The group's original name was Asaf Avidan & the Mojo Jive Cats, but it was soon after shortened to Asaf Avidan & the Mojos. Throughout 2006 and 2008, the band rose to major fame in Israel, receiving recording proposals from multiple local labels. However, the group released their debut studio album The Reckoning independently in March 2008.
Poor Boy / Lucky Man, the band's second album, was released in Israel in September 2009 to favorable reviews.
The band premiered their third and last record Through the Gale in November 2010.
Asaf Avidan soon after announced that the group would disband because of his desire to pursue a solo career.
Asaf Avidan & the Mojos sounded like a blend of everything that is liked about rock in the 60's and 70's, with a edge of modern sound and a dash of... that thing that happens along only once in a generation: a true unique voice. Captivating audiences of all ages, the lyrics and music struck a global chord. From acoustic, armor piercing duets with Hadas Kleinman on the cello, to the body shaking, all-band rock tunes.
Asaf & the Mojos played some of the best Venues around, got great radio air time and interviews, and some T.V exposure. In October 2007 The band had a small tour to New-York city, they took part in the M.E.A.N.Y Festival at the "Knitting factory" N.Y ,won the "NOTABLE MENTION" title and were invited to come back in December for another show. "This was one of those concerts where you come out drenched to the pit of your soul, full of energy and dead tiered at the same time – I can't remember a time when I was so awe-stricken by a performance!"
–106fm radio
Asaf Avidan & the Mojos
(Jerusalem\Tel-Aviv – Israel)
Members:
Asaf Avidan – vocals, guitar, harmonica
Roi Peled – guitars
Ran Nir – bass
Joni Snow – drums
Hadas Kleinman – cello
Web –
www.myspace.com/findlovenow
Gigs –
100 local and regional Israeli gigs
Releases –
Now That You're Leaving (EP) – 2006
The Reckoning - 2008
Newspaper coverage –
Rolling Stone Magazine (Mexico)
Ma'ariv \ Yediot \ Ha'aretz (the 3 major Israeli newspapers)
Israel Hayom
Radio coverage –
Galatz radio \ 88fm \ 106fm campus radio \ 101fm
102fm \
TV coverage –
Channel 10 (Israels second largest network),
Channel 3 (Israels top cable channel),
Channel 1 (PBS)
Channel 24
Brickman
Asaf Avidan & The Mojos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And that his papa built him brick by brick
And now the world breaks line waves on his skin
And all the words like broken birds are Traped within
They said his mama had cement for milk
And that his brother was ten foot thick
And now the world breaks like waves on his skin
The lyrics to "Brickman" by Asaf Avidan & The Mojos have a haunting quality to them, painting a portrait of a person who has been shaped and built by the world around them. The opening lines describe the character's mother as having "cement for milk" and their father as having "built him brick by brick," suggesting that this person's very existence is a product of hard, unyielding construction. As a result, they seem to be impervious to the emotional and mental turbulence of the outside world. The line "now the world breaks line waves on his skin" references the person's stoicism, suggesting that they have become something of a fortress, able to withstand the constant onslaught of life's challenges with an unyielding exterior.
However, there is a deeper, more poignant layer to the song's message. The line "all the words like broken birds are trapped within" suggests that while the person may seem unbreakable on the outside, internally they are struggling to express themselves. Their emotions and thoughts are constricted and inhibited, unable to escape the confines of their inner world. This creates a sense of isolation and loneliness, further reinforcing the idea that the character is a product of harsh external forces rather than a self-driven individual.
Overall, "Brickman" is a complex and evocative exploration of what it means to be shaped by the world around us, and the ways in which this can both protect and harm us. The lyrics hint at deep-seated emotions and struggles that are left unexpressed, creating a sense of quiet desperation that lingers long after the song has ended.
Line by Line Meaning
They said his mama had cement for milk
It was rumored that his mother had a cold and detached personality, like cement, and didn't have the maternal instinct to provide proper nourishment.
And that his papa built him brick by brick
His father was a hardworking and meticulous craftsman who put a great deal of effort and care into building his son's character and life.
And now the world breaks line waves on his skin
The harshness and difficulties of life have left physical and emotional scars on him, like waves breaking against a shoreline.
And all the words like broken birds are Traped within
The pain and trauma he has experienced have caused him to become emotionally trapped and unable to express himself, like birds with broken wings that can't fly away.
Contributed by Leah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.