FeelAbout

Becoming a rock and roll star isn't easy. There are so many "wannabes" jamming in their studio apartments, parents' garages or their own bedrooms that it's tough to know which ones are really going to make it. But one Israeli band seems to have what it takes, and audiences as far away as Los Angeles recognize it. FeelAbouT, an alternative, underground grunge rock group that has been quietly plugging away in Tel Aviv, recently won the "Best Rock Group" Award at the prestigious Los Angeles Music Awards.

The group, consisting of Roni Weinstock (vocals and guitar), Guy Fisher (guitars), Aviran Rotem (bass) and Dror Rostami (drums), has been doing its thing since 2000, making a conscious decision early on to play mainly in English. They've spent years touring Israel in pubs and clubs, and slowly but steadily built up a following. They released their first 20-minute EP album, Release in 2005, but their careers really kicked into high gear when they decided to submit their music for the LAMA awards in early 2007.

The awards were established in 1991 and accept submissions from independent artists around the world. Previous winners who have had their careers kick-started as a result of winning LAMA awards include No Doubt, the Black-Eyed Peas, System of a Down and Korn. After hearing FeelAbouT's demo, the group received two nominations: Best Rock Group and Best Female Vocalist.

Several days prior to their win, the group sat down with The Jerusalem Post in the courtyard of their Los Angeles hostel to discuss what the future may have in store. The group, all in their early to mid-20s, appeared excited, if not a little tired - a struggling band who have yet to give up their day jobs; hence their cheap accommodations.

Founding member, lead vocalist and group spokesperson Weinstock reveals she works as a sales assistant in a sex shop in Tel Aviv, Fisher works in hi-tech, Rotem says he works in "low tech" and Rostami is the only one who works in the industry, teaching drumming in various schools.

This is their second self-funded trip to Los Angeles, having come here in July to do some touring in local clubs. They're doing so again this time, but their performances are scheduled in some of the lesser known areas - two outside of Los Angeles, one in Long Beach and another in Orange County, although they are also scheduled to perform at the awards themselves in Hollywood.

"We're just really excited to be here," says Weinstock, who appears to be the antithesis of a head-banging rock performer. She's small, slight, with long curly hair and a cute beanie on her head. Soft spoken and calm, she looks about 14. Listening to her perform, it's hard to imagine how such an enormous voice can come out of someone so tiny.

"Yeah, I hear that a lot," Weinstock laughs. "But I grew up being influenced by Led Zeppelin and Pearl Jam and groups like that, because my sister listened to them."

That influence is not only evidenced in their original work but the group also takes pride in doing covers of these bands. And they appear to have no problem performing (and speaking) in English.

Weinstock's English is near perfect, despite having no familial background with the language. The other members speak fairly decent English too, although they chose to conduct our interview in Hebrew. Self-funding their trips is simply the dues they feel they need to pay for the experience of performing here, garnering more fans and meeting other artists.

"We met so many great performers here last time," says Rotem, "and it's great to see them again and our fans, too."

He also confesses to hoping to find time to buy some clothes in Los Angeles, and Fisher apologizes for not focusing entirely on the interview because he's engrossed in his newly purchased laptop.

"They're just so much cheaper here," he says.

Overall, the group appear to be a fun, tight-knit ensemble, which is clearly reflected in their work. That may have something to do with the fact that with the exception of Rostami, who auditioned for the band in 2002, they are all childhood friends. It was also back in 2002 that the group decided to change their name from Abstract to FeelAbouT. "I chose it because I was writing songs about how I felt about certain things," explains Weinstock.

A WEEK later they get to answer the ultimate question: How do they feel about winning the Best Rock Group Award? "Excited, happy," Weinstock says. "But I'm sick and getting a cold" - a result of the toll the traveling and performing have taken on the group. However, she adds, winning will not change the work they're doing. "Having our work recognized like this is great and we're just excited to bring our music to our fans, and hopefully this will lead to more work for us."

For now, they are back in Israel playing more gigs, still maintaining their day jobs and working on putting together their first full-length album. "We're also hoping to do a European tour soon, - Jerusalem Post by Kelly Hartog, L.A

Rock the Kodac - NRG
<a href="http://www.nrg.co.il/online/5/ART1/578/349.html">http://www.nrg.co.il/online/5/ART1/578/349.html</a> - Maariv (nrg.co.il)

Music Awards - Mooma
<a href="http://mooma.keshet-tv.com/Article.asp?GroupID=1912&ItemID=78691&ArtistID=26944">Mooma.co.il</a> - Mooma

The Calendar Girls - Feelin' good about Israelis
<a href="http://thecalendargirls.blogspot.com/2007/08/feelin-good-about-israelis.html">Feelin' good about Israelis</a> - The Calendar Girls

Qube, FeelAbouT
<a href="http://www.qube.co.il/ency_band.asp?e=6014&cat=45">FeelAbouT</a> - Qube

I feel good, Layla
<a href="http://www.layla.co.il/ContentView/ContentView.aspx?cimid=112557&cid=116">I feel good</a> - Layla

Music Awards - Walla!
<a href="http://e.walla.co.il/?w=/6/1154612">http://e.walla.co.il/?w=/6/1154612</a> - Walla! (walla.co.il)

I was recently sent some music from the latest sensation legally tearing up Tel Aviv, Israel. FeelAbouT can best be considered Israel's female-fronted Nirvana, but they are much more than that.

