At 8PM, it was still half-empty; by 9, the venue was full.
The crowd inside SM North Edsa’s Skydome was abuzz with excitement; with some patrons sharing anecdotes on what it took for them to see Matisyahu perform in the flesh. Many had flown in from other parts of the country just for the show. One girl had won in the meet-and-greet contest and just couldn’t pass up on the prize, even if she had to travel all the way from Cebu to claim it.
The concert was clearly a consortium of reggae devotees and purveyors from around the country. Even singer-songwriter Franco was spotted in the audience.
Lady I, the front act, was a duo of a guy playing electronic reggae mixes and a girl singing to them. The audience swayed and applauded in appreciation, but nothing could beat the exhilaration of seeing the main act go on stage.
Not surprisingly, Matisyahu and his touring band — an ultra-talented ensemble that could entertain the audience even after the refrains, choruses and verses had been sung — performed “King Without a Crown,” the singer-rapper’s first Top 40 hit.
Considering they were only supposedly Matisyahu’s touring musicians, Big Yuki, Aaron Dugan, Stu Brooks and Joe Tomino form a pretty solid lineup. They could immensely satisfy with instrumentals and solos even when their frontman was off the mic or even backstage, probably taking a break. Big Yuki on keyboards was a wonder to listen to.
They also played “Time of Your Song,” and “Jerusalem,” both tracks off the 2006 album “Youth.” Both songs have a characteristically reggae sound. On the other hand, “Sunshine,” a song that was released in 2012 as part of the album “Spark Seeker,” was evidently written with a diverse output in mind.
While it still carries familiar messages of freedom and redemption, the musical arrangement is different, and traces of hip-hop are more pronounced than of reggae. Catchy and radio-friendly, it’s the sort of song you’d play on repeat. “Searchin,” from the same album, is as infectious, especially when performed live.
A guest performer, Pinoy Dream Academy alumnus Bugoy Drilon, clambered up on stage and joined Matisyahu in singing a mashup of “One Day” — the latter’s most popular single — and Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry.”
Bugoy’s cover of “One Day” went viral on social media, and his dream to sing with his idol was realized when they sang together during Matisyahu’s concert in Los Angeles two months ago.
Hopefully Matisyahu’s first Philippine concert won’t be the last. It lasted for three hours, but it was tireless and memorable; a rare opportunity to relax and enjoy a repertoire that summarizes Matisyahu’s evolution as an artist.
Made possible through DMC Entertainment Production Management, the concert was organized as part of Matisyahu’s ongoing “Undecurrent” world tour, p-to promote his recently released album of the same title.
