Concert Review: Matisyahu, December 22, 9:30 Club

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Concert Review: Matisyahu, December 22, 9:30 Club

Posted on

23 Dec 2014

by

halley

Ah the holiday season. Christmas trees. Santa Claus. Carollers. Creches. And that one token Dreidel.

God bless America for doing its best at embracing the melting pot mentality to the holiday season – representing all faiths and peoples. But, real talk real time, M & M candies only comes in red and green, not blue and yellow, and capitalism speaks the truth: Christmas dominates. As it should in many ways: it’s a legitimately important Christian observance, as opposed to Hanukkah which most people can barely spell, much less explain (and those who can will mainly attest it’s less important than the weekly Shabbat meal). And we won’t even get into Kwanzaa, as I”m way out of my league there and it receives often even less love than its Jewish and Christian counterparts.

That being said, the eight-day celebration of lights got ample love at the 9:30 Club last night where American reggae rapper Matisyahu dominated the scene. The charismatic performer was giving the enthusiastic crowd everything they came for, blending Orthodox Jewish themes with pop culture beats bordering on hip hop, rock, and reggae. He also threw in some impressive beatboxing sounds, supported by one bandmember, a great backdrop and lights, and a Menorah the size of a large child. The crowd, full of men with full beards and beaded necklaces accompanied by women with great curls and/or dreadlocks, lost it when the Menorah came on stage. I could barely see the stage for the amount of pictures being snapped – it’s rare to capture an image of such an iconic Jewish religious rite – a far cry from the millions of pictures snapped of the mega-sized Rockefeller Christmas tree every year in NYC.

Overall, the entire show was a delight – if more intense than I had expected. Matisyahu’s Hazzan style of song (mixing prayer with music) is exremely touching live. I was very unfamiliar with his work before this show, and I must say there’s value in seeing the man in person. His recorded work, especially his new album, Akeda, is all super well done, but if you have a chance to see him in tour – take it. It will be a great experience, no matter the holiday you celebrate.

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