Matisyahu and The Dirty Heads @ Pittsburgh
Matisyahu and The Dirty Heads @ The Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead
Posted Sep 20, 2012, by Big Smile Magazine Official Writer Page.
Featured Artists: Matisyahu; The Dirty Heads; Genre: Hip Hop; Reggae;
An eclectic mix of fans breathed balmy summer air and waited on the front stone wall and ledges of the The Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead, sipping $5 beers from plastic cups and waiting eagerly to see Matisyahu and The Dirty Heads. Overheard conversations spoke of the The Dirty Heads' reggae, melodic style, mixed with hip-hop and punk, and Matisyahu's alternative reggae sound. It was bound to be a "totally sick show". Moments later, fans found the live performances to be just that. Interesting smells filled the air, and The Dirty Heads took the stage.
They created a vibe in which fans felt free to move to the music, sing a long with the band, and dance in their seats and aisles. Lyrics spoke of love, living freely, being yourself, and enjoying life. The Dirty Heads transported the audience out of an east-coast city and onto the beaches of California. The hot stage, warm-colored lighting, and breezy ventilation played perfectly with their reggae/hip-hop groove, giving fans a completely unique and genuine experience. At times, fans were swept up in the melodic sway of the music, and then brought back by the strong narrative qualities of the band's carefully crafted lyrics. They respectfully paid homage to the late Adam "MCA" Yaunch of The Beastie Boys and gratefully accepted the smokeable gifts from their fans before handing the spotlights over to Matisyahu. Matisyahu, known at birth as Matthew Paul Miller, entered under soft purple lights, wearing a jean jacket and baseball cap---without his trademark beard and long hair, which he shaved last December. He seamlessly flowed between songs, singing of his solid Jewish values, acceptance, love of mankind and love of God. His words appropriately addressed a crowd of mixed races, ages, religions, and backgrounds. Over the music, the lights grew brighter as he removed his jacket and baseball cap. He walked towards the front of the stage and stood proudly, bald head and all. Fans cheered and comments flew through the crowd about his new look. He kicked-up the pace for the second half of the show, with warmer lights and more movement around the stage. He created an incredibly positive energy in the room that was completely unique and unlike many other performers. Fans watched as he left the stage and eagerly professed their wishes for him to return for an encore. The crowd grew progressively louder as he finally returned for two consecutive encores. His entire set was a build-up to his last song, a ten minute version of "One Day". He switched-up the phrasing and beats of the song and selectively added parts, giving the piece an entirely fresh spin. The crowd went wild as he experimented with this extended version, and still found inspiration in its universally true message. Matisyahu gave a live performance that allowed his fans to genuinely experience his amazing talent, and the power and emotion behind his albums. Before leaving the stage he gave the fans the peace sign and said " Peace, Peace, God Bless." Tired and sweaty fans filed out of the music hall that night, feeling that they certainly got more than their money's worth. Both bands maintained an excellent presence on stage throughout the entire performance, and the fans recognized their genuine talents and love for what they do. Matisyahu and The Dirty Heads live are a definite must-see for fans and an excellent introduction for new listeners.
By Rachel Abraham
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