In 2011, the Hasidic roots reggae rocker shaved his iconic beard. His music undergoes a similar shearing process in his short run of acoustic performances, which included a show at Hudson’s Club Helsinki in December and comes to the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock on February 16. The live acoustic sets, a stark difference from his signature high-energy blend of rock, reggae, and hip hop, celebrate his new release Spark Seeker: The Acoustic EP, which was released at the end of January. The acoustic sets reveal a starkly personal side of Matisyahu’s eclectic style, marked by collaborations with everyone from the electronic duo Crystal Method to rapper Shyne. Don’t worry, Matisyahu still uses his voice as an instrument in his acoustic sets, accenting heartfelt songs with his seemingly effortless beatboxing.
This article appears in February 2013.
