Things That Make You Say "Oi!"

Chocolate. Roller coasters. Pictures of cats on the internet.

What makes you say "Oi!"?*

Stereo Sinai is recording a new song for our upcoming album, and we need your vOIce!

Give us your best "Oi!" and be a biblegum pop star! The top ten most energetic, enthusiastic, and hard-core oi's will be featured in the song. Those ten Thumpers will also receive a free mp3 of the song when it is released, and a listing in the album liner notes.

Think of it, Thumpers: biblegum pop immortality.

Send your sound file (or any questions) to: info@stereosinai.com.
OR call the Stereo Sinai "Oi!" Hotline and leave your name and oi in the message: (347) 770-6527

Entries due by noon on June 17th.

Need some inspiration? Check out these oi's:

No Doubt "Oi to the World": http://youtu.be/hoL1Uxwk6vc
Robbie Williams Aussie/Oi: http://youtu.be/oFErZurWGv8
Dropkick Murphys "Oi Oi Oi": http://youtu.be/04Zbhk1c7nM

*Oi is the opposite of the Yiddish Oy. Where oy means "oh no," oi is more like "oh yeah"!

New Single - "The Esther Song" Featuring Alicia Jo Rabins

Dearest Thumpers,

We are so excited, just in time for Purim, to release the first single off our upcoming album "The Revelation Will Not Be Televised," "The Esther Song." We had the immense pleasure of working with the crazy-talented and oh so cool Alicia Jo Rabins. (You may know Alicia from the punk-klezmer outfit Golem or her art pop project on incredible biblical women, Girls in Trouble. They will both rock your world and we highly recommend checking them out!) She added so much depth and richness to this tune, and we can't sing her praises enough.

And now, the song. It's taken from a moment in the Book of Esther when Esther realizes she can't just sit there and let the world fall apart. In the song's refrain she says, "‎For how can I endure the evil that shall come unto my people? How can I endure destruction? How can I stand back and watch my kindred suffer?"

Of course she can't, none of us can. She stands up to the king, in front of the King. Where we see the world crumbling - be it as big as an earthquake in Japan or as (seemingly) small as a friend who needs a shoulder to cry on - you do what you gotta do.

Here's hoping this song will be a call to action, and a call to empathy. May we not stand idly by.

Stereo Sinai is ON THE MOVE

Hey Thumpers! We have a little announcement we'd like to share with you, so please take a moment to watch this fantastic video Alan whipped up to simultaneously disseminate information and blow your freaking mind. Thanks!

Secrets, Yiddish, and Thumping

This is a serious, official call for a fluent Yiddish speaker. Stereo Sinai is looking for a reliable Yiddish translation of a secret song originally written in Hebrew. This is a paid translation gig. If you're interested, please let us know directly: info@stereosinai.com, facebook.com/stereosinai, twitter.com/stereosinai, comment here, etc., etc...

Here are some of our favorite other translated Yiddish songs:

A Birthday Request from Miriam

Birthdays are a good time to get attention on the interwebs, so I figured I'd cash in on that and try to do some good... :)

This is what I would like for my birthday.

A while back, Stereo Sinai recorded a song for an amazing project called Pioneers for a Cure. Its mission is to cure cancer through music. Each artist gets a song to record, then all the proceeds from that song go to the cancer charity of the artist's choice.

Stereo Sinai was given an old Hebrew tune called "Purim Hayom" ("Today is (the holiday of) Purim"). It's a bouncy, dance-y piece that talks all about how thankful we are for the good that been done for us.

I would be deeply thankful to each and every one of you if you would take a moment and download this song. It's only $2, all of which goes to the good work of the American Lung Association.

You can find our song and download it here.

Alan's grandmother died of lung cancer. So did the mother of one of my best friends. It's tragic, and we can help stop it.

If you decide to donate, leave a comment on this blog and I'll send you a big ol' thank-you note and something special. A birthday present from me, to you. If you can't donate, please pass this on to a friend or two, and share the love.

Thank you so much, and have a beautiful day!!!
Miriam

Shalom Aleichem!

To all the new Thumpers... Welcome to stereosinai.com! ("Thumpers" is what fans of Stereo Sinai and Biblegum Pop music call themselves; from the term 'Bible thumpers'.)

