The legendary performer - Asaf Avidan

I remember when I heard Asaf Avidan for the first time back in 2008. It took no more than few minutes for me to predict that this talented musician/creator/performer is going to be known world wise. Back then, he was singing with the Mojos in small bars mainly in Jerusalem his home town. Today, after separating himself from the mojos he enjoys an extremely successful solo career. Assaf presents a wide range of feelings and views with guitar, harmonica, and various percussion instruments. But above all, stand out, of course, a unique voice, brilliant lyrics and charismatic performance.

As I predicted almost ten years ago, Asaf's international success was meteoric, he appears in halls that contain four thousand seats, and tickets are sold out.
I saw him for the first time when he was singing with the Mojos, on "Earth day" in Tel- Aviv 2009. It was a great concert, I also liked the combination of Asaf and the band. Eight years past and Asaf relist two solo albums: "Different pulses" and "Gold shadow". He performs on his own and I was lucky to see him twice, a year and a half ago and last December, both shows took place at the Mann auditorium in Tel- Aviv. His solo shows are very different than those he did with the Mojos, but they succeeded to reveal more layers of talent and intelligence in this skinny young man.  His solo tour was called "Into the Labyrinth" and the show last December was the one that closed that tour. It is simply amazing to see him, and I'll do my best to describe it:    Behind him is a quiver of guitars, including a lap steel and a four-string gas can. Each time he swaps one for another, he’s able to shift seamlessly from country western vibes to Spanish vibes, to Yemenite and Moroccan vibes (I guess it has something to do with growing up here the country of this huge ingathering of the exiles). But where Asaf begins to pass the threshold of talent and enter into the realm of genius is when he uses the drum machine and the sound board to start looping and layering in real-time a background of beats, guitar licks, and his own voice. All of a sudden, he’s his own orchestra. Brilliant.

One more thing I must say I adore about him is his genius use of words. He uses outstanding poetic devices and I am going to use his songs in my future English tutoring! Clever metaphors, similes and genius use of etymology of words and assosiations of myths (check "The Labyrinth Song").

Unfortunately, I don’t think there are shows in Israel this summer, but if by chance you are travelling to France he gives four concerts during March… For any of you guys who only know "the reckoning song" I suggest you visit his formal cite  http://www.asafavidanmusic.com/ you can check this legendary artist there, he gives us viewers a pick on most of his songs played in his unique way.