#Nefesh Mountain

[whatacartouchebag]

Fighting my neighbours garbage obsession with bad music covers by playing Nefesh Mountain at full blast.

[musiconspotify]

Nefesh Mountain - Beacons (2025) … one glorious surprise after another …

[concerthopperblog]

Review: Nefesh Mountain- 'Beacons'

After three years and multiple tour stops from their 2021 album Songs for the Sparrows, Nefesh Mountain is back with their biggest album ever. This time, it's not one disc but two, with each showcasing a different aspect of the band's repertoire.

Nefesh Mountain's co-founders and core members, Doni Zasloff and Eric Lindberg, have built a following in the bluegrass and string band community, so the first disc in this double album, simply titled 'Americana', is a tonal stretch that, for the most part, lands. Nefesh Mountain takes great advantage of Americana's notoriously big tent of musical influences, pulling from country, Southern rock, blues, and gospel music.

'Americana' primarily features Nefesh Mountain's core touring band, with a little help on pedal steel from Grammy Award-winning instrumentalist Greg Leisz (Ray LaMontagne, Joni Mitchell, Willie Nelson). It shows that the band is tight throughout the disc.

The album's highlight track is “Heaven is Here.” With a Dickey Betts-esque guitar riff to anchor, it's a song about finding one's glory and happiness in the here and now rather than waiting for a divine intervention. “Are we betting on a promise”, Lindberg sings, “Until the hour is upon us?” Later he advises “If it's out there by the moon / then let's be dancing in it's glow.”

Another strong track on Americana is the traditional blues gospel song “Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning.” First recorded by Blind Willie Johnson in 1928 and re-recorded by scores of gospel and blues artists since, Nefesh Mountain finds a way to make it fresh, keeping the blues guitar core of the original song intact while amping up the electricity with some soaring solos.

The second disc, entitled 'Bluegrass', finds Nefesh Mountain backed by as strong an all-star band of Nashville greats as you can find in the bluegrass world. Playing on 'Bluegrass' are mandolinist Sam Bush, fiddler Stuart Duncan (Goat Rodeo Sessions), Dobroist Jerry Douglas, banjo player Rob McCoury (Travelin' McCourys), guitarist Cody Kilby (Ricky Skaggs), and bassist Mark Schatz (Nickel Creek).

Unsurprisingly considering that lineup backing the not inconsiderable talents of Zasloff and Lindberg, it's the two instrumental tracks that shine here. “The Overgrown Reel” is a traditional bluegrass reel heavily featuring McCoury's banjo work. “No Farm, No Howl” is the more intriguing of the two, a slice of newgrass with a hint of jam in it that leans heavily into the mandolin of Sam Bush, the godfather of newgrass.

Other highlight tracks on 'Bluegrass' include “Man of Manzanilla,” an ode to the late bluegrass guitarist Tony Rice, the hard-driving celebration of self “This is Me,” the percussive “Regrets in the Rearview,” and the traditional bluegrass stylings of “Wild River.” There are also a couple of successful covers of 'Bluegrass'. The first is a surprising grassy retooling of Eric Clapton's “Keep on Growing.” The second is the guitar ballad “Song for the Life,” originally recorded by Rodney Crowell.

It was a smart idea to separate this album into two distinctive discs. Even if they'd just taken the best of each album to make one LP, the differences between the styles would be jarring. As is, Nefesh Mountain crafts an album with two distinctive discs to fit any mood.

[americanahighways]

REVIEW: Nefesh Mountain "Beacons"

REVIEW: Nefesh Mountain "Beacons" @nefeshmountain @americanahighways #beacons #musicreviews #newmusic2025 @johnhancockphotots

Nefesh Mountain – Beacons Nefesh Mountain is a New York-based band consisting of Eric Lindberg (vocals and banjo) and Doni Zasloff (vocals), along with band members Ben Plotnick (fiddle), Bobby Hawk (fiddle), Thomas Cassell (mandolin), Danny Fox (piano, organ, Wurlitzer), Erik Alvar (bass), Andrew Ryan (bass), and David Berger (drums and percussion). Their music blends bluegrass, country, and…

[thefandomlesbian]

Nefesh Mountain really hit it out of the park with Somewhere On This Mountain. it really is such a battle to be so many things at once. i really do see myself in the mirror of your eyes. i really don't mind the days i'm on the uphill climb. if you're somewhere on this mountain w me.

[extollingtheeveryday]

Oh the summer time's a-coming

And the trees are sweetly blooming

And the wild mountain thyme

Grows around the purple heather

[vamptastic]

Love my rabbi but brother i cannot meditate i will never meditate and if you try to make me meditate despite this i will resent you forever. If god needs me to meditate to feel him i will simply not communicate with him

[psychologeek]

Happy Sigd!