Have a blast perusing our site and blog, and especially be sure to check out our music page!
Comment, contact us, and enjoy!

And to all our existing Thumpers, we love you, and keep on thumping!

Stereo Sinai's Guide to the Greater Chicago Jewish Festival

Thumpers! We at Stereo Sinai are very excited to remind you that this Sunday, June 13th, at 4:00pm on the Cabaret Stage, we will be playing the Greater Chicago Jewish Festival! We've got all kinds of fun things in store, so we hope you'll join us for some rockin' out, biblegum pop style...

But, shlepping out to the 'burbs, you may as well make a day of it. The following list comprises Stereo Sinai's picks of our Festival favorites - enjoy!

There are a bunch of cool acts performing - here are some highlights:

The Moshe Skier Band - 11:00am, Crain-Maling Stage

The Ruby Harris Band - 12:00pm, Crain-Maling Stage

David Broza - 12:45pm, Crain-Maling Stage

(Get ready for more shameless self-promotion in 3...2...)

STEREO SINAI, HOORAY! - 4:00pm, Cabaret Stage

Aaron Freeman (comedian) - 5:00pm, Cabaret Stage

(Sadly, our friends at Even Sh'siyah will not be playing this year, as they have in the past, but we encourage you to check them out around town whenever you can. Their unbelievable drummer, Matt Kanter, will be performing with a fun, goofy outfit called Tzioni 'R' Us at 11:00am on the Crain-Maling Stage.)

And definitely take some time to stop by the organization booths of some of our brilliant buddies:

Kfar Jewish Arts Center

PunkTorah

The Gan Project

The Board of Jewish Education of Metropolitan Chicago

Limmud Chicago

There are some truly talented visual artists exhibiting and selling their wares. Take a moment to visit Limor Katz-Evans of Ella Klara Designs (a sponsor of Stereo Sinai) and Fran Moss's fun and funky Chai Note Designs.

Once you've done sufficient wandering, there are all kinds of kosher (even vegetarian!) options available at the various food booths.

So go, gey gezunterheyt. See you there!

Help PunkTorah Invade Chicago!

Some of our favorite altera-frummies, the PunkTorah crew, are coming to Chicago! PunkTorah (which you can check out for yourself at punktorah.org or on Facebook), founded by the unstoppable Patrick Aleph, is...well, they explain it better than I ever could:

Because the term “punk”, like “rebel”, “renegade” or “revolutionary”, is at the heart of the Jewish experience. “Punk” as a mindset, not a musical style.

Avraham Avinu, Abraham, our father, was the original punk. Abraham smashed idols like Jimi Hendirx smashed guitars. Abraham completely rebelled against the mainstream culture of his time, spreading a message that was hated and feared by many. He taught those willing to be taught, and stood firm against the tide of social blindness running rampant in his day. Like our ancestors, we are a tribe of people who don’t take “no” for an answer. We survive and flourish because of our individuality, but also our collective responsibility for each other. When you dig into your heart, and pull out a Jewish answer to the issues that confront you, that is “as PunkTorah as it gets”.

A non-profit organization (501c3 pending), PunkTorah is committed to the idea that you can approach “doing Jewish” without undoing yourself. You don’t have to be someone that you are not. It’s not about taking stuff away from your life, or taking things away from you. It’s about adding to your life.

PunkTorah has registered a booth at the Greater Chicago Jewish Festival - where we will also be playing at 4:00pm - and we hope you'll stop by and say hi to them. In order to get there and make their mark, though, they're gonna need some gelt. An $18 donation through PayPal (to punktorah@gmail.com) will not only get them to Chicago, but will help them develop new outreach programs on progressive approaches to prayer and kashrut, organize a tikkun olam trip to Uganda, counteract the anti-Thumpers at Westboro Baptist Church, run interfaith Shabbat dinners, and so many other incredible things.

Got questions? Want to know more, or help out? Definitely check out PunkTorah.org, or connect with Patrick: punktorah@punktorah.org.

Upcoming Biblegum Pop Shows - 5/11 and 5/16

Thumpers! We have some exciting events coming up that... well, we just couldn't contain ourselves. We had to let you know.

In case there was any doubt, Stereo Sinai does indeed rock the suburbs. On May 11th we'll be celebrating with Lincolnwood Jewish Congregation, and we hope to see you there!

