Veteran producers Albert Berger, Ron Yerxa and Eric Eisner are going truckin’. The trio have signed on to produce a biopic about Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia that will aim
Could the Faces be rising again after a 30-plus year split?According to RayGigs.com, original members Rod Stewart, Ron Wood, Ian McLagan and Kenney Jones, along with Stewart touring bassist replacing
Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell was found dead early this morning (Nov. 12) in a Portland, Ore., hotel room, according to representatives for the Hendrix estate. He was 62.After
We’d like to wish a very Happy Birthday to HT Favorite Neil Young. Both Some Dude and I are very excited to catch the Hall of Famer in action at
After a few years of close calls it appears that we are mere days away from a reunion of legendary rockers The Faces. Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagan, Kenney
The Dark Star Orchestra celebrated their 11th Anniversary last night on 11/11 by debuting their version of the Grateful Dead classic The Eleven during the second set of their show
Yesterday, we brought you the tag team of review of Saturday night’s Benevento/Fishman/Mathis show – a show that a healthy dose of HT’s New York bureau attended. Despite the poor
Nonesuch Records Releases The Black Keys Live at the Crystal Ballroom DVD on November 18. Produced and directed by Lance Bangs (R.E.M.’s Road Movie), the disc will include 17 live
DOA is DOA and will likely always be, God bless them, DOA. If you're expecting something other than aggressive politico-punk from these guys, guess again. They still wrap up left-wing politics into simple, heartfelt songs whose anger and outrage never overarch their equal doses of life and fun
A picturesque late fall evening’s cool air greeted us we hustled through Atlanta’s Historic 5 Points to the Variety Playhouse. Inside the jam-packed venue, an eclectic and diverse crowd’s collective pulse raced in anticipation for their Hasidic hero to storm the stage. As the lights went down and the first strains of musical notes swirled from the large mounted box speakers, the crowd patiently awaited Matisyahu to emerge from behind the curtain.
Once he hit the stage an instantaneous electricity filled the room and sparked the delight of its patrons. Long and lean of stature, Matisyahu gyrates and grooves to his band and then steps to the mike. He sings/croons/toasts/preaches/raps/beat-boxes to the razor sharp music as his band courses seamlessly through his repertoire. He seems at equal ease singing from a praise hymnal or toasting with his Eek-A-Mouse-sounding vocal delivery or his other worldly beat-boxing. At points in the show it’s as if his voice is a gold coin, locked away in a velvet box, at other points it’s right there with you, front and center. He can be forceful with an urgent message or quiet and dreamy-and you believe him because it’s convincing and authoritative.
The first set was filled with music from Matis’ upcoming album, Light, as well as other favorites, such as the opener, See To Sea and was generally a more mellow showcase and a yin to the yang of the second set. The undeniably explosive second set opened with a Close My Eyes that propelled the band through the more upbeat and funky repertoire.
“You got no water-how you gonna survive?”
Matisyahu’s band is locked in and tight. They would be an amazing band without Matisyahu’s considerable talent. Guitarist Aaron Dugan’s quick, adept and prodigious fret work is prominently displayed throughout the show as well as Rob Marscher’s tasteful and dramatic synth and keyboard work.
READ ON for more from Matisyahu at Atlanta’s Variety Playhouse…
