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'''Schmekel''' was an all-], Jewish ] band from ], ], known for their satirical lyrical material.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/nyregion/schmekel-a-band-born-as-a-laugh.html?_r=1|title=Schmekel, a Band Born as a Laugh|author=Hugh Ryan|date=25 November 2011|newspaper=]|accessdate=31 March 2012}}</ref> ] of '']'' cited Schmekel as an example of the cultural movement "] ]."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://forward.com/articles/144546/transgender-jews-may-be-nothing-new/|title=Transgender Jews May Be Nothing New|author=Eddy Portnoy|author-link=Eddy Portnoy|date=19 October 2011|newspaper=]}}</ref> Schmekel made their audiences more comfortable with transgender topics through jokes, but also often included lyrical references to obscure queer, Jewish, and punk content that only cultural insiders would recognize.<ref>Croland, Michael. ''Oy Oy Oy Gevalt! Jews and Punk''. Connecticut: Praeger, 2016. p. 66.</ref> ] for ] compared Schmekel's sound to ] and compared ]'s songwriting to Jewish singer/songwriter and satirist ].<ref name=":0" /> ] compared Schmekel to ] and ],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reasons to Have Pride in 2012 Part 1 |url=https://www.advocate.com/reasons-pride/2012/05/15/reasons-have-pride-2012-part-1 |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=www.advocate.com |language=en}}</ref> and the book <I>Listen to Punk Rock! Exploring a Musical Genre</I> compared Schmekel’s song “I’ll Be Your Maccabee” to Pansy Division’s song “Homo Christmas.”<ref>Pulliam, June Michele. Listen to Punk Rock! Exploring a Musical Genre. ABC-CLIO, 2021. pp. 104 </ref> Schmekel's lyrics frequently referred to Jewish holidays, and their first album started with Kahn sounding the ] "tekiah" and bassist Nogga Schwartz blowing a ]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Croland |first=Michael |date=2017-08-23 |title=Punk bands prove shofar isn't just for the High Holidays |url=https://www.jta.org/2017/08/23/culture/punk-bands-prove-shofar-isnt-just-for-the-high-holidays |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |language=}}</ref> before launching into a punk song. The Jewish Music Resource Centre at ] noted that Schmekel's music used "direct musical quotes from traditional Jewish melodies such as ''], ], and ]”.''<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Adelman |first=Eliahu |date=October 1, 2013 |title=I'm Sorry, It's Yom Kippur: Atonement through Punk (and Traditional Jewish Music) |url=https://jewish-music.huji.ac.il/content/%E2%80%98i%E2%80%99m-sorry-it%E2%80%99s-yom-kippur%E2%80%99-atonement-through-punk-and-traditional-jewish-music |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002150727/https://jewish-music.huji.ac.il/content/%E2%80%98i%E2%80%99m-sorry-it%E2%80%99s-yom-kippur%E2%80%99-atonement-through-punk-and-traditional-jewish-music |archive-date=March 23, 2023 |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Jewish Music Research Centre - Hebrew University of Jerusalem}}</ref> Professor of Musicology ] compared Schmekel’s tongue-in-cheek allusions to prayers to similar inside jokes in ] and ] at the turn of the 20th century.<ref name=":1" /> '''Schmekel''' was an all-], Jewish ] band from ], ], known for their satirical lyrical material.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/nyregion/schmekel-a-band-born-as-a-laugh.html?