Photos by Joanna Gleason
Review by Jean Senat Fleury
On August 22, 2024, MATISYAHU and DISTANT COUSINS came to Levitate Backyard & Rexicana Surf Cantina in Marshfield. Matthew Paul Miller known by his stage name MATISYAHU’s legendary career has always been built on the foundations of roots reggae and some other genres. Through his lyrics, MATISYAHU expressed the spirit of deep spiritual feelings. His spiritual journey was always characterized by an “obsessive” search for God. It’s not surprising that his music blends spiritual themes with reggae, rock and hip hop beatboxing sounds. MATISYAHU’s music has never been political. Best exemplified in the song “One Day”, his message for peace is a central focus of his songs.
MATISYAHU has been clear in his belief in the importance of a Jewish homeland. He has visited and performed for Israeli troops. “And the first thing that came to my mind was, ‘I am Jewish’ – before an artist, before a father, before a son,” he said. “I thought that was kind of an interesting moment for me, that it’s come back. Before October 7, I didn’t know that would have been the first thing on my list.”
Releasing seven studio albums as well as five live albums, two remix CDs and two CDs featuring live concerts, its 2005 single “King without a Crown” was a Top 40 hit in the United States.
At Levitate, MATISYAHU performed with DISTANT COUSINS as opener. The American indie pop band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2013 and composed of Dov Rosenblatt, Duvid Swirsky, and Ami Kozak, played different songs – Raise it Up, Everybody Feels It, Are You Ready, Taste of Tomorrow, Walking Up, In my Blood, Angelina, Like Me, Something in the Air, Big, Famously, Forever, On My Way – from their debut self-titled EP released on September 16, 2014, followed by a second self-titled EP in 2015.
According to Atwood Magazine “Distant Cousins are the needle in modern folk music’s haystack bringing something old and something new to the fore through dazzling melodies and hauntingly sweet lyrics that instill their music with depth, flavor, and plenty of character.”
At 9:15 p.m. MATISYAHU arrived on stage. Although the years - 20 years of making music - the spiritual artist - who was practicing Hasidic Jew, having lived and studied in the Chabad-Lubavitch community in Brooklyn - remains one of the most talented and entertaining musicians in the U.S. His talent and charisma as a musician was undeniable. His 2006 “Live at Stubbs” album, and the subsequent studio record “Youth”, “Light” and “Spark Seeker” all reached No. 1 on Billboard’s U.S Reggae chart, the latest of those albums being released in 2012.
Playing alongside of a group of talented friends – Aaron Dugan (guitar), Jason Fraticelli (bass), Jason Lindner (keyboards), Matt Scarano (drums), with his energy and his experimental and captivating sound, MATISYAHU amazed all the fans of alternative and reggae music present at Levitate.
MATISYAHU SETLIST AT LEVITATE
1. Jerusalem
2. Live Like a Warrior
3. Youth
4. Blue Sky Playground
5. Surrender
6. Sunshine
7. Close my Eyes
(With Distant Cousins singing)
8. Fools Gold
9. Tel Aviv’n
10. Fireproof
11. One Day
(If Time)
12. Tugboat
13. Broken
14. Confidence
15. Seatchin
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