Silver Jews
Encyclopedia
Silver Jews was an indie rock
band from New York City
, formed in 1989 by David Berman along with Pavement
's Stephen Malkmus
and Bob Nastanovich
. Berman remained throughout and was the only constant member. During the last few albums, Cassie Berman
became a regular member of the band. They disbanded in 2009.
in 2005. They toured North America
, Europe
, and Israel
in 2006. A documentary, titled Silver Jew
, was filmed during the band's time in Israel.
messageboard
that he planned to retire from music and that the Silver Jews would play their final show on Bluegrass Underground at Cumberland Caverns
in McMinnville, Tennessee
at 3 pm on January 31, 2009. The caverns are located 333 feet underground, and only 300 general admission tickets were made available. Berman stated that he would play his 15 favorite Silver Jews songs. He also wrote that his intentions are to move to "screenwriting
or muckraking". He closed the entry by saying, "I always said we would stop before we got bad. If I continue to record I might accidentally write the answer song to 'Shiny Happy People
'."
Berman originally planned for the concert to be recorded and aired sometime in February 2009 on Nashville's famed WSM AM
radio station; however, the day before the show, Berman posted on the Drag City message board to say that he had "negotiated out of the WSM part out of the deal." The concert was documented by several 16 mm film
cameras, and Berman has hinted at a possible DVD release of the show at some point in the future.
The last song that the Silver Jews performed live was "Smith and Jones Forever."
William Tyler plays guitar for Tim Chad and Sherry as well.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, formed in 1989 by David Berman along with Pavement
Pavement (band)
Pavement is an American alternative rock band that formed in Stockton, California in 1989. In their career, they achieved a significant cult following, and they were called the best band of the 1990s by prominent music critics Robert Christgau and Stephen Thomas Erlewine...
's Stephen Malkmus
Stephen Malkmus
Stephen Joseph Malkmus is an indie rock musician and icon, and a member of the band Pavement. He currently performs with Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks.-Early years:...
and Bob Nastanovich
Bob Nastanovich
Robert "Bob" Nastanovich is a member of the indie rock band, Pavement, as well as former member of 1990s bands Ectoslavia, and Pale Horse Riders...
. Berman remained throughout and was the only constant member. During the last few albums, Cassie Berman
Cassie Berman
Cassie Berman was a member of the indie rock band Silver Jews, which was fronted by her husband David Berman. She contributed vocals and occasionally bass to the albums Bright Flight, Tanglewood Numbers, and Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea,...
became a regular member of the band. They disbanded in 2009.
Early years
Though often labeled as a Pavement side project, Silver Jews were actually formed at roughly the same time as Pavement. Berman has falsely quoted the band's name originating from the transcription of a billboard that he saw reading "Silver Jewelry", although he has stated in an interview that the name was actually intended to be a pseudonym for a conceptual art piece and later evolved into the actual band. Others claim, however, that the name pays homage to Silver Apples, The Silver Beatles, and slang for blonde-haired Jewish people.Touring
Though Berman had avoided playing live for most of the band's existence, the Silver Jews embarked on their first-ever tour following the release of Tanglewood NumbersTanglewood Numbers
Tanglewood Numbers is the fifth full-length album by Silver Jews, released in 2005.Like on all of their other albums, Silver Jews' principal song writer and constant band member is David Berman...
in 2005. They toured North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in 2006. A documentary, titled Silver Jew
Silver Jew
Silver Jew is a 2007 documentary film by Michael Tully and Matthew Robison about the poet/musician David Berman and his band Silver Jews. Shot in just three days with no production budget, the film chronicles the band's stop in Israel to play two shows in Tel Aviv and visit Jerusalem during their...
, was filmed during the band's time in Israel.
Breakup
On January 22, 2009, Berman announced via the official Drag CityDrag City (record label)
Drag City is a Chicago-based independent record label. It was established with a Royal Trux release in 1990 in Chicago, Illinois by Dan Koretzky and Dan Osborn.Drag City specializes in experimental indie rock acts...
messageboard
Internet forum
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
that he planned to retire from music and that the Silver Jews would play their final show on Bluegrass Underground at Cumberland Caverns
Cumberland Caverns
Cumberland Caverns is the second to third longest cave in Tennessee, USA. It has a surveyed length of 27.616 miles , which makes it the 14th longest cave in the United States and the 64th longest cave in the World....
in McMinnville, Tennessee
McMinnville, Tennessee
McMinnville is the largest city in and the county seat of Warren County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 13,605 at the 2010 census...