_r=1|title=Schmekel, a Band Born as a Laugh|author=Hugh Ryan|date=25 November 2011|newspaper=]|accessdate=31 March 2012}}</ref> ] of '']'' cited Schmekel as an example of the cultural movement "] ]."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://forward.com/articles/144546/transgender-jews-may-be-nothing-new/|title=Transgender Jews May Be Nothing New|author=Eddy Portnoy|author-link=Eddy Portnoy|date=19 October 2011|newspaper=]}}</ref> Schmekel made their audiences more comfortable with transgender topics through jokes, but also often included lyrical references to obscure queer, Jewish, and punk content that only cultural insiders would recognize.<ref name="Croland, Michael 2016. p. 66">Croland, Michael. ''Oy Oy Oy Gevalt! Jews and Punk''. Connecticut: Praeger, 2016. p. 66.</ref> ] for ] compared Schmekel's sound to ] and compared ]'s songwriting to Jewish singer/songwriter and satirist ].<ref name=":0" /> ]}}</ref> Schmekel made their audiences more comfortable with transgender topics through jokes, but also often included lyrical references to obscure queer, Jewish, and punk content that only cultural insiders would recognize.<ref name="Croland, Michael 2016. p. 66"/> ] for ] compared Schmekel's sound to ] and compared ]'s songwriting to Jewish singer/songwriter and satirist ].<ref name=":0" /> ] compared Schmekel to ] and ],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reasons to Have Pride in 2012 Part 1 |url=https://www.advocate.com/reasons-pride/2012/05/15/reasons-have-pride-2012-part-1 |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=www.advocate.com |language=en}}</ref> and the book ''Listen to Punk Rock! Exploring a Musical Genre'' compared Schmekel’s song “I’ll Be Your Maccabee” to Pansy Division’s song “Homo Christmas.”<ref>Pulliam, June Michele. Listen to Punk Rock! Exploring a Musical Genre. ABC-CLIO, 2021. pp. 104</ref> Schmekel's lyrics frequently referred to Jewish holidays, and their first album started with Kahn sounding the ] "tekiah" and bassist Nogga Schwartz blowing a ]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Croland |first=Michael |date=2017-08-23 |title=Punk bands prove shofar isn't just for the High Holidays |url=https://www.jta.org/2017/08/23/culture/punk-bands-prove-shofar-isnt-just-for-the-high-holidays |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |language=}}</ref> before launching into a punk song. The Jewish Music Resource Centre at ] noted that Schmekel's music used "direct musical quotes from traditional Jewish melodies such as ''], ], and ]”.''<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Adelman |first=Eliahu |date=October 1, 2013 |title=I'm Sorry, It's Yom Kippur: Atonement through Punk (and Traditional Jewish Music) |url=https://jewish-music.huji.ac.il/content/%E2%80%98i%E2%80%99m-sorry-it%E2%80%99s-yom-kippur%E2%80%99-atonement-through-punk-and-traditional-jewish-music |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002150727/https://jewish-music.huji.ac.il/content/%E2%80%98i%E2%80%99m-sorry-it%E2%80%99s-yom-kippur%E2%80%99-atonement-through-punk-and-traditional-jewish-music |archive-date=March 23, 2023 |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Jewish Music Research Centre - Hebrew University of Jerusalem}}</ref> Professor of Musicology ] compared Schmekel’s tongue-in-cheek allusions to prayers to similar inside jokes in ] and ] at the turn of the 20th century.<ref name=":1" />


