Punkumentary (HTML Transcript)
Steppin' Out,  April 26, 2006 by By Shauna Thompson

Punk rockers with mohawks, piercings, and tattoos screaming along to powerful lyrics set to heavy music while wearing ripped jeans and band t-shirts is a typical scene in the United States...but in Israel? Little do many of us know, it's not such an uncommon scene there, either. Unfortunately, the media hasn't shed much light on the Israeli punk rockers who are trying to promote peace and avoid the pressures to conform to their religious culture.

When we think about Israel, we generally conjure up images that are spoonfed to us by the mainstream media. Someone finally pushed through the gatekeepers! Luckily, Jericho's Echo, a documentary by Liz Nord, invites us to get an up-close and personal look into the "hope and rebellion in Israel, where it's still PUNK to be a punk rocker." Jericho's Echo is the type of documentary that will make you want to get off your ass and stand up for something you believe in. Liz Nord started this project after she became interested in the Israeli punk band, Useless I.D. The film is named after the biblical story that says the Israelites conquered the ancient city Jericho by shouting a great shout that made the city's walls crumble. Today, Israeli punk rockers are using the same strategy-a lot of noise rather than violence-to get their point across. The film introduces us to many of the bands participating in the punk scene who put their hearts and opinions into the music they perform for the small community of punks in Israel. Through interviews, live performances, and scenes from the clash of daily life and war, we can get a closer look into the lives and minds of these punk rockers who are trying to better Israel for themselves and generations to come.

Punk music offers these rockers the perfect scene to express their concerns. Their lyrics include issues from the mandatory military involvement to the Israel-Palestine conflict to the deeply rooted religious beliefs to human rights and media control. As modern life becomes more prevalent, they believe tolerance and an open mind will make a huge difference in their society. Although these rockers are speaking out against different aspects of their country, they remain proud of Israel and genuinely just want to make improvements for a better future. They will always have people disagreeing with the message they are trying to convey, but it's not going to stop them. The band Nikmat Olalim said it best, "We don't expect everyone to think the same as us, but we try to, you know, voice our opinions and talk about what we care about.

If you want to learn more about this documentary and the Israeli punk scene, check out www.jerichosecho.com. You can purchase the DVD now before it hits stores worldwide this August. The website also provides information about how you can make a donation to help bring this film to colleges and independent theaters. To listen to some of the bands that are featured in the film, go to www.myspace.com/jerichosecho.