Raquy and the Cavemen

Middle-Eastern drumming sensation Raquy and the Cavemen are a duo of virtuoso drummers / multi-instrumentalists who bring hard rock energy to the mystical rhythms of the Middle East.
Raquy Danziger and Liron Peled, a former couple, started the band when they were married - Raquy is a world renowned virtuoso on the dumbek (Middle-Eastern hand drum), expressing her love of Middle Eastern music with the inspiration she absorbed in her travels. Liron has had a rich background as an incredible, world-touring hard rock drummer. Together they've created a fresh new sound, bringing out the best of both genres.
Raquy and the Cavemen switch between energetic drumming compositions and intoxicating melodic pieces. Utilizing a variety of unusual instruments including the Kemenche (an ancestor of the violin), Dumset (Middle Eastern drumset) and Mongolian Throat singing (see full instrument descriptions below), Raquy and the Cavemen's huge sound and mind-blowing show leaves listeners transported, uplifted and full of joy.
Raquy and the Cavemen have released Six CD’s (See discography below). They have performed at Central Park SummerStage, LollaPalooza and PASIC, and have collaborated with some of the biggest names in Middle-Eastern music, including Omar Faruk Tekbilek and Saiid El-Artist. They have also shared the stage with Mickey Hart.
Their music has received radio airplay (reaching the top 20 in the CMJ Radio Airplay chart) and has been licensed in movie soundtracks and dance performances worldwide.
Their show features several exotic instruments:
Dumbek
Raquy specializes in the dumbek, the Middle Eastern goblet drum. She has shared the stage with some of the greatest drummers in the Middle East. Her style combines techniques that she learned in various countries, but especially features the amazing new Turkish Split Hand Technique that she has been studying in Istanbul. In Raquy’s original drumming compositions, the dumbek, usually used as accompaniment in ensemble pieces, becomes a shining solo instrument. Audiences are amazed by the speed, dexterity and finesse of Raquy’s playing.
Kemenche Tarhu
Raquy's other instrument, the Kemenche Tarhu, is a haunting 12 stringed spiked fiddle designed after the Persian kemenche (spikefiddle.com). Raquy plays original compositions on the Kemenche, based on the Middle Eastern tonal modes, as well as a selection of favorite traditional tunes.
Dumset
Liron combined his hard rock drum set background with Middle Eastern traditional drums by inventing the Dum Set. The Dum Set consists of Liron's "Baboombeck" (big copper dumbek), a bass dumbek played with one foot, a Riq (tambourine) played with the other foot, and cymbals played with his hands.
11 String Guitar
Liron took a beautiful 12-String guitar, and restrung it with 11 thin strings to sound like a cross between a guitar, a sitar and a saz, bringing the instrument a new exotic character.
Throat Singing
Liron learned how to throat sing from his friend Nezih, who figured out how to do it himself while he was on mushrooms. Now Liron uses this incredible sound to entrance listeners and add a synth bass-like sound to Raquy and the Cavemen.
"Raquy and the Cavemen's music is a remarkable demonstration of what Page and Plant have always wanted to do but have never succeeded at."
- David Dacks, Exclaim Magazine
Raquy and the Cavemen also give workshops and master classes in Middle-Eastern drumming.
Discography
“Release the Green Lover” - 2010
“Bewitched” - 2009
“Mischief” - 2008
“Naked” – 2007
“Jordan” – 2005
“Dust” – 2003