Malkam Amet Vahl

(From today, the main event in Jerusalem)

~

Sigd (Ge'z: ስግድ, "worship") also known as Mehel'la (ምህልላ, begging/plead), is a Jewish holiday unique to the "Beyta Yisrael" (house of Israel) community. It is based on a biblical event in the book of Nehemiah (9,1-3), of community fast and worship, in a plead to go back Home.

What is it?

An ancient holiday of Beyta Yisrael community (Jews from the diaspora of Ethiopia). This special day is based on the events in the book of Nehemiah, and the mass prayers - hoping that G-d would let them go back Home, to Zion. It is considered to be about 2,500 years old (unlike the diaspora in Babylon, the diaspora in Ethiopia hasn't returned after 70 years, during the Korach declaration.

This holiday, 50 days after Yom Kippur, has 2 main reasons:

To add another level of Heshbon Nefesh (HEB, lit. "soul accounting", in which one reflects on his previous actions and thoughts). If Yom Kippur is for private Heshbon Nefesh, then during the Sigd the public/community side is added. It's dedicated to restore the oath with G-d, and pray for the Geula.

Pray to go back Home, to Yerusalem. Many of the holiday's Piyutim (religion songs) are focused on Jerusalem, the desire ro get there, and wondering how it is.

What happens during that day?

People fast and wear white clothes. As a community event, there are mass gatherings.

In Ethiopia, they were gathering in 3 big mountains. They carried rocks or religion scrolls on their head, to show surrender in the face of G-d.

(Ambovar, 1984)

In Israel, there's a main event in Jerusalem. It was cancelled in 2023 due to security concerns, but this year is back!

2024: Due to the security concerns, in Gundar they didn't go up the mountain this year :(

~

(I have a feeling I forgot something important. I'm sick so my brain not 100%. Lmk if you have questions, or want to know more)

[unbidden-yidden-deactivated20240]

Jewish Song of the Day #2: The Narrow Bridge

Comments:

This is one of several versions of a famous Jewish song: Gesher Tsar Me'od

I absolutely adore Nefesh Mountain for being so wonderfully Jewish and culturally American, in the sense that bluegrass is so deeply rooted in americana - it is truly a Jewish-American sound

You'll hear more of my faves from Nefesh Mountain in the future, don't worry

I chose this out of the many songs of theirs that I love because I've been listening to it lately and it's been giving me a lot of chizuk [strength]

[jewishoftheday]

Nefesh Mountain

photo credit Lawrence Rickford

[etz-ashashiyot]

I'm bored and stuck waiting and happened to remember that on my old blog I had made this statement:

Since I have a minute, I figured I'd finally drop the list with some brief explanations:

1. By Way Of Sorrow - Coyote Grace version

This song and its lyrics, especially as sung by a queer/trans bluegrass band, could not be more Jew-ish in vibe. I am aware this is a cover, but I have only ever heard their version and that's the one that matters to me. I love love love this song, so much, and it perfectly captures how I feel about having been welcomed into the Jewish people after years of exclusion and othering from numerous other quarters. Am Yisrael has taken me in, treated me like family, connected me to the Divine, healed my wounds, and helped me feel as whole as one can in a broken and unredeemed world - while giving me the tools to join the work of tikkun olam myself.

2. The Farthest Field - The Lumber Jills version

This is the best version I could find; the original I was shown I can't find but will link if I do. This song was actually introduced to me by one of my orthodox rabbis, and I agree with him that it can be understood as a beautiful image of geulah.

3. Hallelujah - Coyote Grace & Girlyman

This one just makes me happy, and the words, message, and themes are very on-brand for Jewish vibes as well in my opinion.

4. Be Thou My Vision - old Irish Hymn (this version and this version are my favorites)

This one is very obviously a hymn and therefore decidedly Not Jewish. On the other hand, the words aren't so explicitly Christian that it rules out use by Jews (in my opinion) and especially if you translate the words into Hebrew, it sounds just like a traditional piyyut. (@springstarfangirl if you want to add your beautiful translation, please feel free!)

5. Down to the River to Pray - Alison Krauss

This is one where I do think the lyrics are a lot closer to being Christian specific, but it makes the list for a couple reasons: first, I've encountered it in Jewish-specific contexts without modification (one of our rabbis actually had us sing it like a regular song during zemirot), and second, there's a modified version by Nefesh Mountain that's quite enjoyable.

