She Was A

Shiksa Goddess

Former Detroiters andfiiends Brian Kay and Scott Berry return home to reunite their band,
Shiksa Goddess, for a fund-raiser to benefit the Michigan Jewish AIDS Coalition.

JULIE YOLLES

ENTERTAINMENT WRITER

"Vivian said, 'I love everybody."
"Then, he asked Clare the same ques-
eve before his 29th birthday, Bri-
tion, and she said, 'Everybody's fine by
n
Kay
will
have
a
special
kind
a
me.' "
f celebration at the 7th House
For the next year, the band would cre-
in Pontiac. On this night, old and new
ate unique performances for each venue
members of the band Shiksa Goddess will
it played, sending out messages through
come together after a 14-month hiatus
its music that would have Jewish and gay
to perform a benefit concert for the
themes. With a funky, dance-
Michigan Jewish AIDS Coalition
able spin put to "Hinei Ma
(MJAC).
Tov," the song has become a
Detroit natives Kay and Scott
staple in the group's repertoire.
Berry have been feverishly working
Though "Hava Nagila" is an-
on the details long distance from
other band favorite, Kay says
their huge Brooklyn, N.Y., loft,
that next Saturday's concert
which they share with seven other
will be more melancholy and
roommates.
reflective.
Kay and Berry, who first met in
"What Shiksa Goddess is
'92 when they were waiters at the
trying to dc; is bring new ex-
American Pizza Cafe downtown, are
periences to people. To have
now in New York to attend the New
them question their prejudices
School — Kay for film and Berry for
and their feelings," says Berry.
broadcasting.
"What's always been rele-
As a performance artist, Kay
vant to me and Shiksa God-
would often tell his original stories,
dess is that a lot of the music
with music as a backdrop, at vari-
we're doing has either gay his-
ous coffeehouses and bars through-
tory or gay subtext to it. It's
out Michigan, including the Ann
part and parcel of the perfor-
Arbor Cafe Cadre, a performance
mance group," adds Berry,
space he ran. Kay and Berry would
who's gay. "If one person is
have conversations about creating
gay, we're all gay. If one per-
a performance project with Jewish
son is Jewish, we're all Jewish.
music.
"We want people, first and
From that, Shiksa Goddess was
foremost, to question any po-
born in November 1994. The band's
tential feelings they have
first show, at the now-defunct Fal-
about Jews, gays and lesbians,
con Club in Hamtramck, featured
or any other minority. We're
Kay as lead vocalist, Hobey Echlin
hoping [our audiences] will
on drums and Jack Nelson on gui-
have fun, be able to dance
tar. As time went on, other musi-
co), along, tap their feet and pro-
cians would join in the band,
gp- mote dialogue of what we're
depending on the theme of the con-
trying to do."
cert and the venue. Ten are expect-
And if you have any other
ed to play at next week's AIDS
questions "about the boys who
Shiksa Goddess members include Jack Nelson, guitar; unidentified spectator; Brian Kay, vocals; Scott Berry, accordion and
benefit.
should be on 'David Letter-
turntables—D.J. "Shlomo Mazik" between sets; Harry Echlin, drums; and John Barty, trombone.
"The name came about for two
man,' " just ask Grandma Vi- C.C)
reasons. [Comedian] Lenny Bruce
vian next Saturday night. She'll be the C)
"very
old
piano
teacher."
Kay
and
Berry,
the
only
Jewish
mem-
CD
called his wife 'Hot Honey Harlow — The
groupie in the front row. El
String
"I
performed
Shostakovich's
bers
in
the
band,
bill
the
group
as
an
Shiksa Goddess," says Kay, who's adopt-
C=>
"avant-Jewish-torch ensemble." They put Quartet No. 8 at the very beginning of the
ed. "As legend has it, my grandmother, Vi-
V
An
Evening
With
Shiksa
Goddess,
to
c`'
show.
We'd
set
up
a
table
for
a
menorah
their
own
twist
on
music
from
various
vian Kaufman, claimed to have seen my
benefit the Michigan. Jewish AIDS Coali-
biological mother and said, 'She was tall. Jewish artists, such as Mickey Katz and and a yahrtzeit candle for my mother ...
tion (MJAC), will be held Saturday, Dec. co
I
was
playing
accordion,
and
I
looked
over
Leonard
Cohen,
and
cover
non-Jewish
She had long blonde hair. She was a Shik-
and Brian had brought Vivian and Clare
28, at 7th House. 8 p.m. champagne re-.
artists
as
well.
sa Goddess.'
ception. 9 p.m. doors. Tickets are $10 re
up
on
stage.
Perhaps
their
most
diehard
fans
were
"It's a name. Why am I named Brian?,"
served seating and reception. $5 general' ` c - ;
"Brian
introduced
our
grandmothers
as
grandma
Vivian,
86,
and
nana
Clare
he asks rhetorically. "Why doesn't anyone
admission. To reserve tickets, call the
Shiksa
Goddess'
biggest
fans.
He
then
Miller
Pecis,
who
passed
away
last
No-
ever ask what Soundgarden means? It's
Shiksa Goddess Hotline at (313) 640- 75
asked
them,
'How
do
you
feel
about
vember.
The
two
McDonnell
Tower
resi-
just two words ... we're not doing comedy,
6740. 7th House is at 7 N. Saginaw, Pon:,
racism,
anti-Semitism,
homophobia
and
dents
became
friends
after
their
grandsons
just because it's a tongue and cheek name.
hatred
in
the
world?'
tiac, (810) ,335-8109,..
formed
the
band.
And
you
better
believe
We're serious artists. I'm passionate about

A t ) 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, the

the music we play. This is an AIDS bene-
fit; it's very serious."
`The name isn't intended to offend peo-
ple. It's very disheartening that people fo-
cus on the name — it's just a name," says
Berry, who plays accordion and bass gui-
tar in the band and duals as D.J. "Shlomo
Mazik" between sets.

they were knelling in the aisles at Shik-
sa Goddess' performance on Jan. 28, 1995,
at a packed house at the Majestic Theatre
in Detroit.
"It was the 50th anniversary of the lib-
eration of Auschwitz that weekend," re-
calls Berry, 27, who grew up in Sterling
Heights and learned accordion from his