Yom Yerushalayim Concert (Jerusalem Day)

Tuesday, May 11th

at Lincolnwood Jewish Congregation

7117 N Crawford Ave in Lincolnwood

6:30-8:00pm

Tix are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, $5 for students w/ID

(BUT we have a few FREE tix to give away - shoot us a message and we'll hook you up!)

Also, we are very excited to be playing in the VIP room of Emanuel Congregation's Comedy Night with Fred Armisen, Jeff Garlin, and special musical guest Jeff Tweedy of Wilco!!! (Yes, really.) Info is below, but be sure to check out all the details here.

Comedy, Q & A's with Fred Armisen and Jeff Garlin

Sunday, May 16th

at Emanuel Congregation

5959 N Sheridan in Chicago

7:00-9:00pm (doors at 7, show at 8)

Ask us about ticket prices, or check out www.armisenshow.com

Oy, and there is so much more to come... Keep your ears to the ground, thumpers!

Thanks for the Love - Free Download for You!

Dear Thumpers,

In appreciation of your support for our Earth Day push on behalf of the Arava Institute, and for your general marvelousness, we offer our song, "David and Goliath," as a free download until midnight tomorrow (Tuesday, April 27th). Check it out!

Our respective reactions are depicted visually. That is all.

Miriam and Alan

Earth Day Special - Help Us Help the Arava Institute!

Thumpers! Stereo Sinai is doing a huge promotion in honor of Earth Day 2010!

For every 100 new "likes" on our Facebook page, we will donate $50 to the Arava Institute in Israel, an organization that promotes both cooperation and environmental sustainability in the Middle East.

So what are you waiting for? Find us on Facebook, tell your friends, help us get there!

Happy Earth Day, everyone!

See you at the Jewish Festival, June 13th!

Thumpers! We are proud to announce that Stereo Sinai is a judges' pick to play this year's Greater Chicago Jewish Festival!!!

Thank you to everyone who came out to vote and cheer for us at Jewish Chicago's Got Talent - y'all are the best. We're very excited to have been offered a slot performing alongside so many other cool Chicago acts and this year's headliner, the incomparable David Broza. Mark your calendars and we'll see you there!

Generation Gap

As you may know, yesterday was Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Rememberance Day. Our friend Eli Ungar-Sargon, who is a filmmaker/photographer currently based in Chicago, used the day to release his new film documenting three generations of his family - his grandfather, father, and Eli himself - and how they relate to the Holocaust. "Generation Gap" is a deceptively simple, powerful film that is both deeply personal and undeniably universal. And we're proud to say that the short snippets of music included (a niggun, or wordless tune, that is one of the Ungar family's last vestiges left from before the Holocaust) were recorded in the Stereo Sinai studio.

We hope you'll take a moment to watch, reflect, remember, challenge, and take action.

Help Stereo Sinai Play This Year's Folk Festival!

Hey Thumpers! This Sunday Stereo Sinai will be auditioning alongside a whole slew of cool local acts (including our friends the Moshe Skier Band) for a slot at this year's Greater Chicago Jewish Festival, and we need your help!

Everyone is welcome to this show. Admission is $5, which gets you into the Skokie Theater and grants you 5 votes, which you can cast for any band you like. You can also, in this oh-so-democratic system, buy extra votes for a buck each, or 25 for $20.

Anyway, below are all the details fit to print. We're the 4th band to play, so come by early and hang out with us afterwards... :)

Jewish Chicago's Got Talent (we know, we know...)

Sunday, April 11th

6-9:00pm

Skokie Theater

7929 Lincoln Ave.

Skokie, IL

See you there!

And, as always, there is more biblegum pop to come, so stay tuned...

Huh. Turns Out Kids' Music Doesn't Suck - "Eats Paste" Out Today!

No April Fools, we promise.

ToyBlock Music, that unique and funky project dedicated to making children's music not suck, released its EP, aptly entitled "Eats Paste," today! Talk about punking kids' music. Anyway, Stereo Sinai's version of the Dutch lullaby "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod" is featured, so download away!

Other tunes included are a funk version of "The Wheels on the Bus," a surf-punk "The Cat Came Back," and...well, go see for yourself at toyblockmusic.com.

