The Energy Behind A Hasidic Wedding Drummer (Chesky levy Band)

Hope everybody's doing well. First of all for all the beautiful messages that we got. We know that consistency is a very important thing. So while I am not working in as per I'm putting out a podcast that my manager um worked on producer Maki and I made next week we're going to put out a podcast sharing all the beautiful details of the wedding and all the emotions and the feelings and how it went. Um but I did want to put out the episode to show the consistency. is actually a very interesting episode. The first time that we have a drummer from a band um and it's a very interesting to hear a different uh perspective. So, it's very interesting. I also want to do the raffle of the week. Um which if you comment and you're subscribed to the channel, you're going go to a raffle of $100. Had multiple winners already as we do every week. So, right here is the app that does we have 68 comments. Pick a winner. The winner is I don't even know who this is. HG YF GG GD. Text me a WhatsApp and show me that this is your account and I will quick pay you right away. $100. I also put out a vlog of the wedding. It's going to go out hopefully tonight or tomorrow. So, make sure to look out for that and mat it off to everybody. Thank you so much. Enjoy the episode. >> Look at this. He's wearing a swag matching set. this guy. >> What's What's your favorite part of of drumming at a Jewish wedding? >> For real. >> You know what I love about drumming at Jewish weddings? That is centered around God. >> Oh wow. >> Center around Hashem. So when I play drums there, it it's like a spiritual moment for me. >> Mhm. >> Very spiritual moment. Uh, I feel like God is playing through me that I'm just a vessel and he's using me to bring joy to somebody else. >> You know, I always think very deeply about this thing. >> If somebody might be there in the audience, they might be happy at that moment, but when they get home, they might be facing depression. >> Yeah. >> They might be facing a a illness that we don't know about. >> But at that moment, they're they're excited. So I ask God that when I'm I'm having this moment that he use me to bring healing through the music. >> So it's not so much about entertainment and just fun or money. Yeah. >> You know, like I tell it's not about the money. It it's so much about the money. >> It's more so about the the like a spiritual assignment to bring healing through music. >> Right. What do you do if you're you have a job tomorrow night, but you're not feeling it? You're going through something. You're having a difficulty in your life, and next thing you know, you got to be at a wedding making happy 500, a thousand people. How do you get yourself in that mood and that energy? >> If I have the it's everything to God. I say, if God wants me to do it and there's an assignment, he's going to give me the strength to do it. >> Wow. So, you're very spiritual man. Do you like do you pray? >> Yeah. Or do you speak to God? I guess >> a lot. A lot. >> Are you from a specific religion or you just >> I'm spiritual, >> right? >> I'm spiritual to God. Um everything is possible that >> Right. >> What? >> How's it How How is it working with Zafic bandi? >> Well, there's no more Zafik band. >> Why? >> Cuz it's Husky Libyan. >> Yeah. Yes. For real? >> Yes. Okay. I like that. Why why did we change it? >> This is a deep conversation, but uh it was a it was a needed change and um since he changed it, it it's been a shift. So I I think uh it was a change that that possibly came from God, right? >> Yeah. >> Um and we're seeing through through evidence that it was supposed to happen. >> By the way, he makes a lot of >> Yeah. How do you find >> I don't I encourage husky through um the word of God about being patient and that you know God has a plan and whatever. >> Thank you. >> His plan is you trust his hand. >> He keeps on saying something about God forgot about me, God forgot about him. I told him I said I could have thought for 10 years God forgot about I'm 28. I just got engaged. Yeah. Year like a few months ago. I could have said for 10 years God forgot about me. But he didn't, you know. Yeah. >> So my fiance is 21. Like he didn't forget about me. He was thinking about me all the time, the whole time. >> I tell him the same. Relax. >> God's timing is the best timing. >> That's the the best answer I could give to it. >> Yeah. >> God's timing is absolutely the best timing. >> Um. >> Yeah. And it's it's he's always when even when we might feel that he's he's late, his his the late that we think is is late is on time, >> right? >> He's the only person that can make up for time, >> you know, >> 100%. >> Yes. Yes. And when you start acting as if you already trust him >> and when you start acting as if you you believe in him and as if you already know that everything will happen in perfect timing. That's