Unlikely reggae star rocks armory
By MICHAEL LISI, Special to the Times Union
First published: Wednesday, October 18, 2006
ALBANY -- Matisyahu is arguably the most popular reggae artist in America. He's also one of reggae's most unlikely superstars. He's a Hasidic singer and rapper who embraces Jewish spirituality in his music, at times singing in Hebrew and taking lyrics from the Torah.
Musically, Matisyahu serves up an amalgam of dance-hall reggae, hip-hop, rock and even ska-flavored punk, sung with a slight Jamaican accent -- even though he's a one-time Phish fan from White Plains.
Matisyahu was mesmerizing Tuesday night at the Washington Avenue Armory, playing 90 minutes of intense, infectious reggae and hip-hop that had fans screaming, swaying, dancing and taking cellphone photos from start to end.
The crowd of about 1,500 was mostly college-aged, although there were more than a few teens, like 13-year-old Josh Fisher, who saw Matisyahu for the first time. And yarmulkes were the order of the night for a noticeable number of fans, although few were as outward with their faith as Matisyahu.
Dressed in a black overcoat, sporting a bushy beard and a kipa, Matisyahu looked downright odd fronting a searing five-piece band that pulsed bass-heavy reggae beats and grinding, guitar-fueled rock. But somehow it all fit together, punctuated by Matisyahu as he jumped, skipped and swirled around the stage, moving to the beat during pounding readings of "Chop 'Em Down" and "Fire of Heaven/Altar of Faith," and the slow reggae groove of "Exaltation."
And watching Matisyahu and an identically dressed male dancer do a take on a traditional Jewish dance called the Hora during a wild version of "Youth" was, well, different to say the least. Different but impossible not to watch, and in context and done sincerely.
Matisyahu's sincerity and spirituality elevates him from novelty act status. Hearing his strong, soaring tenor sing "We're all children in the eyes of God" during "Close Your Eyes," you just wanted to close your eyes and believe it. Matisyahu isn't the first to meld reggae and spirituality -- Bob Marley did it years before Matisyahu was born. But Matisyahu does it in a way no one else ever has, and it worked well in Albany on Tuesday night.
State Radio, a hard-hitting Boston-based reggae/ska-punk act, offered up a solid 30-minute performance that sounded somewhat like a hyped-up cross between The Police, Pearl Jam and 1980 ska act Bad Manners. The power trio was intriguing but loud -- obnoxiously loud. Just because your amp goes to 11 doesn't mean you have to play at 11.
Moshav, a five-piece jam-band act from Israel, won some new fans with a 30-minute set that echoed Pearl Jam at times. Led by singer Yehuda Solomon, Moshav mixed it up, injecting reggae and Middle Eastern rhythms into their rock, giving it an edgy ethnic sound that was hard to resist.
Michael Lisi is a freelance music critic from Clifton Park and a frequent contributor to the Times Union.
MUSIC REVIEW
MATISYAHU with State Radio and Moshav
When: 7:45 p.m. Tuesday
Where: The Washington Avenue Armory, Washington Avenue, Albany
Length: Matisyahu, 90 minutes; State Radio, 30 minutes; Moshav, 30 minutes
Crowd: A predominantly Jewish, college-aged crowd of about 1,500, out to dance and soak up the hip-hop reggae sounds of Hasidic reggae star Matisyahu.
Highlights: "Time of Your Song, "Youth," "Exaltation."
First published: Wednesday, October 18, 2006
ALBANY -- Matisyahu is arguably the most popular reggae artist in America. He's also one of reggae's most unlikely superstars. He's a Hasidic singer and rapper who embraces Jewish spirituality in his music, at times singing in Hebrew and taking lyrics from the Torah.
Musically, Matisyahu serves up an amalgam of dance-hall reggae, hip-hop, rock and even ska-flavored punk, sung with a slight Jamaican accent -- even though he's a one-time Phish fan from White Plains.
Matisyahu was mesmerizing Tuesday night at the Washington Avenue Armory, playing 90 minutes of intense, infectious reggae and hip-hop that had fans screaming, swaying, dancing and taking cellphone photos from start to end.
The crowd of about 1,500 was mostly college-aged, although there were more than a few teens, like 13-year-old Josh Fisher, who saw Matisyahu for the first time. And yarmulkes were the order of the night for a noticeable number of fans, although few were as outward with their faith as Matisyahu.
Dressed in a black overcoat, sporting a bushy beard and a kipa, Matisyahu looked downright odd fronting a searing five-piece band that pulsed bass-heavy reggae beats and grinding, guitar-fueled rock. But somehow it all fit together, punctuated by Matisyahu as he jumped, skipped and swirled around the stage, moving to the beat during pounding readings of "Chop 'Em Down" and "Fire of Heaven/Altar of Faith," and the slow reggae groove of "Exaltation."
And watching Matisyahu and an identically dressed male dancer do a take on a traditional Jewish dance called the Hora during a wild version of "Youth" was, well, different to say the least. Different but impossible not to watch, and in context and done sincerely.
Matisyahu's sincerity and spirituality elevates him from novelty act status. Hearing his strong, soaring tenor sing "We're all children in the eyes of God" during "Close Your Eyes," you just wanted to close your eyes and believe it. Matisyahu isn't the first to meld reggae and spirituality -- Bob Marley did it years before Matisyahu was born. But Matisyahu does it in a way no one else ever has, and it worked well in Albany on Tuesday night.
State Radio, a hard-hitting Boston-based reggae/ska-punk act, offered up a solid 30-minute performance that sounded somewhat like a hyped-up cross between The Police, Pearl Jam and 1980 ska act Bad Manners. The power trio was intriguing but loud -- obnoxiously loud. Just because your amp goes to 11 doesn't mean you have to play at 11.
Moshav, a five-piece jam-band act from Israel, won some new fans with a 30-minute set that echoed Pearl Jam at times. Led by singer Yehuda Solomon, Moshav mixed it up, injecting reggae and Middle Eastern rhythms into their rock, giving it an edgy ethnic sound that was hard to resist.
Michael Lisi is a freelance music critic from Clifton Park and a frequent contributor to the Times Union.
MUSIC REVIEW
MATISYAHU with State Radio and Moshav
When: 7:45 p.m. Tuesday
Where: The Washington Avenue Armory, Washington Avenue, Albany
Length: Matisyahu, 90 minutes; State Radio, 30 minutes; Moshav, 30 minutes
Crowd: A predominantly Jewish, college-aged crowd of about 1,500, out to dance and soak up the hip-hop reggae sounds of Hasidic reggae star Matisyahu.
Highlights: "Time of Your Song, "Youth," "Exaltation."
posted by Editor at 4:25 PM
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