Also, we have to mention that Miriam is more intimately involved in this stupendous project - she wrote all those snarky descriptions of the songs and has done other fun things behind the scenes.

We're really proud to have been included in this amazing effort. Keep your eyes open for the full-length CD (due out in the fall) with more cool interpretations from your favorite biblegum poppers...

April 4th Show: Oranges ROCK the Seder Plate

Hey Thumpers! Big big show coming up - we'll be playing alongside crazy cool chick rockers Girls in Trouble and Naomi Less at an event to honor Jewish female performers and citrus fruit. (And if you're wondering about this whole orange-seder plate thing, check this out.) A full afternoon of amazing women sparking your souls to head into the last days of the festival of freedom...there's nothing else like it. Here are all the details:

Oranges ROCK the Seder Plate

Featuring Girls in Trouble, Stereo Sinai, and Naomi Less

Sunday, April 4th

3-5:00pm

BooCoo Cultural Center

Evanston, IL

Grab tix early through Kfar Jewish Arts Center!

The "Mi Yimalel" Dance

This past Chanukah, the festival of lights, Stereo Sinai was asked by our buddies over at MyJewishLearning.com to produce a hip new version of "Mi Yimalel" (or "Who Can Retell"). The song was available for free download through Chanukah and now - yes Thumpers, the waiting is over - you can get it right here!

You must be overcome. We understand. But we're going to have to go against our better judgment and up the excitement, and even add a splash of sheer cute-osity. Below is a video of one of our tiniest fans dancing to the song, and, we're telling you, she has got some moves (right on, Ezzah!). Enjoy!

TODAY: ToyBlock Music on I Wear Your Shirt

ToyBlock Music is unlike anything else out in the music world today. It is an ongoing collection of real artists reinterpreting their favorite childhood songs and making them, well, real music. The EP, coming out officially on April 1st (yep, April Fool's Day), is called Eats Paste and will feature a super funky "The Wheels on the Bus," a surf/lounge "The Cat Came Back," and Stereo Sinai's special take on "Wynken, Blynken and Nod," among others. We've heard them, and believe us, they seriously rock.

Catch a sneak peek of the project today on I Wear Your Shirt! And, in the meantime, you can head over to the website, www.toyblockmusic.com, and sign up for the mailing list to get insider information and special deals on way cool ToyBlock Music stuff in the future.

Need more? How about this: a portion of the proceeds from ToyBlock Music will be donated to PAGER, a national charity that works with families and kids with GERD, a truly nasty disease that not too many people know about, or know how to diagnose.

Oh, and did we mention there are not one, but TWO Grammy Award winners featured on this project? That's right. Ricco Lumpkins (who won for TLC's album, Fanmail - yes, the one with "No Scrubs") and Matt Shane (Flight of the Conchords) are mixing, producing, and mastering a bunch of the tracks, making them sparkle with that unique Grammy-shine.

Anyway, we're way excited about ToyBlock Music. Our track is a lullaby Miriam's mom used to sing her to sleep with. She even has a recording of the two of them singing it together when Miriam was only three. So you'll definitely hear about it from us again. In the meantime, check out I Wear Your Shirt, and maybe, just maybe, something magical will happen...

It's Always Purim at Stereo Sinai! Help Us Use "Purim Hayom" to Raise Money for Cancer Research

Today is Shushan Purim, a fancy way of saying it's the day after the funnest of all Jewish holidays where we dress up and make a lot of noise and get a little shickered. Not bad, eh?

A while back, Stereo Sinai recorded a song about this particularly awesome holiday called "Purim Hayom." The recording was made for the "Pioneers for a Cure" project, whose aim is to raise a bunch of money for cancer research by recording and selling new versions of old pioneer songs. Yeah, it's mad cool. The proceeds from our song go to the American Lung Association, cuz lung cancer blows.

So let's show our friends at Pioneers and the ALA that Purim ain't over yet! Listen to and download "Purim Hayom" for only $1.99 (or the denomination of your choice) here.

Thanks, Thumpers!

ps. The picture featured is from our very favorite version of the scroll read on Purim, Megillat Esther. Find out more about this unbelievable graphic novel here.

We Rocked FOX

Thumpers! We were on the TV! It's not as cool as being on the web (as we explained on the TV), but it'll do. Check out our segment with the incomparable Leah Jones below...