Schmekel performed with other Jewish punk bands local to Brooklyn, such as ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-12-19 |title=Out and About |url=https://forward.com/schmooze/148131/out-and-about/ |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=The Forward |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Hanukkah Events -- New York Magazine - Nymag |url=https://nymag.com/nightlife/barbuzz/78519/ |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=New York Magazine |language=en-us}}</ref> at New York City venues like the ],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Check Out Mr. Transman 2011 |url=https://www.pride.com/lifestyle/2011/08/09/check-out-mr-transman-2011 |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=www.pride.com |language=en}}</ref> the Delancey,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-10-09 |title=Schmekel: Your Friendly Neighborhood All-Jewish, All Transgender Punk Band |url=https://jewcy.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/schmekel_your_friendly_neighborhood_alljewish_all_transgender_punk_band |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=Jewcy |language=en-US}}</ref>, Public Assembly,<ref>https://donyc.com/events/2012/6/28/queer-as-punx-w-gltr-pnch-schmekel-daddy</ref> and Otto's Shrunken Head.<ref>{{Citation |title=Binding of Isaac at Otto's Shrunken Head |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L55a0PeuME0 |access-date=2023-03-24 |language=en}}</ref> They also played at colleges in the Eastern United States like ],<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Brandeis Hoot – Archive » Triskelion offers safe space, educational opportunities |url=http://www.thebrandeishoot.com/articles/10854 |access-date=2023-03-22}}</ref> ],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trans/gender Awareness Week 2011 {{!}} Office of LGBTQ Resources |url=https://lgbtq.yale.edu/transweeks/transweek-2011 |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=lgbtq.yale.edu}}</ref> ]<ref>{{Citation |title=I Heart Str8 Men (But Not 4 Sex) at SUNY Purchase Queer Music Fest, April 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3jCiHwCcps |access-date=2023-03-24 |language=en}}</ref> ]<ref>{{Citation |title=Homotaschen at Hampshire College 10/20/12 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnaqoU33VyE |access-date=2023-03-24 |language=en}}</ref> and the ],<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Positive ‘Schmound’ at the Underground – The Weekly Ringer |url=https://theweeklyringer.com/2011/02/10/a-positive-schmound-at-the-underground/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |language=en}}</ref> sponsored by Jewish and ] student clubs. Schmekel's egg salad sandwich logo was created by queer illustrator and punk rocker ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-11-22 |title=Wayback Machine |url=www.transjews.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122013920/http://transjews.com/ |archive-date=2023-03-25 |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=Schmekel: 100% Trans Jews}}</ref> while Schmekel was performing with her band The Homewreckers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Queer House Field Night |url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/performances/queer-house-field-night |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=Time Out New York |language=en-US}}</ref> Schmekel performed with other Jewish punk bands local to Brooklyn, such as ],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-12-19 |title=Out and About |url=https://forward.com/schmooze/148131/out-and-about/ |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=The Forward |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Hanukkah Events -- New York Magazine - Nymag |url=https://nymag.com/nightlife/barbuzz/78519/ |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=New York Magazine |language=en-us}}</ref> at New York City venues like the ],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Check Out Mr. Transman 2011 |url=https://www.pride.com/lifestyle/2011/08/09/check-out-mr-transman-2011 |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=www.pride.com |language=en}}</ref> the Delancey,<ref name="jewcy.com">{{Cite web |date=2010-10-09 |title=Schmekel: Your Friendly Neighborhood All-Jewish, All Transgender Punk Band |url=https://jewcy.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/schmekel_your_friendly_neighborhood_alljewish_all_transgender_punk_band |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=Jewcy |language=en-US}}</ref> Public Assembly,<ref>https://donyc.com/events/2012/6/28/queer-as-punx-w-gltr-pnch-schmekel-daddy</ref> and Otto's Shrunken Head.<ref>{{Citation |title=Binding of Isaac at Otto's Shrunken Head |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L55a0PeuME0 |access-date=2023-03-24 |language=en}}</ref> They also played at colleges in the Eastern United States like ],<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Brandeis Hoot – Archive » Triskelion offers safe space, educational opportunities |url=http://www.thebrandeishoot.com/articles/10854 |access-date=2023-03-22}}</ref> ],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trans/gender Awareness Week 2011 {{!}} Office of LGBTQ Resources |url=https://lgbtq.yale.edu/transweeks/transweek-2011 |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=lgbtq.yale.edu}}</ref> ],<ref>{{Citation |title=I Heart Str8 Men (But Not 4 Sex) at SUNY Purchase Queer Music Fest, April 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3jCiHwCcps |access-date=2023-03-24 |language=en}}</ref> ]<ref>{{Citation |title=Homotaschen at Hampshire College 10/20/12 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnaqoU33VyE |access-date=2023-03-24 |language=en}}</ref> and the ],<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Positive ‘Schmound’ at the Underground – The Weekly Ringer |url=https://theweeklyringer.com/2011/02/10/a-positive-schmound-at-the-underground/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |language=en}}</ref> sponsored by Jewish and ] student clubs. Schmekel's egg salad sandwich logo was created by queer illustrator and punk rocker ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-11-22 |title=Wayback Machine |url=http://www.transjews.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122013920/http://transjews.com/ |archive-date=2023-03-25 |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=Schmekel: 100% Trans Jews}}</ref> while Schmekel was performing with her band The Homewreckers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Queer House Field Night |url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/performances/queer-house-field-night |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=Time Out New York |language=en-US}}</ref>


