Hatrack River Forum: Maccabeats goin to the White House!

This is topic Maccabeats goin to the White House! in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Armoth (Member # 4752) on :

I still don't fully believe it's happening until it happens...

Apparently, May is Jewish Heritage month, and there is gonna be a party - we're invited!

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/05/09/president-obama-hosts-white-house-jewish-american-heritage-month-recepti?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

We got contacted through a .gov address - the deputy social secretary wanted our social security numbers so he could run a secret service check - we know this is protocol since we sang at a DNC event where VP Biden was present. However, we felt this was too good to be true. The Maccabeats have had a bunch of scammers including a guy who wanted to hire us for his son's bar mitzvah to sing with Justin Bieber and Michelle Obama. We realized it was a prank before Biber's people did [Wink]

Anyways - seems pretty legit - but for some reason I can't let myself believe it. Last week we did a concert with Matisyahu and Idan Raichel (two huge Jewish artists) and it was MCed by Zach Braff - we hung out with him at the envent...the whole thing is just so surreal.

Whew - anyway - thought I'd share the news here. We haven't made an official announcement on our FB page about it yet - probably bc I just want to make sure it actually HAPPENS...

Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :

Cool beans. Congratulations!

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Armoth:
MCed by Zach Braff - we hung out with him at the event

I may be more jealous of this than the White House thing. [Wink]

But both are very cool. [Big Grin]

Posted by MattP (Member # 10495) on :

Woo! Awesome!

Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :

That's awesome! Congrats!

Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :

What a great opportunity! I hope its real!

Posted by Lisa (Member # 8384) on :

Wow! I hope you're enjoying the ride. That is so cool.

Posted by C3PO the Dragon Slayer (Member # 10416) on :

Whoa! I just got on my computer and wondered idly "What have the Maccabeats been up to?" Cool to see such an awesome answer right away.

Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :

Awesome Armoth! *high five*

Posted by adenam (Member # 11902) on :

Super cool!

Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :

quote:
Originally posted by rivka:

quote:
Originally posted by Armoth:
MCed by Zach Braff - we hung out with him at the event
I may be more jealous of this than the White House thing.

But both are very cool.

My thoughts exactly. [Smile]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

My daughter, OTOH, has no idea who Zach Braff is, so she's more impressed by the White House visit. [Wink]

Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :

That is wonderful! You guys sure deserve it!

Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :

quote:
Originally posted by rivka:
My daughter, OTOH, has no idea who Zach Braff is, so she's more impressed by the White House visit.

"You know, the wormy guy from Scrubs who constantly-self narrates and has hallucinations?"

Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :

i hope this goes well and there's mention of it in the news somewhere.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Samprimary:

quote:
Originally posted by rivka:
My daughter, OTOH, has no idea who Zach Braff is, so she's more impressed by the White House visit.
"You know, the wormy guy from Scrubs who constantly-self narrates and has hallucinations?"

Since my daughter has never seen Scrubs (my kids don't watch TV, generally), this won't help her at all.

Posted by Armoth (Member # 4752) on :

Thanks guys [Smile]

- Hopefully we'll get a photo with the Prez.

Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :

quote:

Anyways - seems pretty legit - but for some reason I can't let myself believe it. Last week we did a concert with Matisyahu and Idan Raichel (two huge Jewish artists) and it was MCed by Zach Braff - we hung out with him at the envent...the whole thing is just so surreal.

Please tell me you video tapped this, I must see.

Posted by Armoth (Member # 4752) on :

there's a pic of us with him on facebook

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

*attempts to link*

Posted by aeolusdallas (Member # 11455) on :

Awesome. Grats!

BTW I can't listen to Dynamite anymore, your version is just so much better and more fun.

Posted by rollainm (Member # 8318) on :

quote:
Originally posted by rivka:

quote:
Originally posted by Armoth:
MCed by Zach Braff - we hung out with him at the event
I may be more jealous of this than the White House thing.

But both are very cool.

Ditto. That is way cool.

Posted by Armoth (Member # 4752) on :

It Happened. We Sang for Obama and he gave us a shout-out!

http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/05/17/jewish-american-heritage-month

We actually have a video of us meeting him and singing him the song that he quotes in that clip and his awesome reaction - he really loved it!

Crazies experience and one of the best in my entire life. Also, bonus, I got a pic with Justice Breyer. (All is available to see online if you're a fan of The Maccabeats on FB).

Will post more later - exhausted, going to bed.

Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :

Very nice - I saw all the pictures on Facebook. Congratulations.

Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :

That was adorable!

In other news, what's with all the cell phone videos? Get your dinky little camera out of the way already!

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

You do a good Washington pose.

Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Armoth:
It Happened. We Sang for Obama and he gave us a shout-out!

http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/05/17/jewish-american-heritage-month

We actually have a video of us meeting him and singing him the song that he quotes in that clip and his awesome reaction - he really loved it!

Crazies experience and one of the best in my entire life. Also, bonus, I got a pic with Justice Breyer. (All is available to see online if you're a fan of The Maccabeats on FB).

Will post more later - exhausted, going to bed.

Liiiiiiiiiink!!! [Smile]

Posted by Armoth (Member # 4752) on :

Gahhhh!!! We're not allowed to post our video with Obama [Frown]

But it was awesome - and at least I have it for posterity.

We sang a quick song for him, right before he went on and spoke to the crowd - a barbershop tag to the words "four more years" he laughed and said he loved it - and then sang it in the clip I posted above.

You can see a bad quality recording of some of the songs we performed here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e9wK79pCIg&feature=player_embedded

All I have to say is that the White House staff is incredibly nice, and super-impressive. I think we walk a really fine line between commanding respect and not going absurdly overboard. The President is one of us, but he is also our leader - and the decor and presentaton at the White House reflects that.

Also, Obama is larger than life - it was inredibly surreal to meet him.

Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :

I'm only upset I'm at work and therefore unable to go to any of those links.

Way cool though Armoth. [Smile]

Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :

But you are still not yet at the most important place yet.

On the Colbert Report [Mad]

What's taking Stephen so long!?

Posted by Shanna (Member # 7900) on :

You know, I think of y'all every time that commercial plays for Bridemaids.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

That's super-cool!

Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :

That is AMAZINGLY cool!