warning Hi, we've moved to USCANNENBERGMEDIA.COM. Visit us there!

Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

Matisyahu At Club Nokia: Review

Kylie Nicholson |
October 24, 2014 | 2:34 p.m. PDT

Contributor

Matisyahu's performance at Club Nokia (Neon Tommy)
Matisyahu's performance at Club Nokia (Neon Tommy)
Matisyahu blends the spiritual with the chill reggae, and his voice sounds as pure and beautiful in person as it does on the recording. Most songs open with a soulful croon, which centered both the artist and audience in a deeper place. For an hour and change, the audience transcended whatever muck was in their life and got lost in the music of Matisyahu. 

He came onstage with a little toddler in tow-- his three year-old son, who danced onstage with his dad for many of the songs. He bobbed along to the beat. He sang with his dad at the beginning of one song, and even greeted the audience with a high-pitched "hi" when asked to by his father. Adorable. For me, this set a loving, community based tone for the night, having demostrated the love of a father for his son.

READ MORE: Ziggy Marley At Club Nokia: Show Review

Two of Matisyahu's biggest songs are "King Without A Crown," "Jerusalem" and "One Day." With a mix of vocals, beatboxing, and spoken word, this Jewish-reggae rapper approached the night with a relaxed manner. He ushered his son off and on the stage and stopped to whisper to band members a few times. He disappeared off the stage to reappear, and even asked the audience what they wanted to hear towards the end.

Though not polished, the structure of the performance mirrored Matisyahu's relaxed vibe, so it worked. I doubt anyone in the crowd cared.

The show took a rock bent for a few songs that opened with hard rock guitar rifts and screeches. Matisyahu even crowd surfed and became a "king without a crown" as he stood (trustingly) on the hands of his audience, straight-legged, hands high in the air. This must have been an amazing moment for the performer. He lost a shoe in the process, which the crowd gladly threw back onstage. It was a break from his chill, reggae style but contained spiritual croons reminiscent of his signature style. 

Matisyahu's newest record "Akeda" is by far his most personal. Matisyahu rose to prominence as the "Jewish reggae rapper," and has recently moved away from that label. While undertones are still present in his music, he is working to provide a place for healing and cleansing for others, as the writing of the music was just that for himself. 

Reach Contributor Kylie Nicholson here



 

Buzz

Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.