The above video is also available on YouTube:
The Hajj got a mention in my recent story “What's Happening at Winters Tavern” posted at the end of March. They hold the distinction of being the first band to be granted a “residency” at the world famous Winters Tavern in Pacifica California. At their first of the 4 shows in April, I asked them to do this interview when they returned on April 20th. They agreed, and when the time came to do it, CJ happened to be working the bar. I was happy to have him conduct the interview, giving me the opportunity to direct a video for a change.
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It was lights, camera, action as CJ started the interview AND tended to customers at the bar. Owner, booker, beer slinger — you can now add interviewer to his endless list of talents.
The Hajj obviously have a special relationship with CJ which seems to be based on coffee. They have a tasty brew that they eagerly shared with me when I arrived for the interview.
As you are about to find out, the life of The Hajj is fascinating. The southern California based band spends as much time on the road as possible, crisscrossing North America as well as jaunts overseas. How they ended up doing this is equally fascinating. In their early days learning to play rock together they were actually breaking the law. Rock music was banned in Saudi Arabia at the time they lived there. Born in Cyprus, their family moved around a bit before the two of them immigrated to Canada for college.
It seems they were California dreaming from the get go, because it wasn’t long before they made a beeline for the golden coast. Now, the veteran touring rock band makes frequent visits to Winters Tavern on their many travels up and down California. In fact, Winters is listed in their top 3 venues in all of California. Wait till you see the giant grin on CJ’s face when he hears who the other two venues are.
When pressed to summarize their music, The Hajj keep it short: Psychedelic Eastern Rock. But that’s not half the story. The band’s name refers to a pilgrimage, which to them is touring. Along the way they’ve picked up many influences including Armenian, Greek and Arab Bedouin from their early days, to punk, improv and noise as they spent more time in North America.
Although they don’t have a Bandcamp site, you can find The Hajj music on their own website (below). They also have several live performance videos on YouTube.
And if you’re local to Pacifica, don’t miss your chance to see the last two performances of their residency at Winters Tavern. The next is this Sunday April 23 at 3pm in the outdoor beer garden where you’ll here a rare acoustic set that I’m told will be heavy on the improv. Then, their final residency performance will be on the indoor stage on Saturday night April 29th.
The Hajj Interview with CJ