actually when he says okay now this person deserves it. >> Yeah. So think about money. So many people they want money but they act poor. Their energy is poor. The words they use is very poor. The moment they put themselves into a place where they truly say, "I am ready right now for money." Whether they started budgeting, whether they started looking at investments or they started dressing more properly, whatever it is, they put themselves into the energy of money, God says, "Okay, he's now a vessel. He I he can now have more money." >> But if you're acting like a poor man, you have uh >> holes in your pocket where the money is going to fall out. There's no way God will give it to you. Same thing is with finding the love of your life. If you're not ready for the love of your life, then it's risky. Why should God give it to you? But if you act like a settled man, you're you're clean, you're taking care of your health, you're doing the right thing, um you take care of your own personal problems and baggage. God says, "Oh, this this looks like a guy who is really ready." Forget about God for a second. Yeah. Not that that's really possible. I'm saying the person themselves starts to believe, "Oh, I'm ready. I'm ready for it." >> They're starting to live a married life even though before they ever met their partner. They're starting to live a rich life before they ever met their partner. That's what's going to bring more of that. >> Yeah, I believe that. That's a that's a good way to explain it. I think uh it it changes it helps change the posture of your heart, the position of your heart. >> And God >> focuses on the heart. >> Yes. >> And >> where the heart >> gets placed in a certain way for you to be receptive to these things. That's what you're saying. Yes. It's like a magnet, right? >> Exactly. >> It turns on that that magnet and it draws >> Yeah. >> what's needed. >> Yeah. And God and the universe will test you. Like they will say send you a test. Like when he opened the band, God will test, right? You guys open the band. God will test you with with uh oh, can you maybe come do a oneman job for me? Whatever. And God wants you to say, "No, I now do bands. I'm not a oneman." Like everything in life is going to be like that. You know, I when I opened the business, I was getting offers to have my job back or something like that. I didn't want to take it. Like there's always going to be tests when you're starting to date somebody seriously. Next thing you know, you're gonna have a lot of girls chasing you. Oh, come let's just hang out here. There. You have to say, "No, I'm serious about actually dating and settling down." >> Yeah. Yeah. Certain thing it would be like distractions, right? To try to to throw you off. >> Yeah. But that makes us stronger. Yeah. >> So, if you think about it, it's it's the beauty of of God and all. >> Um, at which age did you start drumming? Were you that little baby that was knocking things up and stuff? >> Pots and pans under the sink. >> Legit. >> Pots and pans under the sink. >> Um. >> Wow. >> Taking uh the pots and pans, put it right in front of the TV and there was a song on >> Yeah. >> And um and I remember my dad, he came in the living room. He was like, "Whoa." Start screaming, "When did you Whoa. He grabs me and we run and we get in a taxi cab. He goes to the music store somewhere like 15 minutes away from the house. I don't have no idea what's going on. >> And there's a little drum set on the shelf in this music store and he's like, "Give me that one there. That black one." And we take it to the house in a garbage bag. >> Yeah. >> Take it to the house in a garbage bag and and it started from there. >> Wow. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> At what age is this? This is about three years old. >> Three? >> Yeah. >> No way. >> Three years old, >> right? >> Three years old is a gift from God. >> Gift from God. >> Wow. And throughout your years, I guess always in school, you were probably the drummer of the class and >> bands that you do. Did you do any cool gigs throughout the years? >> Oh, yeah. A bunch of different uh gigs working with >> uh my family, playing along with my family. My family is very musical. >> Oh, yeah. So, it's it's been an honor and the the the best honor that I can say that I've had is to be able to um touch young people with music. >> Yeah. >> Through music and and some older people, too. I've had a for instance a a lady come to me and she said, "When you were playing, I felt like God was sending healing." Wow. >> To me. Now, this is the funny part. >> Yeah. She said it it was so good I didn't take my medication for two days. >> That's an odd story. >> He said I didn't take the medication for two days but after the third day I said uh I should take my medication >> we have rehearsals with the band. >> Yeah. >> I usually don't have to go to the doctor for 6 months. >> But