Matisyahu performs Wednesday at Cain's Ballroom. All photos KEVIN PYLE / special to the Tulsa World
Matisyahu performs Wednesday at Cain's Ballroom. All photos KEVIN PYLE / special to the Tulsa World
Matisyahu performed Wednesday at Cain's Ballroom. All photos KEVIN PYLE / special to the Tulsa World
Matisyahu performs Wednesday at Cain's Ballroom. All photos KEVIN PYLE / special to the Tulsa World
Matisyahu performs Wednesday at Cain's Ballroom. All photos KEVIN PYLE / special to the Tulsa World
Matisyahu performs Wednesday at Cain's Ballroom. All photos KEVIN PYLE / special to the Tulsa World
Matisyahu performs Wednesday at Cain's Ballroom. All photos KEVIN PYLE / special to the Tulsa World
Matisyahu performs Wednesday at Cain's Ballroom. All photos KEVIN PYLE / special to the Tulsa World
These things don't happen at other local venues. They just don't.
Nights like Wednesday's concert with Matisyahu and The Dirty Heads are why the historic Cain's Ballroom is such a treasure.
The room filled with younger and older families alike, children danced with parents, with each other and complete strangers as Matis' socially aware lyrics blurted from the stage. All ages, backgrounds, proclivities, looks, dress mixed happily and thoroughly as traditional Jewish genre-buster Matisyahu performed.
He doubled over on the mic as his extended, insanely intricate slow human beatbox rattled rafters and fans squealed. He didn't talk much, but his lyrics were heard in a set that included hope-filled "Crossroads" and the bouncy and synth-heavy "Sunshine." Both got the crowd crowd pogo-jumping, hands in the air as rock riffs floated over them all.
Samples, loops, psychedelic reggae-rock fusion rocketed from Matisyahu's set as chest-heaving dub bass mixed with riotous guitars. Dressed all in black, the lithe rapper sang and rapped and sometimes even removed himself from the spotlight. At times, he backed himself to the stage corner or climbed on top of a giant speaker to watch his band -- and fans.
Other tunes blended traditional Jewish themes with distinctively modern, urban sounds, and included "Jerusalem," "On Nature," "King Without a Crown" and "One Day," among others.
Early in the evening, a circle formed around a blonde, crew-cut wearing grade-school age boy in the audience who did a break-dance-robot-moonwalk routine as adults stood, gape-mouthed, phones out.
Glow sticks flew over heads and boys set off trails of circles as they artfully swung strings of blinking led lights.
For the last song of his hour-plus set, fans rushed the stage. Matisyahu pulled them up as they swarmed around him, smiling and dancing. He grinned and raised his hand to the sky.
He sang:
One day this all will change /
Treat people the same /
Stop with the violence down with the hate /
One day we'll all be free and proud /
To be under the same sun /
Singing songs of freedom like ... /Earlier, luminous California band the Dirty Heads blended hints of rocksteady, ska, funk, hip-hop and reggae as hands waved side-to-side in time to the sun-infused rhythms.
The group's music was nothing if not eclectic. Heavy swing beats dominated in "Check the Level" and funk wah guitar mixed with tongue-trip raps on "Mongo Push, and bright, hand-clapping Caribbean drums filled "We Will Rise."
They also gave a shout-out to late rapper MCA of the Beastie Boys, rightfully admitting their brand of hybrid urban Americana would not exist without the influence of Ad Rock, MCA and Mike D before they launched into "Believe."
The Dirty Heads' set included songs "Taint," "Disguise," "Your Love," "Cabin by the Sea," "Spread Too Thin," and more, including a short visit by Matisyahu for the song "Dance All Night."
