The Justice

On Saturday night, Israeli folk-rock singer and songwriter Rami Feinstein held a cozy performance at Cholmondeley's for an intimate audience, only half of whom could actually understand his Hebrew lyrics. Feinstein is an up-and-coming alternative star on his first tour in the United States. He has been playing in a band for the past five years and has only recently released his first solo album.

The night opened with a performance by Brandeis Hillel's very own Daniel Harris Levine (or, as the many flyers advertising the night attested, "the guy who sits at the table at Usdan playing music.") Levine's performance, mellow and relaxed, was highlighted by a couple of songs that used a type of musical loop machine to give a "one-man band" effect to his playing. While certain snippets of his song were instantly recorded and played on repeat, he was able to contribute other instruments and sound bites, creating a sense of canonical melody and almost psychedelic ambiance. His hosting and jokes were well-received, though the first several songs he played were particularly downbeat and slightly droning.

Feinstein arrived dressed in a black jacket to match his left-handed acoustic guitar and was greeted by swoons from admiring fans (mostly girls). He introduced himself casually, approving of the comforting environment of Chum's. After a quick poll revealed a limited number of Hebrew speakers in the audience, Feinstein pointed out that his Hebrew-language lyrics are "actually good" and that no one should have any problem following along with his many telling body motions and facial expressions.

The songs he played were mostly upbeat, and several of them were humorous, according to his English summarization of the lyrics. Some of the subjects he touched on included picking up girls at a bar, the perfect time to ask someone on a date and his experience as a nail product salesman at an American mall. Varied and comical, his performance was also highly energetic despite his being confined to one swivel chair the entire night. Indeed, even the non-Hebrew speakers in the audience could make out the passion in his lyrics through many his emphatic displays of emotion via facial expression and gestures. The tone and quality of his singing style is comparable to that of Jason Mraz or John Mayer-upbeat and descriptive, often with vivid lyrics and/or stories used to capture the audience, accompanied by catchy pop/rock melodies.

Feinstein sang one particularly captivating and funny song was sung in English at the end of the concert. Titled "Something Amazing," it tells of Feinstein's aforementioned experience working as a nail product salesman to raise money to make his album. Though the melody and expression were serious, the subject was lighthearted compared to the rest of the night's song topics. Feinstein also injected his concert with funny commentary about American versus Israeli culture, similarities of which obsession with celebrity lifestyles and the differing opinions as to when it is timely enough to call a girl and not sound "desperate."

Feinstein's performance was enjoyable and also easy to relate to on a personal level. His welcoming demeanor made the audience appreciate song lyrics attuned to issues everyone can sympathize with-or at least laugh about-under any cultural context. Feinstein is a talented aspiring musician, and newcomers and fans alike should keep an eye out for his newly released album that will surely be "something amazing."

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