Asaf Avidan, First North American Tour
While Asaf Avidan has drawn comparisons to both Jeff Buckley and Nina Simone, he possesses a voice that is utterly singular. As London’s The Independent recently put it, “If you haven’t heard Avidan’s music, prepare to be astounded.” North American audiences will experience his unique artistry when he tours here for the first time as a solo artist, February 19 – March 8, 2014. Please see below for an itinerary of shows.
To watch Asaf Avidan perform is to experience a sensory disconnect. Standing on stage is a skinny, mohawked man, but what one hears is the craggy, whiskey-soaked voice of a woman. “The human voice has a whole spectrum we just don’t use because we have these weird taboos and manners, and these ideas about masculinity,” he explains.
Avidan first emerged as the leading force of the acclaimed folk rock outfit Asaf Avidan & The Mojos, whose recordings achieved platinum sales status in Europe and topped critics’ year-end Best Of lists in countries around the world. Their song “One Day / Reckoning Song” hit number one in 14 countries as a remix by a Berlin DJ. DJ Wankelmut took the delicate acoustic lament and dressed it up for the dance floor with synthetic beats and voice distortion. The video has 150 million views on YouTube
Since he embarked on his solo career with the 2012 release Different Pulses, Avidan’s star has risen further. He has filled prestigious 5000- seat venues such as Olympia and Zenith, and played to crowds of
250,000 in European festivals. Different Pulses has already sold over 200,000 copies in Europe, where the remix single “Reckoning Day” has sold over 1.5 million.
The new album finds Avidan focusing his passion and poetry into a tight suite of songs linked by robust melodies and intriguing psychological ambivalence. Avidan pushes his remarkable voice to its limits.
Avidan’s solo debut follows three albums that he released with The Mojos between 2008 and 2010. The band announced they were taking an indefinite break in July 2011, following a tour that saw them sharing the stage with Robert Plant and Lou Reed among others.
Avidan will perform material from Different Pulses and highlights from his body of work to date during the upcoming North American tour.
Stream Different Pulses and Watch the Official Video
Watch the video for “Reckoning Song (One Day)”
US Tour Dates
February 19 – Washington DC – Sixth & I Historic Synagogue – Tickets
February 21 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza Tickets – Tickets
February 22 – Somerville, MA – Somerville Theatre – Tickets
February 27 – Chicago, IL – Old Town School of Folk Music – Tickets
March 1-2 – Miami, FL – Carnaval on the Mile – Free
March 4 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theater – Tickets
March 7 – San Francisco, CA – Bimbo’s 365 Club – Tickets
March 8 – Los Angeles, CA – Luckman Fine Arts Complex – Tickets