Book of J to Perform at Barbés Every Saturday in July

Jewlia Eisenberg of Charming Hostess and Jeremiah Lockwood of The Sway Machinery perform as duo Book of J every Saturday in July at Brooklyn's Barbés. Guest performers joining throughout the run include Yeah Yeah Yeahs drummer Brian Chase, noir guitarist Stephen Ulrich, jazz percussionist Ricky Gordon, and more.

Working at the intersection of the sacred and the radical, Book of J draws from the rich biblical commentary of American traditional music, Yiddish songs of ghosts and police violence, and queer Jewish devotional songs. Expect old-time religion, radical politics, angels and demons, workers and bosses, diasporic languages, erotic longing, close-text reading, hard times resolved and destiny fulfilled.

Soon after first meeting, Eisenberg and Lockwood realized that, in addition to their passion for Jewish liturgical traditions, they shared a repertoire of Black and white religious music. Jewlia knew these songs from being raised by a pack of feral Marxists, where this music was integral to social justice movements. Jeremiah knew them from his apprenticeship to blues musician Carolina Slim, who readied himself for the great journey on by playing gospel music. Book of J is interested in how American psalms are in conversation with Jewish forms such as Yiddish folk music and Andaluzi piyutim. These old stories, rooted in the prophetic voice, hold our own time to account. Also, singing along is good.

What: Book of J with Jewlia Eisenberg and Jeremiah Lockwood
Where: Barbés, 369 9th St. Brooklyn, NY 11215
Price: $10.00, suggested
Time: 6:00pm

Dates/Guests
July 1 - Book of J: Americans, Prophets and Others with guest Brian Chase (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
July 8 - Book of J: Yiddish Gothic with guest Dan Kahn (Painted Bird)
July 15 - Book of J : Songs of Leonard Cohen
July 22 - Book of J: Move On Up A Little Higher with guests The Fraternal Order of the Society Blues
July 29 - Book of J: Check Your Amulet with guest Steve Ulrich (Big Lazy)