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!

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!

Stereo Sinai and Leah Jones on FOX Chicago Tonight!

Finally, some real news...

Tonight at 9pm, tune in to FOX Chicago, or go online to MyFoxChicago.com to catch a special segment with your favorite biblegum pop duo and our brilliant social media coach, Leah Jones!

In the meantime, we'll attempt to satisfy your insatiable need for more Stereo Sinai... Here's a live video of our performance from JCUA's Cafe Finjan 2010 (Look! New hair!):

Cafe Finjan 2010

Thumpers! We know it's been a while since you've heard from us. Alan was in Israel for a while, and we've been spending lots of time in the studio prepping new tracks for your biblegum pop enjoyment. But never fear! We are back out and rocking again with Cafe Finjan, coming up this Thursday on the Loyola University campus. Here is the info on this unique, exciting event that we're so proud to be part of - see you there!:

Café Finjan is a series of interfaith arts exchanges begun in 2002 as part of the Jewish-Muslim Community Building Initiative (JMCBI). The series establishes points of contact, and nurtures a greater understanding between Jews and Muslims of Chicago while creating spaces for people of these diverse backgrounds to come together and give voice to their identity and experience as part of a larger community.

The theme of the upcoming Café Finjan is “2020 Vision”.

This dynamic evening, featuring performing artists and interactive audience participation, will explore both a common vision for the future (a vision for the year 2020) as well as clarity of vision (20/20) with regards to the challenges we face and the complexity of our identities.

Thursday, Feb. 4th

7-9:30pm

at the Loyola University/Mundelein Center Auditorium

1020 W. Sheridan Rd

$5 suggested donation