Geva Alon is one of the most versatile and accomplished Israeli singer-songwriters of the last decade. He was born in a small Kibbutz (Then still a socialist commune-like community) close to the ruins of Caesarea. He wrote his first song at the age of 14 and took the guitar seriously, practicing countless hours as a kid.
As the founder & leader of "the flying baby" – probably the most powerful rock trio Israel has ever produced – he became known as an extraordinary & inventive guitar-player, capable of both hot-fierce fret-work solos and long slow moving jams into the unknown. But Alon is more then that – a gifted songwriter, he wrote all the lyrics & music to the band's songs. As a singer he possessed a haunting & surprising vocal register - sometimes comparable to early Neil young.
With the band Alon had recorded 3 albums (their debut is still officially unreleased). Their second album, "inner world" (2001) was hailed as "The best non-Hebrew Israeli rock album since ("the Churchills" legendary psych LP from) 1968".
The Band toured extensively all over California for sixteen months & played mostly in & around the bay area.
"Pain to give"- their 3rd album was released in 2004 on the "Blue Sun Music" Label to rave reviews. It contained dark memorable moments such as "Doorway To Simplicity" (with a great & gloomy Tom Verlaine's "Feel") alongside long excursions as "Bound To Go Crazy".
In 2006 Geva Alon released his debut solo album "Days Of Hunger".
This was a surprising acoustic-based effort, with country-rock & acid-folk edge that met with a tremendous success in Israel.
Alon's live performances, usually in small Tell Aviv clubs, drew more & more people in the last 3 years, and he is regarded as a great performer with a "take-no-prisoners" attitude & a tendency for long surprising guitar workouts.
"The Wall Of Sound", Geva's latest solo album was a much more rock-oriented journey. A well crafted combination between The Flying Baby's electric power, a dose of pop sensibilities and the acoustic "feel" of his debut. The album sold a couple of thousand copies 3 weeks after its release & the single "Modern Love", an emotional acoustic take on Bowie (the only cover on an all-original album) became an instant hit in Israel.
Now he is back at the NY scene with 2 Guitars, 10 fingers (thank God!) and some amazing songs for a series of rare live shows far from the holy-land. Don't miss the guy! He's a good one!
Uri Bash
Memories - Performed by THE FLYING BABY at The Barbi (2007)
Days of hunger - video by Gadi Altman
Modern love - live at the Barbi, Tel Aviv, Israel. 12/07/07.
I look forward to bringing my critically acclaimed Latin-infused neo-folk music back to Berkeley’s Starry Plough Pub this Thursday, Aug. 28.
It’s an international, multilingual lineup that includes Geva Alon from Tel Aviv and New York, and Krystle Warren, who hangs her hat in Paris, New York and San Francisco.
Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008 9:00 PM Starry Plough Pub 3101 Shattuck Ave. (3 blocks south of Ashby) Berkeley, California 94705 Cost: $7 http://www.starryploughpub.com 510.841.2082
9:30 pm - 10:20 – Steve 10:30 - 11:20 – Krystle (http://www.myspace.com/krystlewarren) 11:35 - 1:00 am – Geva (http://www.myspace.com/gevaalon)
A night of excellent draft beer, fine food and terrific live music played through a new, tuned Meyer Sound system. It doesn’t get any better than that!!
