Shande (שאַנדע): A ‘shande’ is a damn shame. A Yiddish epithet whose frightful power is reserved for only the most disgraceful offenses under heaven, it is a devastating word to the Jewish ear. But for Jack Braunstein’s experimental 12-piece folk-rock ensemble from Philadelphia, it’s an oddly fitting name. With explosive politics and off-puttingly beautiful arrangements, their music is a strange and compelling new entry into the long lineage of diaspora Jewish songwriters demanding more of this world.

Inspired by the boundary-crossing approach of Clube Da Esquina–the community of Brazilian musicians, composers and poets centered around Milton Nascimento and Lô Borges in 1970s Belo Horizonte–Shande features a collective of friends and collaborators from the worlds of free-improv creative music, klezmer and freak folk writing and performing arrangements for Braunstein’s stark and knotty songwriting. The result is a uniquely rewarding listen that speaks in love and rebuke to our disintegrating world. Their debut album Hereness (דאָיִקייט) will be released on 12/13/2025 on Peace Isn’t Luck and Como Tapes.

The release show will feature the core band of Braunstein on guitar, clarinet, and vocals, And Keller (Snow Caps, Hermit Thrushes) on bass and Dan Lynch (Loamer, Boone) on drums, joined by Melinda Rice on violin/viola, Andrew Gioanetti on woodwinds, Karen Smith on percussion and more special guests to be announced.

Now based in Syracuse, NY on the land of the Haudensaunee Confederacy, Braunstein is a life-long amateur songwriter and clarinetist. As an improviser has played in a number of ensembles, including Green Plum Ensemble, The Great Blue Heron (with Mike Watson) and the Kol Tzedek Simcha Band (a community klezmer band led by Dan Blacksburg). Before moving to Central New York in 2024, he was an active member of DIY communities in Philadelphia and New England for over 10 years, sharing bills with a range of freaks from Wolf Eyes and Thurston Moore, to NappyNappa and Alex G.

ther:

ther is a band from the area of occupied Lenaphoking known as Philadelphia. The songs ther plays are written by producer and mastering engineer Heather Jones (credits inc A24, MJ Lenderman, TAGABOW, Samia) who draws from an ever-shifting pool of influences and inspiration. she has been assisted over the years by a rotating cast of Philly musicians, currently comprised of Jon Cox (Florry, sadurn, Son of Barb) , Ripley Tiberio-Shultz (A Deer A Horse, Ripley) Veronica Magner (Amelia Cry Til I Die, Dustship Lizard), Max Rafter (Crooks & Nannies, Snake Boy Gang), and Amelia Swain (Amelia Cry Til I Die, sadurn). The music has many faces. some songs conjure both the metallic and contemplative extremes of slowcore, while others are rooted chamber pop or plugged-in folk.

Song People:

Song People were formed in December of 2022 by core members of the Philadelphia-based music collective Edible Onion: Shaina Kapeluck, Darian Scatton, and Benjamin Schurr. Having played in each other's bands for over twelve years, they’ve settled into a comfortable songwriting cabal made fruitful by over a decade of collaboration

accessibility: space is on the second floor up a flight of stairs.