Susanne Mayer of ] contrasted the celebrities at the ]'s fashion exhibit <i>PUNK: Chaos to Couture</i><ref>{{Cite web |title=PUNK: Chaos to Couture |url=https://www3.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2013/punk |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=The Metropolitan Museum of Art}}</ref> with Schmekel's dirty song lyrics, ], and criticism of ] as bourgeois.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ZEIT ONLINE {{!}} Lesen Sie zeit.de mit Werbung oder im PUR-Abo. Sie haben die Wahl. |url=https://www.zeit.de/zustimmung?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zeit.de%2F2013%2F21%2Fausstellung-punk-chaos-to-couture%2Fkomplettansicht |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=www.zeit.de}}</ref> Schmekel broke up in February of 2014 to focus on other projects.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2014-04-01 |title=So Long, Schmekel |url=https://forward.com/life/195020/so-long-schmekel/ |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=The Forward |language=en}}</ref> Susanne Mayer of ] contrasted the celebrities at the ]'s fashion exhibit ''PUNK: Chaos to Couture''<ref>{{Cite web |title=PUNK: Chaos to Couture |url=https://www3.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2013/punk |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=The Metropolitan Museum of Art}}</ref> with Schmekel's dirty song lyrics, ], and criticism of ] as bourgeois.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ZEIT ONLINE {{!}} Lesen Sie zeit.de mit Werbung oder im PUR-Abo. Sie haben die Wahl. |url=https://www.zeit.de/zustimmung?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zeit.de%2F2013%2F21%2Fausstellung-punk-chaos-to-couture%2Fkomplettansicht |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=www.zeit.de}}</ref> Schmekel broke up in February 2014 to focus on other projects.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2014-04-01 |title=So Long, Schmekel |url=https://forward.com/life/195020/so-long-schmekel/ |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=The Forward |language=en}}</ref>


