Chicago indie-rockers light menorah, write new songs for 5th Annual "Hooray fo

[Kfarcenter <Kfarcenter...>]

Please forgive the shameless plug....

"It’s not the same old Hanukah of our youth.  This is hard-rock Hanukah, " 
says Ellen Rosner, singer/songwriter and founder of Hooray 4 Hanukah.  Rosner 
should know.  Raised in Rogers Park, home to Chicago's Orthodox Jewish 
community, her Jewish overnight camp experiences led her to pick up a guitar 
and down the path of a rock musician.  Each year for the past five years, 
Rosner and bicycle activist John Greenfield have celebrated that heritage by 
tapping friends in the rock community to participate in the event, which is 
now a holiday tradition.

Each participating act writes a new song about some aspect of the Jewish 
holiday or updates an old one.  Last year, Asian punk band KIM performed a 
searing cover of "Dreidl," Eric Roth and the Silver Schmateez played a 
Zappa-esque "don't u wanna touch my hanukah?" while Kelly Kessler (of the 
Wichita Shut-ins) delivered a stirring new "Ballad of Judah Maccabee." 

Serving as Chicago’s unofficial indie-rock Hanukah party, Hooray 4 Hanukah 
will celebrate its fifth anniversary by adding a second show.  "It’s like 
putting another candle on the menorah.  Or the birthday cake," says Rosner.   
The first show is on November 30th at The Hideout and the second on December 
7th at Nevin's Live in Evanston.

"What's cool is that the some of the artists and a good number of the 
audience aren't Jewish, but they come out to support the event and the 
holiday."  And the event is not without a sense of humor: attendees have to 
spin a dreidl to determine their entry fee, and in the middle of the show, 
Latkes, doughnuts and Chinese food, "All traditional Hanukah foods," insists 
Rosner, are served.  

Sharing the stage with Rosner this year are Greg Gillam, Geoff Greenberg, 
John Greenfield's Rock Band, Dag Juhlin, KIM, Love on the Rocks, Mystechs, Al 
Rose, Eric Roth and the Silver Schmateez, S.L. Wisenberg and Tommi Zender.  

They are joined by Kfar Jewish Arts Center, which promotes contemporary 
Jewish arts and culture events. "I’m excited about Hooray 4 Hanukah," says 
its director, Adam Davis. "Ellen is one of our artistic associates, and these 
new rock songs about Hanukah are in line with our mission to stimulate the 
next generation of Jewish expression."  Besides, it might be the only Jewish 
thing some people do all year, and I'm glad its a fun event like this."


Additional information and advance tickets are available at <A 
HREF="http://www.kfarcenter.com/emailindex.html";>
www.kfarcenter.com</A>.

Vital Event Information:
When:       Saturday, November 30, 8pm (21 +)
Where:  The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabanasia in Wicker Park       AND

When:       Saturday, December 7, 8pm (special 18 + up show)
Where:  Nevin's Live, 1450 Sherman in Evanston

Both shows:     $8 in advance (<A 
HREF="http://www.kfarcenter.com/emailindex.html";>www.kfarcenter.com</A>) or $7 
+ dreidl spin @ the 
door & take a chance!

Contact information:
Adam Davis, Kfar Jewish Arts Center, 773.550.1543, adamrdavis (at) 
kfarcenter(dot)com, 
<A HREF="http://www.kfarcenter.com/emailindex.html";>www.kfarcenter.com</A>

Upcoming Kfar Jewish Arts Center events: 
Nosh and Mosh with Jewish punk bands: Australia's YIDCORE and NY's MENSCH. 
"Provocative" Jerusalem Report    "Smart" Chicago JUF News      "Hilarious" 
Razorcake
12/14, 8pm @ Congregation Makom Shalom, 637 S. Dearborn, Chicago 

Jews, Blacks and Latinos celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision through 
Hip-Hop:
Featuring Brooklyn's Latino-Jewish Hip-Hop Hoodios and Chicago's Jewish/Black 
Organic Mind Unit. 
1/18 10pm @ The Note (Wicker Park) &1/19 8pm @ The HotHouse (South Loop)