6. Whither Thou Goest - traditional

Yes, this one is a hymn too, but the words are directly quoting the Book of Ruth - her famous vows to Naomi, and to the Jewish people - and so it's already practically a Jewish song. It also has a special place of pride for me as a ger, and also because I used it as my wedding song in both the English (as heard in this version) and I also transliterated the Hebrew for our singer to do as well. It works nicely in both languages!

7. Roll the Ol' Chariot - David Coffin

This one I think is a little less direct, but I love it and included it for two reasons: first, it's a song of getting through it and surviving and thriving under tough circumstances, and second, you could very easily put liturgy to this melody instead.

8. For the Autumn Sky - traditional

Ignoring the last verse, this hymn could be very easily adapted into a beautiful Sukkot melody. For the last verse, I'd either simply leave it out, or one could write a Sukkot or Tu Bishvat themed verse to distinguish it. Incidentally, this was one of my favorite hymns growing up.

9. Sanctuary - Shaker melody

The video for this one is obviously mega-Christian, but it's on the list because we actually sing it all the time in shul and it has a special place in my memory from going to camp as a kid. Our shul is definitely not the only one who uses it in a Jewish context, either: this version by Cantor Julia Cadrain is really lovely.

10. Genesis 3:23 - The Mountain Goats

Where are my fellow Mountain Goats fans?? I know you're out there, lol. Look, I know that John Darnielle is coming at this from a Christian perspective, but two things: first of all, TMG has a number of Jewish fans I think at least in part because the lyrics speak deeply to the specific feelings around life (and other people) being horrible to you, surviving, and thriving even in the wake of deep trauma. Second of all, I think this one in particular brings up a number of interesting ideas about the meaning of home, of homecoming, of returning to a home that no longer really exists in the same way, and of exile and redemption. What would it look like to return to Gan Eden? Is this what geulah is supposed to look like, at least in some interpretations? What does it mean if not?

Anyway, this is it for now, but I may add to this list later, because there are definitely a few more! Please also feel free to add your own in the notes!

[musiconspotify]

Nefesh Mountain - The Cabin Sessions (2024) … boundary-pushing …

[rose-in-a-fisted-glove]

Going to see Nefesh Mountain in December!!! Jewish Bluegrass for the win

[greenflower21]

Rip Hunter you would have loved Wrapunzel

Rip Echo you would have loved Yehuda unsalted Matzos

Rip Tech you would have loved Daf Yomi

Rip Omega you would have loved the Hebrew school Purim Spiel

Rip Wrecker you would have loved throwing candy and lifting people on chairs

Rip Crosshair you would have loved Lag B’omer

Rip Rex you would have loved Jewish Geography

Rip Phee you would have loved searching for the affikomen on Pesach

Rip Batcher you would have loved eating the affikomen on Pesach

Rip Cody you would have loved the Rebbe

Rip Fives you would have loved the book of Daniel

Rip Wolffe you would have loved Lazar Wolffe

Rip Kix you would have loved “Mi Sheberach” by Debbie Friedman

Rip Soup clone you would have loved matzo balls

Rip Howzer you would have loved Nefesh Mountain

RIP Jesse you would have loved AEpi

Rip Boba you would have loved Adon Olam to the tune of Yankee Doodle

Rip Ventress you would have loved the tale of Yael and Sisera

Rip Fennec you would have loved starting arguments on Jumblr

Rip Obi Wan you would have loved Eicha

Rip Qui Gon you would have loved Mordechai Kaplan

Rip Yoda you would have loved Kollel

Rip Mace Windu you would have loved the ADL

Rip Plo Koon you would have loved the reform rabbis on TikTok

Rip Bo Katan you would have loved Yentl

Rip Satine you would have loved Art Scroll

Rip Korkie you would have loved the Prince of Egypt

Rip Din you would have loved the tunnels under 770

Rip Grogu you would have loved tot Shabbat

Rip Quinlan you would have loved Jswipe

Rip Padme you would have loved Hey Alma

Rip Thrawn you would have loved the conspiracies about the menorah being in the Vatican’s basement

Rip Zeb you would have loved wrapping tefillin in front of Kallus

Rip Kanan you would have loved drunken Zemirot

Rip Hera you would have loved JCC moms

Rip Dooku you would have loved the Essenes

… anyway, me and @labelma came up with these and I think we’re hilarious geniuses

[thefandomlesbian]

me: yeah I'm an ex-vangelical, religious music really doesn't do anything for me, it ranges from "doesn't hit" to "actually kind of upsetting"

Nefesh Mountain: *covers Down to the River to Pray in a medley*

me: *slamming repeat* this is the best shit i've ever heard