The Groggers

The Groggers was an American Jewish pop punk band from Queens, New York. Formed in 2010 by lead singer L.E. Doug Staiman, they were known for their satirical, often controversial songs dealing with a variety of Jewish issues. Initially gaining fame with their single and music video "Get", the band released their debut album, There's No 'I' in Cherem, on August 29, 2011. They received national attention, as well as controversy, with their 2012 video for "Jewcan Sam", produced with plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Salzhauer.

The Groggers
OriginQueens, New York, US
GenresJewish rock, alternative rock, pop punk
Years active2010–2012(hiatus)
2012–2015
Associated actsRav Shmuel, Kosha Dillz, Aryeh Kunstler, Bram Presser, Mendy Pellin
Websitethegroggers.wix.com
MembersL.E. Doug Staiman
Ari Friedman
Taylor Carroll
Addison Scott
Past membersDrew Salzman
C.J. Glass
Yisroel Reches
Josh Koperwas
Chemy Soibelman

History

Formation and debut album (2010–2011)

Lead singer L.E. Doug Staiman and guitarist Ari Friedman attended Yeshiva University and Queens College together and bonded over their shared music tastes. They were briefly in a classic rock cover band called Steel Eagle.[1] When Staiman moved back to New York City in 2008 after studying in yeshiva in Israel, he was introduced to the local Jewish music scene through a friend. This inspired him to write and record several satirical Jewish punk songs. When he was told the songs were too niche to be successful, Staiman, as a joke, made a low-budget music video for one of the songs, "Get", hiring a pickup band to play and film school student Farrell Goldsmith to direct. Released in early 2010, the video became a surprise viral hit and became popular among agunah activists, convincing Staiman to make "The Groggers" an official band shortly afterward.[2][3]

Later in 2010, a second video, "Eishes Chayil", was released, featuring a cameo from Rav Shmuel.[3] This was followed by two more videos, "The Shidduch Hits the Fan" and "Upper West Side Story", both satirizing the Jewish dating scene. The band released its debut album, There's No "I" in Cherem, on August 29, 2011.[4]

Non-album releases (2011–2015)

In December 2011, the band released the songs "Anonymous Girl" (referencing an article written by an anonymous girl from Stern College) and "View From the Sink", which responded to Jewish reggae singer Matisyahu shaving his beard from the perspective of the shorn hair.

In February 2012, the band released their first single for an upcoming second album, "Jewcan Sam" via music video. The video, commissioned by plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Salzhauer, became the subject of much controversy and criticism due to its portrayal of rhinoplasty. The following month, the band performed at the Gramercy Theatre in Manhattan.[3]

Staiman announced in May that the band would be going on hiatus, and that he would be moving to Los Angeles to pursue a solo career. The following summer, however, the band released new material with "Mindy", a satirical love song directed at then-New York State Senate candidate Mindy Meyer.[5][6]

In late 2014 and early 2015, the band released a lyric video for a new single called "Kicked Outta Yeshiva", as well as music videos for "Not Going to Shacharis" and "JAP". "Not Going to Shacharis", co-written with Aryeh Kunstler, was given a video featuring cameos from Kosha Dillz, Mendy Pellin, and Etan G of Shlock Rock.[7] The "JAP" video, another collaboration with Salzhauer, was originally released on May 6, 2015,[8] only to be removed due to "numerous legal complications", according to the band.[9] The video was re-uploaded a month later.

Musical style

In an article for Heeb magazine, blogger Heshy Fried praised The Groggers as "possibly the first Orthodox Jewish band that doesn't sound Jewish," comparing their sound to that of MxPx and New Found Glory.[10] Influences cited by the band included Green Day, Avenged Sevenfold, Nirvana, Sum 41, All Time Low, Motion City Soundtrack, and The Ramones, with Staiman saying of the latter band, "I'd be out of a job without them."[1][11][3]

Band members
  • L.E. Doug Staiman – lead vocals, guitar
  • Ari Friedman – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Taylor Carroll – bass, vocals
  • Addison Scott – drums
  • Drew Salzman – drums
  • C.J. Glass – bass
  • Yisroel Reches – drums
  • Josh Koperwas – bass
  • Chemy Soibelman – drums

Discography

Albums

Singles and music videos
ReleasedSongDirectorAlbum
May 2, 2010"Get"Farrell GoldsmithThere's No 'I' in Cherem
October 28, 2010"Eishes Chayil"Farrell Goldsmith and L.E. Doug Staiman
September 6, 2011"Upper West Side Story"Farrell Goldsmith and Chaim Berkowitz
October 23, 2011"The Shidduch Hits the Fan"
February 13, 2012"Jewcan Sam"Farrell Goldsmith
November 17, 2014"Not Going to Shacharis"L.E. Doug Staiman and Mike Schultz
December 22, 2014"Kicked Outta Yeshiva"Lyric video
May 10, 2015"JAP"Jordan Stauber

Non-album songs

References
  1. "Meet The Groggers". The Commentator. Yeshiva University. March 21, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  2. Ginzberg, Binyomin (September 19, 2011). "Monday Music: Making a Loving Mockery of Modern Orthodoxy". The Forward. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  3. Yanover, Yori (March 20, 2012). "The Groggers: It Ain't Your Uncle Moishy's Rock N' Roll". The Jewish Press. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  4. "There's No "I" In Cherem – The Groggers". Amazon.com. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  5. Ginzberg, Binyomin (August 17, 2012). "To Mindy Meyer, With Love". The Forward. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  6. Campbell, Colin (August 17, 2012). "The Mindy Meyer Song [Video]". The New York Observer. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  7. "THE GROGGERS – Not Going to Shacharis [OFFICIAL VIDEO]". YouTube. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  8. The Groggers (May 6, 2015). "Our new video is here!!!". Facebook. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  9. The Groggers (June 2, 2015). "We're not really allowed to talk about what happened..." Facebook. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  10. Fried, Heshy (September 6, 2011). "Music Review: The Groggers". Heeb. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  11. Aleph, Patrick (May 24, 2010). "Interview: The Groggers". PunkTorah. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
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