it's not me. It's not a thing of me playing so well. >> Really good. I saw the video of last night's wedding. >> I promise you it's not me. I promise you it's not me. It's like the prayer that I prayed. It's God using me. I'm just a vessel. It can all be taken away. Me being able to lift my hands right now is God. A snap of a finger, he could take that away. Me being able to walk, God forbid, he could take that away. So the energy that I have that you see, um, it's all through God. And I learned this from my grandmother. My grandmother always taught me. She said, "You always give the glory back to God because he's the one giving you everything." Right. >> Right. And she always taught me, she said, "When you play and he he gives you that strength, you play like it's your last day cuz you just never know." >> Wow. >> You never know when it's going to be your last day. >> Right. True. >> You know, Right. >> That's it. >> Um I heard that you come here for the meal sometimes. >> Yeah. >> That's so beautiful. >> Phenomenal. >> Yeah, >> it is phenomenal. For Shabas, you you put your phone away. uh you concentrate on God and and and spend time with family. >> I think every everybody should should do a like a Shabas >> if if possible. It's a it's a beautiful thing. >> Yeah. How's the food when you come for >> Don't you even don't you even start. >> What's your favorite? >> I love everything here. >> Yeah. >> Even down to the the the chicken noodle soup. >> The soup. Add everything. Add the >> sick man. >> Phenomenal. Hesky can make a >> Yeah, I had a steak already. >> He's serious business. >> He invites me over. Hesky >> is the best. >> Hesky's phenomenal. >> I actually I start Let's go there. You want to go to Hes I'm not going to do that. >> I'm actually I'm actually going to pose this one. >> It's a good podcast >> for the members. >> You sleep with >> what? No, he doesn't. He's >> in the room. In the room. I know. By the way, you guys worked out for a while. I was so proud of you. What happened to working out? >> Yeah, you work out yourself. >> He has a trainer. >> Yeah, >> I work out myself. I try to do what I can, you know, in the busy schedule, you know. I love it. But the schedule doesn't always permit, but you have to find time. I I have to be honest about that. But it's it's a beautiful thing. I'm very proud of Hesky, too, >> you know, cuz it brings clarity and and and brings good energy. Yeah. Yeah. What you ever had on a job that you broke the stick from? >> Yeah. The first job. >> The first job. >> You got a funny story. >> Yeah. Let me hear. >> This is We had a This was near Porum, but we had a gig prior. The day before, am I not mistake? >> Yeah, rehearsal. >> Was it rehearsal or we had a gig before? >> Then we got You went home and got a gig. >> He tells me, it's so crazy. He says to me, "You should stay here." I'm like, "I got to get home." >> Mhm. I go rush home. I get home like at what? Three o'clock in the morning. >> I get home at three o'clock in the morning. He calls me at like 3:30. You have to come back. What are you talking about? I got to come back. >> Mhm. >> We have a gig tomorrow. Poor him. I like I go throw my clothes in the wash, get a little bit sleep, and head back. >> Wow. >> To Lakewood. It's like a 2 hour and 2 hour and 30 minute drive. You live 2 hours and 30 minutes >> over it. Yeah. If it's a daytime. So or the sticks. Yeah. That's in por room. So I rush. >> Okay. >> I always keep a little sticks in the car. Whatever. One a pack or something. And I only had one two. I had two sticks to pack. >> Yeah. >> And I'm playing and while I'm playing, you know how poor is. >> Yeah. Yeah. Banging. Yeah. My stick breaks and I go and look cuz I rushed out the house. I left my stick bag >> with all the sticks. >> God, >> we got to make this happen. It's for him. The kids, the guys are going crazy. >> Hesky gets tape and we taped the stick. >> No, >> no way. >> We taped the stick up and it got us through. It got us through the gig, dude. The last time I said I said this last >> without a rehearsals every single night the first three rehearsals every rehearsal he broke all the sticks. >> Yeah. >> You know you know Matt Hill the drummer. Yeah. >> So I'll never forget I once saw this video of him druming at a wedding and he breaks the stick and he has this like cup >> of sticks on the left side and he effortlessly just pulls out another one. Yeah. This a scary moment for me because it feel like I'm not prepared. >> Yeah. >> And not to have the stick. It feels like, oh, the gig could end. >> It's not going to end. >> We tape those sticks up and got through it. But it taught me a lesson, you know, make sure I have sticks everywhere. Have it in my coat, >> have it in my socks, have sticks all over the place just so I can always be prepared. >> Is drum and percussion similar? Is it the same? Can you play? Uh, it's a different you can