== Members == == Members ==
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==In Jewish institutions== ==In Jewish institutions==
According to an interview with ], the different members of Schmekel participated in different amounts of religious observance but had all experienced difficulty in ] because of being transgender, which they addressed in their music.<ref>https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/community/articles/schmekel-transgender-punk-band</ref> However, in an interview with ], they expressed feeling accepted at ] and ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-10-09 |title=Schmekel: Your Friendly Neighborhood All-Jewish, All Transgender Punk Band |url=https://jewcy.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/schmekel_your_friendly_neighborhood_alljewish_all_transgender_punk_band |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=Jewcy |language=en-US}}</ref> According to an interview with ], the different members of Schmekel participated in different amounts of religious observance but had all experienced difficulty in ] because of being transgender, which they addressed in their music.<ref>https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/community/articles/schmekel-transgender-punk-band</ref> However, in an interview with ], they expressed feeling accepted at ] and ].<ref name="jewcy.com"/>


==Other projects== ==Other projects==


Following the group's disbandment in 2014, keyboardist Itai Gal aka Ricky Riot formed a new project called Itai and the Ophanim, which released a debut album, ''Arise'', in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Presents |first=The Boston Synagogue |title=Concert: Zach Mayer + Itai and the Ophanim |url=http://www.jewishboston.com/events/concert-zach-mayer-itai-and-the-ophanim/ |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=JewishBoston |language=en-US}}</ref> Singer and guitarist ] became a writer and game designer of ] with ], Jewish, and ] themes, making Dead Friend: A Game of Necromancy,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Charlie |date=2022-12-15 |title=The best tabletop RPGs we played in 2022 |url=https://www.polygon.com/23505692/best-tabletop-rpgs-ttrpg-2022 |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Amato |first=James |date=2019-07-23 |title=88. Lucian Kahn |url=http://oneshotpodcast.com/backstory/88-lucian-kahn/ |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=The One Shot Podcast |language=en-US}}</ref> Visigoths vs. Mall Goths,<ref> {{Cite web |last=Joyce |first=Justin |date=2021-06-02 |title=The best tabletop role-playing games are sold online, but not through Amazon |url=https://www.polygon.com/22463860/tabletop-rpg-store-drivethrurpg-indie-press-roll20-itch |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Amato |first=James |date=2020-05-11 |title=355. Visigoths VS Mall Goths Part 1 |url=https://oneshotpodcast.com/one-shot/355-visigoths-vs-mall-goths-part-1/ |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=The One Shot Podcast |language=en-US}}</ref> and If I Were a Lich, Man<ref> {{Cite web |date=2023-02-23 |title=What We Do in the Shadows and Russian Doll inspired this trio of comedic Jewish RPGs |url=https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/if-i-were-a-lich-man/news/if-i-were-a-lich-man |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=Dicebreaker |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Previous Award Winners |url=https://www.igdnonline.com/previous-award-winners |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=Indie Game Developer Network |language=en-US}}</ref> (Hit Point Press, 2023). Following the group's disbandment in 2014, keyboardist Itai Gal aka Ricky Riot formed a new project called Itai and the Ophanim, which released a debut album, ''Arise'', in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Presents |first=The Boston Synagogue |title=Concert: Zach Mayer + Itai and the Ophanim |url=http://www.jewishboston.com/events/concert-zach-mayer-itai-and-the-ophanim/ |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=JewishBoston |language=en-US}}</ref> Singer and guitarist ] became a writer and game designer of ] with ], Jewish, and ] themes, making Dead Friend: A Game of Necromancy,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Charlie |date=2022-12-15 |title=The best tabletop RPGs we played in 2022 |url=https://www.polygon.com/23505692/best-tabletop-rpgs-ttrpg-2022 |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Amato |first=James |date=2019-07-23 |title=88. Lucian Kahn |url=http://oneshotpodcast.com/backstory/88-lucian-kahn/ |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=The One Shot Podcast |language=en-US}}</ref> Visigoths vs. Mall Goths,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Joyce |first=Justin |date=2021-06-02 |title=The best tabletop role-playing games are sold online, but not through Amazon |url=https://www.polygon.com/22463860/tabletop-rpg-store-drivethrurpg-indie-press-roll20-itch |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Amato |first=James |date=2020-05-11 |title=355. Visigoths VS Mall Goths Part 1 |url=https://oneshotpodcast.com/one-shot/355-visigoths-vs-mall-goths-part-1/ |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=The One Shot Podcast |language=en-US}}</ref> and If I Were a Lich, Man<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-23 |title=What We Do in the Shadows and Russian Doll inspired this trio of comedic Jewish RPGs |url=https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/if-i-were-a-lich-man/news/if-i-were-a-lich-man |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=Dicebreaker |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Previous Award Winners |url=https://www.igdnonline.com/previous-award-winners |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=Indie Game Developer Network |language=en-US}}</ref> (Hit Point Press, 2023).


== See also == == See also ==

Revision as of 00:49, 27 March 2023

Jewish folk punk band
Schmekel
OriginBrooklyn, New York, United States
GenresFolk punk, queercore
Years active2010–2014
LabelsSchmekel Music
MembersLucian Kahn
Ricky Riot
Nogga Schwartz
Simcha Halpert-Hanson

