about the band

Our style could best be classified as campfire punk. We have over 30 original songs, written by Zalman, (sometimes with help from friends and family), which range from folk to rock to rap to punk. All songs are 100% kosher, though they don't necessarily focus on religious topics. Some are specifically religious, like Shabbos, Morristown, Let, Forefathers, and Word. We have performed at shuls in North Jersey, and love to play, practice, jam, and record. Some of our songs are about events that happened in the past (like getting lost on the Rogue River Trail in Southern Oregon), most are inspired by H-Shem, and others are inspired by classroom events (like Phone, a song about putting down your cell phone!). The songs have been modified, tweaked, and improved by the band, giving them all a unique, original, fun, tasty flavor unlike music you've heard before. People love to dance to it, and we get rave reviews on it, from fans age one to 90. 

Many moons ago (read, summer 2021), Rebbetzin Klar from the Shabbat House, contacted Zalman and asked him to form a band, by getting together with a couple of guys from Morristown and West Orange, including drummer Seth Chosak. That band played a couple of shows which were well received, and in which Zalman led a few of his original songs. Wanting to focus more on originals, Zalman formed a new band with drummer Seth Chosak, bassist Aharon Kestenbaum, and keyboardist Rabbi Avrohom Levin in February of 2022. Looking for a place to practice, Route 18 checked in with Rabbi Kasowitz at Chabad West Orange, who offered to let the band practice at shul. A month later the band played their first live performance there for Purim, and history was made! The band's next gig was Lag Ba'omer for Rabbi Block at the Union County Torah Center, and they've been rocking ever since! Rabbi Levin moved out of Jersey, leaving a lineup of a tight three, ready to rock! They've spent the last year focusing on getting in the studio to get songs online, especially driven by Zalman's student's persistent requests to add Route 18 songs to their Spotify playlists. BH!