do, but you might not be at a a high high level, >> right? >> So, drums is your thing. >> Yes, I can do percussion, but I'm I'm won't be up there with the the guys that do it every night. Okay. >> Different feel. >> Do Can you do a drum? Some people you see a drum of like 20, 30 pieces or something like that? >> Mhm. >> Is that is that just for the heck of it or is that like what's the point of it? Would you play a drum like that? or you prefer it to what do you have now like nine pieces? >> So it's all depending on the setting of what it is like some there are some people I can't judge anyone I'm not judging anyone to each his own in that situation you have some guys and I'm speaking from personal experience of people that I've known that do it for the look >> it's not needed right >> let's say for instance >> a smorg >> Mhm. Do you need 50 pieces? Or you could have a like a little jazz kit or >> Yeah. >> symbol, a high hat and a snare, right? In some cases, >> this is just an example. If you see a guy that has a crazy kid. >> Yeah. >> For a smorgg, you don't need this, right? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, you see a lot of situations like then some situations >> you have like a a huge concert where he needs that for the different tones and >> Yeah. Yeah. >> To have a different effect. It's a necessity. Yeah. >> What's your personal favorite part of the wedding? >> Uh, I enjoy I enjoy Second Dance. >> Yeah, >> I enjoy Second Dance. >> Why? Cuz the beats are like different. I enjoy all of it to be hon >> but second dance the energy >> the energy in second dance >> do you connect sometimes to the songs or to the words >> I don't understand >> or you just >> you know >> specific song that you like more than other >> I do connect heavily especially because I come to my friends and I'm saying I I connect with the music um the chords and stuff like that what I what I hear but then when I find out the words and what it's saying. >> Yeah. >> It takes to a whole another level. >> When you found out the words of I don't need your becket and the meaning of it, I don't think it took you to a whole different level. >> It took me to a whole different level. >> I mean, it's it's a it's kind of like a >> sing. Oh, please. You sing it. You sing it. >> No. No. You get what I'm saying? Like it's it's more about a humoristic song than it is meaningful. I'm just saying. >> I get you. I get you. But c certain songs um I can't get it right now, but it it it resonates. >> Do you have a favorite song or something? >> It's not going to come to me right now. >> Oh, okay. >> It's on the spot. >> Um Oh, the the one day we'll all be together. >> Yeah. >> Many happy days. Many happy days. >> Yeah. Happy day. One of my favorite songs is the, you know, the song. >> Oh, yeah. >> It's one of my favorite songs. >> Yeah. >> Yes, >> definitely. Definitely. >> Why do they put the glass in front of the >> Everybody asks me that. >> Yeah. Okay, good. I'm glad >> everyone asks me that. >> You want to answer that? Do you want to answer that? >> Oh, we got a sound engineer here. So, >> Oh, okay. Now, what would say you speak to him? >> Well, to my understanding, it's not so much to cage the drummer in. It helps control the sound, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Oh, I got it right. >> Am I an engineer? >> No. >> It's one of his things he says it um to control the sound. So it's for instance almost like you have a singer, you put them in like a booth >> and now you can adjust certain things. >> So you're now taking uh what's being played and you're like caging it in. >> So now you can control things a little more. >> It does look cool also. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> Cage. >> The cage. Here we go. Shield. It's not a cage. >> Is it a cage or it's just three pieces? It's just three pieces in the front. Right. Yeah, it's a shield like to shield it. >> You like it >> to shield the sounding? >> Yeah, >> I was actually thinking to buy a big one. >> Buy as big as you want to. It's your money. >> Buy as big as you want. >> Are you also locking him in or >> just make sure and make sure you just have a fan for me. >> I don't have to lock him in because you can't usually walk after a set. >> Really? >> I have that you sometimes >> I just relax afterwards because it's so high and intense, right? >> And like I said, it's a for me it's a spiritual moment. >> Yeah. So, as I'm playing, it's so many things emotionally that I'm going through, >> right, >> when I'm playing. >> Well, you get to sit throughout the whole time. Technically, >> it's not like that. Like, just like you get to sit when you're riding a bike. >> It's a good thing that he sits. >> It's it's it's the same as this. >> Yeah. Yeah. You're working. >> You get to sit while you're riding a bike, but you're actually moving every part. You're moving it both >> legs. You're