Mixing Judaism and Bob Marley with Matisyahu

Ian Thomas - CORRESPONDENT
Inside Bay Area
He's a six-foot, three-inch Hasidic Jew with a rocking three-piece band. He won't play on Fridays and, despite the fact that he surely has more than his share of female admirers, he is forbidden from touching women other than his wife in accordance with his Orthodox Judaism.

Yes, it does sounds more like a slapstick act from ``MAD TV'' more than an artist many are dubbing a budding reggae superstar.

Indeed, when the looming Matisyahu Miller walks out on stage in a traditional black suit, matching wide-brimmed hat, tassels hanging from his white shirt, and a very full, long beard, many have wondered: Is this synagogue or a reggae concert?

It's a reggae concert. Believe it. The Brooklyn-raised Matisyahu (Yiddish for Matthew) is garnering more believers every day with his message of peace, unity and personal redemption, despite differences in religion, race or pop-culture fashion sense.

Matisyahu's CD ``Youth,'' which hit stores on today, is expected to take this unique artist to the next level of stardom. One of its tracks ``King Without a Crown'' (also featured on 2005's ``Live at Stubb's'') is currently getting plenty of radio play.

The toast master is also drawing big crowds and rave reviews for his concert performances, including for his set at the Ragga Muffins Festival at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco last month. Matisyahu and his band will return to the Bay Area and bring their get-up, stand-up, respect-all vibe to San Francisco's Ruby Skye club on Monday .

``Purimpalooza,'' a concert that celebrates the festive Jewish holiday of Purim, will also feature Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction fame.

The show is a benefit to help rebuild Chabad House of San Francisco. Though he is just as starkly noticeable as that omnipresent scent that hits you upon entering all reggae shows, Matisyahu's niche is not merely a gimmick for a quick snicker. His devout presence pays homage to reggae's original superstar, Bob Marley. He does it with a sincerity at once reminiscent of Marley's passion, with his own twist. Matisyahu's vocals are an impressive blend of uplifting Rabbinical chanting, rapid-fire chatting style that calls up the spirit of the late Bradley Nowell of Sublime, and melodies that smooth out like reggae staple Barrington Levy.

The music serves up a potent mix of deep Jamaican rhythms, to harder hitting rock and the peppiness of U.K. ska, courtesy of drummer Jonah David and bassist Josh Werner.

Adding the good side of jam-band tendencies is guitarist Aaron Dugan, who provides energetic and intricate solos, pleasing to fans and Matisyahu alike, who spent a few months sporting dreadlocks and Birkenstocks while following legendary jam-band Phish in his late teens. Matisyahu's beatboxing skills are something to be reckoned with. During the Ragga Muffins festival, he had fans jumping to his human-powered hyperactive metronome. Please, someone put the master Rahzel (from The Roots) and Bay Area beatboxing champ Radioactive on the same stage with Matisyahu.