway, while my brothers in the north were huddled together in bombshelters, getting bombarded with rockets.

A short-lived protest over the concert being held right after the fast was waged by Knesset Members Zevulun Orlev and Nissan Slomiansky (National Religious Party). But their protest was to no avail. Israeli civil law only protects the sanctity of this fast from sunset to sunset. Given the current make-up of the Knesset, I seriously doubt they had any chance of ammending the law, assuming they even thought of such a possibility. Of course, the concert was cancelled anyway.

According to DepecheMode.com, the band's official website, the concert was cancelled "following the latest developments."

Arutz 7 suggests that “'recent developments,' [are] possibly an allusion to the bombing of a populated Hizbullah position in Kana, Lebanon."

YNET reported that according to the band's manager Shuki Weiss, who has family in Israel, and was looking forward to coming, the cancellation began with "a problem [that] came up with the technical team which developed into the refusal of the entire team to get on a plane and come." The report also included the only indication I was able to find as to how the band members themselves felt, with the band's organizer Marek Lieberberg saying that they very much wanted to come to Israel.

Of course, I cannot say for certain how the Depeche Mode concert, inappropriately scheduled in the first place, for the night following Tisha b'Av, came to be cancelled. I will say this, that I do not believe in coincidences. Simply put, the Almighty took away the option from 40,000 people to bop-out at a concert. If they wanted to avoid focusing the on the past and current, sadness and destruction going on around us, they were going to have to find another way to it.