Matisyahu
Matisyahu was just a beatboxing rich-kid named Matt from White Plains, N.Y. before converting Hasidic Judaism and making his name as a reggae star. Whether or not youre down with Matisyahus message, its hard to deny that reggae and Hasidism make impressive bedfellowsa hint of Marley and Psalms in the same breath. And even after his novelty wears off, youre left with some respectable musical chops; songs like the early hit King Without a Crown and recent radio mainstay One Day sport addictive melodies. Any flatness in his recordings disappear during a live performance (as proven by 2005s Live at Stubbs and 2009s Live at Twist & Shout), and a shot of his beatboxing just adds to a stage energy that cant quite be captured in an album. With Dub Trio. NICK FELDMAN
Sat., Aug. 7, 8 p.m., 2010
