Indie bands confirm, Madonna might

Led by frontman Yoni Wolf, Why blurs the boundaries between folk, rap and indie rock.

By DAVID BRINN
Two quirky indie bands will make their Israeli debuts in July: California alternative folk rappers Why and French psychedelic shoe-gazing duo M83. Led by frontman Yoni Wolf, Why blurs the boundaries between folk, rap and indie rock. Formed in 2002, the trio has released a handful of well-received albums, including last year's Alopecia. What ties their music together is Wolf's awkwardly articulate lyrics, sung/spoken in his nasal voice. The group will appear on July 15 at the Barby Club. M83 - the project of Anthony Gonzalez and Nicolas Fromageau - has also been prolific throughout the decade, releasing albums of delicate, ethereal electronic pop, not dissimilar from their countrymen Air. The duo has become of the darlings of top rock acts, opening up recently for Kings Of Leon, The Killers and Depeche Mode. M83's Barby Club show is set for July 1. Meanwhile, local media have been reporting that final negotiations are underway to bring Madonna here as the closing date of her worldwide Sticky and Sweet tour. The show would take place around the High Holidays, with the singer expected to stay here for a few days. And Guns N' Roses, with Chinese Democracy finally off its back, are also pencilled in for a late-summer or autumn show, according to Channel 1. The band played here in 1993, but only frontman Axl Rose remains from that lineup.