Jewish reggae? Definitely — and it’s a great combo, apparently. Israeli-American singer and composer Lior Ben-Hur and his band Sol Tevél give reggae a Middle Eastern (and sometimes Hebrew) spin in their new album, “So I Wander,” which ranked 14th on the Billboard chart for reggae shortly after it was released a few months ago. The San Francisco-based Ben-Hur and his band will officially launch their album on Friday, May 26 at the Independent, 628 Divisadero St., S.F. The show, which also features Afrolicious and trumpeter Will Magid, starts at 9. Tickets are $15 in advance, $17 at the door. Details: theindependentsf.com
Lots of people head for the hills (or Lake Tahoe, Mendocino, Monterey and other out-of-town places) for the long Memorial Day weekend, which makes this a perfect time to check out a wonderful new art exhibit in San Francisco: “Roz Chast: Cartoon Memoirs” at the Contemporary Jewish Museum. Though she’s made her mark as a New York-based cartoonist, the witty, 62-year-old Jewish artist also has a serious side, too, as shown in her cartoon memoir about her late parents, “Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?”
The CJM, located at 526 Mission St., S.F., is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free for ages 18 and under, $12 for 65 and up, and $14 regular. For more info: thecjm.org