Chaim Bokchin founded the band En3rgy
Less than a year ago, accomplished guitarist Chaim Bokchin founded the band En3rgy, which quickly found itself on the fast track to the top of the wedding and events scene. Chaim is a veteran performer at high profile events, who’s always on the lookout to bring a fresh approach to music and keep his listeners engaged.
My Strangest Wedding Request
I was performing at a wedding in my usual musician’s attire of a white shirt and black vest. I had just stopped for a break and was headed to a table to eat something, when I was mistaken for a waiter. Someone stopped me and asked me for the portion I was holding.
My Most Memorable Performance
The recent Siyum HaShas at MetLife. I led the orchestra and played guitar. Leading the music at such an incredible event, enhancing the ruach and bringing simchah to the thousands of people watching, was a highlight in my life. I’ll never forget it.
A Wedding Near-Disaster
It actually happened to me twice that two different drummers who flew with me from New York to weddings in other cities got food poisoning during the gig, and we weren’t sure if they would be able to finish the night. In case you’re wondering, they both did, but it wasn’t easy and they sure looked like ghosts doing it.
The Latest Popular Dinner Music
People have been asking for Ishay Ribo’s songs recently. His recording of “Nafshi” with Motty Steinmetz helped him break in to the chassidish and heimish crowds. Once people enjoyed that song, they started to check out the rest of Ribo’s material — and the fascination has lasted, because his music is just so genuine. You can totally feel his heart, his soul.
An Oldie I Still Enjoy Playing
“Vehu Keili” from Baruch Levine’s debut album, Vezakeini, in 2006. Beautiful!
My All-Time Favorite Album
The English Collection by MBD.
Our Favorite Shabbos Zemiros
Yom Zeh Mechubad, the still-popular vintage tune with the chorus “me ee ee ee ee ee ee kol yamim, yamim…” That song is still a winner for my kids, and when we’re up to the repeat of the words “olamim,” my younger son always says “Binyamin!” Don’t know why, but it’s still funny every time.
The Niggun I Missed Most While Not Going To Shul
“Yechadsheihu” from the Shabbos Mevarchim davening. There’s something about singing your way into a new month asking for all the blessings. Our shul in Boro Park uses an unusual tune that I’ve never heard anywhere else.
The Songs Guitarists Love To Play
Really, any song that has great rhythm.
A Song That Takes Me Back To My Yeshivah Days
“Kulanu Yachad,” the title track of Yonatan Sheinfeld’s 2009 debut album (composed by Eli Klein, who was then a bochur in Kol Torah), was a thing then.
The Best Song To Warm Up A Crowd
I like to use a good-mood song to warm up the crowd, get them on to the dance floor and moving. One example, among many, is “B’inyan Hasimchah,” MBD’s collaboration with Aharon Razel from the Kulam Ahuvim album.
A Song That Takes Me Back To My Childhood
Uncle Moishy’s “Pizza” song (sung to the tune of MBD's "Maheirah.") I’m sure I’m not unique on that one.
Keeping Score In The Second Dance
It’s tough. There are around 15 new albums a year at this point, which means new songs are coming in at turbo speed. As musicians, we have to keep up, constantly learning the new music. As a band, we’ll play the latest releases for either the first or second spot in the second dance, even if the songs are not so pumping, because we need to let the crowd know that we’re totally current. Later we’ll get back to older MBD, Fried, Miami or Dedi material, because those are still great songs and people enjoy them because they grew up on them.
An English Song That Always Strikes A Chord
That has to be Shwekey’s “A Perfect World,” from the Musica album. The message of the song is really what we hope for every day.
Words That Touch Me Every Time, No Matter The Tune
The pasuk from Tehillim, “Yerushalayim harim saviv lah — As mountains surround Yerushalayim, so too Hashem surrounds His people.”
My Riff On Backyard Weddings
I’ve done a couple, not too many, as I’m not a one-man-band. I get called either when my band is performing or when people want to add on a guitarist to the one-man-band. That said, the weddings I’ve played at have been beautiful, despite the obvious disappointment at not having the crowd and venue you’d always imagined. There is that special atmosphere when it’s just close family and friends. Everyone becomes a part of it.
(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 814)