Distorted guitars, impeccable production, and strong power vocals mix to create a unique take on the post-grunge world. Roni Weinstock, the sultry front woman and now masturbatory fantasy for myself, has the control and range to do a variety of genres. However, her voice is used brilliantly in the low range. You can see this strong, independent female vocalists starting to emerge in rock - Halestorm, Lacuna Coil, and now FeelAbouT.

But just a sexy front woman with a great voice is only 1/4 of the formula needed to create a great rock band. You need cock throbbing rhythm section, interesting guitars, and I would say burlesque dancers, but you can't really see them on a record.

Let's start with the rhythm section lead by Liron Erel (bass) and Dror Rostami (drums). Yes, that's right...I gave credit to the bassist as the lead. Aren't you jealous Dror? You can hear the power of the bass in songs like Jail Back and Slave.

Songs like Slave provide a slow, methodical head banging anthem with a crushing bassline and drums that seem to pull you to the edge of Mordor. But then the song pulls you back from tossing that ring in the fires with a quick break down as Roni's vocals move from urgency to control. Then you think "I could use this ring for good." But at about the two and half minute mark, you realize you are just a slave and need to destroy the ring. Do you?

There are three guitarists and I don't know who plays rhythm, lead, or lead rhythm on any one song. Guitars are provided by Guy Fisher, Eldar Cohen and Roni Weinstock. The guitars are perfect in every song. Songs that call for a metal devastating guitar riff (Slave), the guitarists craft a perfect riff for that song. Songs that require a softer, mellower, guitar work (Follow Me Down), are molded to evoke emotion using just the guitar.

My favorite song Maybe, reminds me of a domestic abusive relationship. This song starts out angry and like a fist to the face. But then the whole band pulls back and slows things down for the verses. It almost like they are saying "Oh I am sorry for hitting you, I didn't mean to." Then they get you to lower your defenses and then punch you in the gut for the hard chorus. Roni's vocal control has never been more apparent than on this song. The trudging music provides an excellent back drop for emotional distress. You bastards...I can't quit you!

If you listen to songs like Stop or Colors N Shape, I think you are missing the point of the band. These songs have an indie, European pop sound to them. Most of the songs are about hard rock with a strong metal taste.

FeelAbouT has one album available on iTunes entitled Point of You, and you can find all the songs I talk about on that album. The band really has something for everyone, fans of stoner rock will love Jail Back. Fans of grunge will fall in love with Sing, and even softer rock fans will love Colors N Shape or Follow Me Down. What this shows is that the band is versatile and American Rock audiences should embrace this since I am fucking tired of these same cookie cutter bands like Skillet and Three Days Grace. - Blogs N' Roses

FeelAbouT is one of the most successful Israeli bands in the world today, who already performed on the stage at the 17th Los Angeles Music Awards, who won the title clip of the year at “Ourstage” web site for two years in a row, achieved over 10,0000 ring tones downloads in the USA and Canada and of course performed at the latest Bombamela festival. Their musical tune is rough American Rock, full of distortions and screams given by Roni Weinstock the band’s singer, who wrote all the lyrics in the album and wrote the music with Guy Fisher along with the production of Eyal Leon Kazav. - NRG

The band ”FeelAbout”, with the singer Roni Weinstock, gave last night a few great moments of satisfaction to the Israeli metal and rock scene, with energy explosion on the stage and the crowd, who responded with “head banging”. The explosive echoes were well noticed in the “Sublime” club and all around. This is how you debut a new album. For some time expectations are rising considering”FeelAbout”. Honorable titles like “Best Rock Band of the year” at the 17th Los Angeles Music Awards, or the first band to play on I-Phone and 10,000 Ring tones downloaded from Canada and the US, gave a healthy appetite for a lot of fans, who came last night to bring together “Point of You” – the firstborn album of this Tel-Aviv band. For an hour and a quarter the singer Roni Weinstock, Guy Fisher, Dror Rosmati, Eldar Cohen and Liron Arel made the crowd jump, excited and moved, but mainly did a lot of happy noise. - Mako