I'm not familiar with many of Mosh Ben Arie's songs, but I did learn that he's an excellent guitarist, much better than I was expecting. But this is really a post about Berry Sakharof, who was essentially my gateway into modern Israeli rock. Growing up in the 80's, Israeli music meant Ofra Haza, Nomi Shemer, and many interchangeable folksy ditties in the Peter, Paul and Mary style. About eighteen years ago, Sakharof's album "Negiot" was recommended to me as a prime example of a maverick talent who had seamlessly adapted his style across different eras, and whose lyrics were thoughtful and edgy. Indeed, he was as good as advertised. David Bowie and Eric Clapton went through their electronica phases in the late 90's, so too did Berry Sakharof. But Clapton and Bowie wanted to capitalize on contemporary trends in the short term, and quickly moved back into styles they were more comfortable with, with the collaborators they were accustomed to working with. Sakharof's electronica and d'n'b-tinged songs became some of his most beloved and enduring hits. He continued to evolve, working with unexpected collaborators and releasing music in hybrid rock-adjacent genres.
On this night, Sakharof plays a trim 50-minute set of highlights from his deep catalog. His deep baritone is a bit weathered as he moves into his late 60's, but each performance is impeccable. You never know how long these great artists will stick around, and it's never too late to see them.
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