Schmekel was an all-transgender, Jewish folk punk band from Brooklyn, New York, known for their satirical lyrical material. Eddy Portnoy of The Forward cited Schmekel as an example of the cultural movement "Queer Yiddishkeit." Schmekel made their audiences more comfortable with transgender topics through jokes, but also often included lyrical references to obscure queer, Jewish, and punk content that only cultural insiders would recognize. Hugh Ryan for The New York Times compared Schmekel's sound to Pansy Division and compared Lucian Kahn's songwriting to Jewish singer/songwriter and satirist Tom Lehrer. The Jewish Daily Forward}}</ref> Schmekel made their audiences more comfortable with transgender topics through jokes, but also often included lyrical references to obscure queer, Jewish, and punk content that only cultural insiders would recognize. Hugh Ryan for The New York Times compared Schmekel's sound to Pansy Division and compared Lucian Kahn's songwriting to Jewish singer/songwriter and satirist Tom Lehrer. The Advocate compared Schmekel to Pansy Division and Tribe 8, and the book Listen to Punk Rock! Exploring a Musical Genre compared Schmekel’s song “I’ll Be Your Maccabee” to Pansy Division’s song “Homo Christmas.” Schmekel's lyrics frequently referred to Jewish holidays, and their first album started with Kahn sounding the Yom Kippur "tekiah" and bassist Nogga Schwartz blowing a shofar before launching into a punk song. The Jewish Music Resource Centre at Hebrew University of Jerusalem noted that Schmekel's music used "direct musical quotes from traditional Jewish melodies such as Chad Gadya, Ma'oz Tzur, and Al Chet”. Professor of Musicology Edwin Seroussi compared Schmekel’s tongue-in-cheek allusions to prayers to similar inside jokes in Yiddish theatre and vaudeville at the turn of the 20th century.

Schmekel performed with other Jewish punk bands local to Brooklyn, such as The Shondes, at New York City venues like the Knitting Factory, the Delancey, Public Assembly, and Otto's Shrunken Head. They also played at colleges in the Eastern United States like Brandeis University, Yale University, State University of New York at Purchase, Hampshire College and the University of Mary Washington, sponsored by Jewish and LGBT student clubs. Schmekel's egg salad sandwich logo was created by queer illustrator and punk rocker Cristy Road while Schmekel was performing with her band The Homewreckers.

Susanne Mayer of Die Zeit contrasted the celebrities at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's fashion exhibit PUNK: Chaos to Couture with Schmekel's dirty song lyrics, antimilitarism, and criticism of same-sex marriage as bourgeois. Schmekel broke up in February 2014 to focus on other projects.

Members

Discography

  • Queers On Rye – December 2011
  • The Whale That Ate Jonah (Schmekel Music) – October 2013

In literature

In the final Tales of the City novel, The Days of Anna Madrigal (2014), the character Jake reports his love interest, Amos, flirting with the lead singer of Schmekel.

Schmekel was part of a course at Hampshire College in 2015 about the creation of Jewish identity.

In Jewish institutions

According to an interview with Tablet Magazine, the different members of Schmekel participated in different amounts of religious observance but had all experienced difficulty in synagogue because of being transgender, which they addressed in their music. However, in an interview with Jewcy, they expressed feeling accepted at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah and Nehirim.

Other projects

Following the group's disbandment in 2014, keyboardist Itai Gal aka Ricky Riot formed a new project called Itai and the Ophanim, which released a debut album, Arise, in 2019. Singer and guitarist Lucian Kahn became a writer and game designer of tabletop role-playing games with LGBT, Jewish, and subcultural themes, making Dead Friend: A Game of Necromancy, Visigoths vs. Mall Goths, and If I Were a Lich, Man (Hit Point Press, 2023).

See also

References

  1. ^ Hugh Ryan (25 November 2011). "Schmekel, a Band Born as a Laugh". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  2. Eddy Portnoy (19 October 2011). "Transgender Jews May Be Nothing New". The Jewish Daily Forward.
  3. ^ Croland, Michael. Oy Oy Oy Gevalt! Jews and Punk. Connecticut: Praeger, 2016. p. 66.
  4. "Reasons to Have Pride in 2012 Part 1". www.advocate.com. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  5. Pulliam, June Michele. Listen to Punk Rock! Exploring a Musical Genre. ABC-CLIO, 2021. pp. 104
  6. Croland, Michael (2017-08-23). "Punk bands prove shofar isn't just for the High Holidays". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
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