Klezmer music has always been a hybrid form, combining ideas from traditional Romanian and gypsy music, from the vocal ornamentations used by cantors in Jewish liturgical singing, and later from American jazz. Now the group that calls itself Golem has thrown hard-driving rock into the mix to create a contemporary klezmer sound that gets people dancing wherever the group performs. They will be onstage at Stangl Stage in Flemington, NJ, on November 3 at 8 p.m.

The group takes its name from a Frankenstein-type monster out of an old Jewish legend. Annette Kogan, the founder and director of the group, calls her six-person ensemble "a monster who has walked through Jewish music." She plays accordion and, with Aaron Diskin, shares in the vocals for the group, with lyrics for their original songs in Yiddish, English, and Russian, as well as Ukrainian, French, Serbian-Croatian, and Romany. A violin, trombone, and a kicking rhythm section add to the dynamic blend.

Golem is known for its theatricality and fearless wild energy, combined with a boundless love of tradition. The band performs nationally and internationally, from the east coast to the west, and from Paris to Mexico City to Stockholm to Warsaw. The band is at home in venues as varied as rock clubs, festivals, and theaters, and at weddings and parties as well. After their self-released album “Homesick Songs,” they released two albums, “Fresh Off Boat” and “Citizen Boris” on the independent Jewish label, Jdub Records (sometime home of Matisyahu). Golem then joined the roster of Mexican label Discos Corason (known for the Buena Vista Social Club) and released the highly acclaimed album, “Tanz.” Golem was featured performing live in Season 4 of comedian Louis C.K.’s hit TV show, “Louie,” and on “The Untitled Action Bronson Show” on Vice TV. As Jewish Week expresses it, Golem is “not your father’s klezmer band, unless of course your father was Sid Vicious.”

Admission is $30 in advance, $35 at the door, and $20 for students with ID. For tickets, go to https://bit.ly/2OTVHV4.