Seeing a man dressed in traditional attire for a Hassidic Jew performing on stage at a reggae concert may make some people wonder what's going on. At least those who are unfamiliar with Matisyahu—the Hasidic hip hop and reggae artist known for beat boxing, and rapping along with a high energy, improvisational band.
Matisyahu performed in Columbus, Ohio on July 1, to delight of an enthusiastic audience that swayed and danced until the very end of the show. The blending of reggae, hip-hop, rock, and spiritually uplifting lyrics created a pure and upbeat experience.
Matisyahu, whose legal name is Matthew Miller, was born in Philadelphia, PA and raised in White Plains, NY. He fell into the hippy lifestyle in his youth, favoring improvisational styled music from which he draws much of his influence.
Before moving to New York, Matisyahu went on a quest to Colorado and then on to Israel where he deepened his spiritual connection and devised a plan to share his knowledge through music. Channeling his newly renewed beliefs through reggae and rock music he learned to enjoy in his youth, Matisyahu has managed to bring modernized reggae/rock to the masses. His original hip-hop styled lyrics bring messages of hope and faith to kids who need it, in a form that is easy for them to digest. These elements were the key attributes that made his performance shine in Columbus, Ohio on July 1.
Matisyahu and his abundantly talented band opened up with a solidly crisp drumbeat, a thick reggae bass line, and hip-hop style lyrics. Speaking of being "in a maze" and "lost in the desert," Matisyahu painted a picture of a soul trying to find his way. The first song, like every other song, ended with abundant musical jams.
The connection between the musicians was very strong, with Aaron Dugan on guitar, Jason Fraticelli on bass, Rob Marscher on the keyboard, and Skoota Warner on drums. The band frequently strayed from the arrangements from their albums, taking each song into new directions.
Seeing a man dressed in traditional attire for a Hassidic Jew performing on stage at a reggae concert may make some people wonder what's going on. At least those who are unfamiliar with Matisyahu—the Hasidic hip hop and reggae artist known for beat boxing, and rapping along with a high energy, improvisational band.
Opening act Trevor Hall was brought on stage to perform "Lime Tree" and "I Will Be Light." The combination of Trevor Hall's reggae inspired folk songs backed up by the band and Matisyahu made for a unique sound. Both songs broke into open jams that featured Matisyahu's highly refined beat boxing and the band's amazing ability to go with the flow and improvise on the spot.
Jordan Chasteen a 24 year-old professional musician from Columbus, Ohio had a favorable experience at the show and said, "I was not expecting much... Seeing them live has really changed my perception of them [Matisyahu]. It was an incredible show. I was expecting computer generated beats with bad rapping but the influence of his vocals and the extremely talented music (performers) behind it changed my view entirely of Matisyahu."
The encore showcased "King Without a Crown", which is his most notable single to date, off of the 2006 album Youth. This song was easily turned into a ten-minute free jam and concluded the night with fans cheering and smiling until the lights faded. With the phrase "give praise to the master of creation, we spread love to this nation" ringing out, the show ended an upbeat and fulfilling note.
Feeds