moving both hands, and you're using your fingers, your wrist. you using everything, >> right? What about kosher food at the weddings? What do you think? >> It's phenomenal. >> Yeah, >> it's phenomenal. I love it. >> You know, >> do you think it's better than non-coosher food? I never I never tried non-coosher food. >> Huh? >> Yeah. What would you say? >> Lord, I don't I I like both. >> Yeah. >> But I I love kosher food. >> Yeah. >> It's phenomenal. Like it's I remember it's crazy. I could eat a whole bunch of different things. And if I'm outside and I'm eating a bunch of different things, like you're at a wedding, you have steak, you got chicken. If I do this outside, it is nothing against outside food. My stomach is going to get messed up >> for sure. Some reason I eat kosher food, I eat a bunch of different things at the wedding and I'm good to go. >> Wow. >> Yeah. Why do you think >> because it's a spiritual food, you know? >> Spiritual food. Yeah. Or sometimes the quality is different like the way they uh >> do their meats or the you know what what they do eat or not. >> It's phenomenal. >> So loves >> Oh. >> Do they always allow you to eat food? Like some some halls don't allow the musicians to eat. You ever had that? >> No. >> It's not common anymore. You for sure. >> No, it's still common. >> So I think what the the shift was >> I mean I know takes care of you guys. and they won't let >> me ask a question. Did you pay for your musicians? >> Ah, that's mean. No, but I have la shishi is catering. >> Oh, okay. >> So, my food is good. But I've been to weddings where the band did was not allowed to eat. It's it's >> it sucks. >> It's scary. >> You know what I think it is sometimes is as for me, the reason why I don't think that I've ever experienced it >> was because I'm not saying I can't speak for other people. I'm saying as for me, even when I didn't play >> and I just did other jobs at a wedding, >> I always came professional. >> Mhm. >> I always came with a jacket on >> suit too. >> Yeah, that's >> that's right, man. I always come with a suit. I always come with a tie. >> Yeah. >> So, a lot of times you might have certain people that work at a a job. I'm not speak for everybody. Different. They might not wear a jacket. Yeah. >> They might wear just a certain shirt or whatever and it becomes a sore eye and they say, "Oh, no." Because it doesn't look >> Yeah. >> It doesn't look good. That's what I've seen. >> Right. >> And sometimes they ask like, "If you're going to eat, make sure you you look like you're at a wedding." >> Ah. Right. >> The profession. And most time you'll blend in. They don't know if you're a guest, >> whatever. >> I've never had a problem. I've never had a problem because I look like they were gonna stop me. I look like one of the guests. >> Yeah, >> I blend in >> 100%. >> Get out of here. Please get out of here. All the catering halls uh that I've been to a professional outstanding and I love the people that work there. I I've developed relationships with a lot of the people that work there from the some of the the cooks. Yeah. >> To the people waiting at tables, everybody's treat treated me with the utmost respect. >> Oh, that's beautiful. You have a favorite venue. >> Yeah, >> I didn't say that. I I I have a few, but I I do uh I I like the marina. Yeah. special reason because it's not too far from my house. >> Ah, >> that's why he's saying that it's not too far. >> I love Lakewood holes, too. >> Even though it's a Even though it's a drive, >> I love Lakewood. >> Tell them why. >> What do you mean why? >> Oh, jeez. He say certain. >> How did you meet? >> My brother's a a a big drummer in the industry. >> He's the one that started me. He brought me into the industry. helping him and and him teaching me certain things. And Hesky was at one of the gigs and he introduced me to Hesky and then Hesky um took to me and Hesky started helping me. >> Wow. >> With with some gigs and stuff and the whole time for about a couple of years, Hesky didn't know that I was like a drummer. He heard of me being a drummer, but he didn't know that I really played, right? So he found that out later on cuz it wasn't my it wasn't my intention to come in here to be a drummer. >> You know, it was never my intention to do that. >> God had a different plan. It was never my intention. >> How did how did I see that play drums? >> He asked me one day to assist him >> with fixing drums >> and he's the engineer and I fixed it up the way he asked me to >> and he was like, "Okay, just play play something. just hit it and I started playing. He was like, "Wait, you really play drums?" I was like, "Uh, >> yeah." >> And that's how it started. >> Yeah. Thank you so much for watching. Thank you, AJ. Thank you, Kesky. Thank you to Kesky Levy Band. And reminder to like, share, subscribe to the episode. Always a pleasure seeing you. Thank you, AJ. Appreciate you.