PHOTOS BY JEFFREY KEARNEY
REVIEW BY WARREN EPSTEIN
PHOTOS BY AIDAN EPSTEIN
A recent comment on YouTube called Matisyahu the coolest living Jew.
I certainly wouldn’t argue the point, not after witnessing the Jewish reggae artist’s rocking, passionate concert Sunday night at the Black Sheep.
Everything you need to know about Matisyahu (pronounced “MAtis-YAhoo”) is in his song “One Day,” which topped his 2 1/2 hour set. It’s a powerful anthem, a desperate hope for a day when people will lay down their arms.
As his three back-up musicians built a wall of sound behind him, Matisyahu, wearing a yarmulke (Jewish prayer cap), his prayer shawl’s fringes and long gray beard flying as he danced, sang “One day! One day! One daaaaay!” And the sold-out crowd crushed toward the stage singing along with their arms and index fingers extended.
One day.
It was quite a scene. Some in the crowd, like Matisyahu, wore yarmulkes. Others wore dreadlocks, mohawks and Rockies caps.
Before the show, while the line outside the Black Sheep hugged the buildings to avoid the rain, Matisyahu left his bus and jogged in the deluge. Fans applauded him.
Once inside, the back-up musicians opened the show with a wordless ear-drum splitting cross between techno and metal.
Matisyahu joined them and brought soul to the mix. Among the highlights of his show was an extended version of his song “Jerusalem” that transitioned to a bouncy version of Matthew Wilder’s and Greg Prestopino’s “Break My Stride,” and then, seamlessly slipped back again.
Matisyahu melded rock, reggae and hip hop with traditional Jewish styles in a concert that never let up. He followed his 2 1/2 hour set with an extended encore set that included a blow-the-walls-out version of his hit “King Without a Crown.” His versatile voice could be high and squeaky one minute, low and gravely the next, and always serving songs that were part prayers, part calls to rebellion.
I left with a single tune, a single idea stuck in my head: “There’ll be no more war. And our children will play/ One day, one day, one day.”
ANOTHER VIEW:
By Jeff Kearney
Over the last couple of decades, the melding of different music genres has almost become the norm, and in my opinion, because of this, the once pure notion of soulful musical expression has become severely muted, if not almost completely silenced. By no means am I saying that integrating different styles of music into something new and diverse should not happen, as that is how music truly evolves, but do it for a reason other than that’s what everyone else is doing and you think it’ll help sell some records. Music was always meant to be an expression from the heart and soul of the artist, or better yet, a way for them to deliver their personal message to all open ears, and unfortunately that’s a concept that so many of today’s musicians just don’t get.
So a couple of years ago when I heard about this American Hasidic Jewish hip-hop beat boxing, reggae rapping, rock influenced musician named, Matisyahu, I was skeptical to say the least, but I was also very intrigued as well. Especially after hearing rave reviews from some friends of mine who had had the chance to see him live in Kansas City a while back and marveled at the “good and positive energy” that accompanied his set. After which, I took the time to learn more about the musician and his message, and since then, have eagerly waited on the opportunity to see him live myself. Luckily, Sunday July 3rd at the Black Sheep was my night!
Opening up, as well as then backing up, Matisyahu for the evening was a band that I had never heard of prior to the concert, and that being the Dub Trio, but rest assured after seeing them perform I will be getting to know much more about them. The musical feast created by this three-piece band out of Brooklyn, made up of guitarist/keyboardist D.P. Holmes, bassist/keyboardist Stu “Bassie” Brooks, and drummer Joe Tomino, is as nourishing to the mind as it is the soul. Infusing styles and sounds ranging from Pink Floyd and Dennis Brown to Crowbar, these masterful instrumentalists have a quality that would allow them to tour with almost anyone. I can see why Matis has them around!
As the Dub Trio were taking a well-deserved break before returning to the stage and the diversity that makes up a Matisyahu crowd was forming into its own coat of many colors on the floor of the Black Sheep. I felt that wave of positive energy that I’d heard about from my friends begin to flow through the venue, and it was then, in that moment of pre-performance anticipation, that Matisyahu’s message could be heard loud and clear, and that being the message of love. It could be seen on the faces in the crowd ranging from the pre-teen girl sitting on her dads’ shoulders to metalhead in a Venom shirt. Everyone was there for the positive vibes. What an amazing experience, by far the most peaceful show that I’ve ever attended.
With so much good feeling in the air I almost forgot I was at a concert, but just then, the house lights went down and Matisyahu took the stage to spread the word in his own gifted way. Performing songs such as “Jerusalem” and “Sunshine” before topping off the night with his hit single, “King Without a Crown”, Matisyahu not only gave me hope for the future of music, but maybe a little faith in it as well. A definite must see! Thank you for such a glorious evening.
