Barmitzvah party was Todd’s first gig

Jewish Telegraph, April 2006

WHEN Todd Weinstock first started taking his music seriously, there were a lot of Christian rock bands around.
In response, the New Yorker got together with some of his Jewish friends to form Sons of Abraham.
And what started as a joke soon took off as they signed to independent record label Ex-it to release an album, Termites In His Smile.
Around the same time, he also joined hard rock band Glassjaw, who became hugely influential until their split.
Todd’s love of music started as he grew up in Long Island. His uncle, whom he looked up to, played the bass. When he died, Todd’s aunt gave him the bass.
“But I wound up playing the guitar,” he said. “I grew up listening to Michael Jackson and The Beatles, but then I discovered Guns ’N’ Roses and heavy metal.”
Todd, whose grandparents escaped from Germany and Russia before the Holocaust, says he still listens to Michael Jackson — “his old stuff, when he was black”.
Todd’s first show with his first ever band was actually the party after his barmitzvah in the basement of the family’s house.
All the time he was studying, Todd was trying to decide what he wanted to do with his life.
“But all I could think about was my music,” he said. “I was in three of four bands at the time.
“Glassjaw landed a record deal in my last year at college, but my family didn’t really understand my decision to drop out.
“They were not too supportive at first, but they’ve realised what it means to me since then. I’ve been doing it for so long now that it is a real job — although I’m still struggling to make ends meet.
“When Glassjaw disbanded, I was very low, questioning what I was doing.”
But he was soon back on a high when he decided to form a new band, Men Women and Children.
“Before I knew what I wanted MW&C to sound like, I knew that I wanted it to be fun, like a party,” the 27-year-old said. “Glassjaw became too serious so I wanted to make it fun.
“The sound of our album — the self-titled Men Women and Children (WEA) — has surprised a lot of people. I’ve grown and matured a lot as a musician since Glassjaw.
“MW&C are funky, rock, electro with disco elements. I never pictured myself playing this sort of music, but now I can do whatever I want.”
The album took almost two years to write and record. The group ‘leaked’ some tracks on the internet and landed a British tour support slot with Panic! At The Disco.
“We aren’t known to the audiences as most of the shows were sold out before we were added,” Todd said. “It was a challenge at first, but by the end we had won many people over.”
Todd is hoping to tour the album for as long as possible — and wants to bring the band back to these shores as often as he can.
“I have no desire to be a rock star,” he added. “Our music is such a release on stage, but this band is intense off stage. We are all head strong New Yorkers.