Show proves it's possible to embrace differences

Thursday, October 19, 2006
By Mark Bialczak

Staff writer

With the looks of an Orthodox Jew, moves of a reggae singer and voice of a true believer, Matisyahu thoroughly entertained the Syracuse University summit crowd Wednesday night at the Landmark Theatre.
The theme for the daylong event held by SU was "Small World/Big Divide: Building Bridges in an Age of Extremes."
Headliner Matisyahu and the other two acts on the stage, opener State Radio and second-up Kenny Muhammad, drove home the concept that differences can be embraced with music.
Born in West Chester, Pa., as Matthew Miller and raised in White Plains before becoming a devotee of jam band Phish, Matisyahu showed why he's become a welcome visionary in the worlds of Judaism and reggae music.
He took the stage dressed in a black suit topped by a black hat. He wore a long beard, and when the top hat came off, a yarmulke sat underneath.
He owned the stage with an imposing physical presence. Sometimes he moved side to side with the slinky tension of a tiger.
Sometimes he skipped with the unbridled joy of a man unburdening his heart as his words rose from his soul.
With the help of his very sweet five-piece band, the sound was pure and golden reggae.
The crowd was split between SU students and members of the community. Some men also wore yarmulkes.
Together, they sang along to the passionate songs from Matisyahu's latest disc, "Youth."
The title cut drove home his point as he sang with fire in his voice, "Young man, you've got the freedom to choose. You better make the right move."
Amid the throbbing song "Indestructible," he told of a dying father who gave his son this advice: "In this world, fear nothing. Have no fear." In "Chop 'em Down," he sang, "March through the desert one step at a time."
The fans this night seemed to believe the first statement and appeared ready to follow Matisyahu in his march.
Kenny Muhammad, known as the Human Orchestra, made more cool noise with just his mouth than any DJ with a turntable.
The Muslim got into the theme of the night. "We represent one God. We represent unity worldwide," he said of himself and Matisyahu.
State Radio, a three-man band from the Boston area, kept the attention of the small number of early arrivers with a hip sound that encompassed reggae and jam rock.
Lead singer Charlie Stokes got into the passionate mood early with "Camilo," singing, "and now red oil is spillin' down on the street. . . . Will you not refuse this currency, or is blood money just money to you?"
Mark Bialczak can be reached at mbialczak@syracuse.com or 470-2175. His blog "Listen Up" is at www.syracuse.com/blogs/listenup
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