at 3 pm on January 31, 2009. The caverns are located 333 feet underground, and only 300 general admission tickets were made available. Berman stated that he would play his 15 favorite Silver Jews songs. He also wrote that his intentions are to move to "screenwriting
Screenwriting
Screenwriting is the art and craft of writing scripts for mass media such as feature films, television productions or video games. It is a freelance profession....
or muckraking". He closed the entry by saying, "I always said we would stop before we got bad. If I continue to record I might accidentally write the answer song to 'Shiny Happy People
Shiny Happy People
"Shiny Happy People" is a song by the band R.E.M.. The song appeared on their 1991 album Out of Time and was released as a single in the same year. The song features guest backing vocals by Kate Pierson of the B-52's, who also has a prominent role in the song's music video.It peaked at #10 on the...
'."
Berman originally planned for the concert to be recorded and aired sometime in February 2009 on Nashville's famed WSM AM
WSM (AM)
WSM is the callsign of a 50,000 watt AM radio station located in Nashville, Tennessee. Operating at 650 kHz, its clear channel signal can reach much of North America and various countries, especially late at night...
radio station; however, the day before the show, Berman posted on the Drag City message board to say that he had "negotiated out of the WSM part out of the deal." The concert was documented by several 16 mm film
16 mm film
16 mm film refers to a popular, economical gauge of film used for motion pictures and non-theatrical film making. 16 mm refers to the width of the film...
cameras, and Berman has hinted at a possible DVD release of the show at some point in the future.
The last song that the Silver Jews performed live was "Smith and Jones Forever."
Post-Silver Jews Projects
Brian Kotzur (drummer) is the front man/drummer for Tim Chad and Sherry and also plays drums for Super Bowl Rocket Ship.William Tyler plays guitar for Tim Chad and Sherry as well.
Albums
- Starlite WalkerStarlite WalkerStarlite Walker is the first full-length studio album by indie-rock group Silver Jews. Released in 1994 as an LP and CD on Drag City in America and Domino in Europe, Starlite Walker was recorded in late June 1994 at Easley Recordings....
(1994) LP/CD - The Natural BridgeThe Natural BridgeThe Natural Bridge is the second full-length studio album by indie-rock group the Silver Jews. Released in 1996 as an LP and CD on Drag City in America and Domino in Europe, The Natural Bridge was engineered and mixed by Michael Deming and Thom Monahan and features cover art by Mike Flood...
(1996) LP/CD - American Water (1998) LP/CD
- Bright FlightBright FlightBright Flight is the fourth full-length studio album by indie-rock group Silver Jews."Tennessee" was chosen as the title track for an EP that also included "Long Long Gone," "I'm Gonna Love The Hell Out of You," and the brief "Turn Your Guns Around."...
(2001) LP/CD - Tanglewood NumbersTanglewood NumbersTanglewood Numbers is the fifth full-length album by Silver Jews, released in 2005.Like on all of their other albums, Silver Jews' principal song writer and constant band member is David Berman...
(2005) LP/CD - Lookout Mountain, Lookout SeaLookout Mountain, Lookout SeaLookout Mountain, Lookout Sea is indie-rock band Silver Jews sixth, and last, studio album, released 17 June 2008. It was recorded at Marble Valley of Lexington, Virginia and Lake Fever Productions of Nashville, Tennessee. Silver Jews records are known for featuring different casts of musicians...
(2008) LP/CD
EPs
- The Arizona Record (1993) CD/12"
- Tennessee (2001) CD/12"
Singles
- "Dime Map Of The Reef" (1990) 7"
- "Silver Jews And Nico" (1993) split 7" with New Radiant Storm KingNew Radiant Storm KingNew Radiant Storm King is an indie rock group formed at Massachusetts' Hampshire College in 1990.-Biography:New Radiant Storm King have released eight studio albums on six different labels...
- "Send in the Clouds" (1998) CD/7"
- "Hot as Hell" (1999) CD/7"
External links
- Silver Jews website.
- Drag City: Silver Jews
- The Corduroy Suit, a comprehensive unofficial Silver Jews website
- An Interview with David Berman at About.com
- Silver Jews' Dave Berman interview at musicOMH.com
- Interview with David Berman
- "From a Texaco Sign", PopMatters interview (11/2005)
- Interview at Cool Beans - reprint at Acetone Magazine (English-Spanish)
- David Berman interview on MonsterFresh.com