“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 893 (Thursday) – showtime

The view from the
concert venue.

August 18 has been quite possibly the most anticipated Thursday in ages. Back in May, my friends and I bought tickets to see the multi-talented Matisyahu at Blue Ocean Music Hall at Salisbury Beach and I’ve been waiting ever since. Of course, in the feast or famine way of things, it also was the night of another anticipated event, and a sacrifice was required. Stupid space-time continuum. 

In case you don’t know of him (and I can’t believe that is possible and if so, how can we even be friends), “Matisyahu is an American Jewish reggae singer, rapper, beatboxer, and alternative rock musician, known for blending spiritual themes with reggae, rock and hip hop beatboxing sounds.” Check him out. I bet you know some of his work, even if the name is not top of mind.

The first time I saw Matisyahu was in July 2008 at an outdoor show at the San Diego Fair at Del Mar Raceway while visiting my cousins. In addition to the wonder of Matisyahu, the fair presented us with fairway food that included Chocolate Covered Bacon (oh, yes, yum!) and Deep Fried Butter, about which we could only ask “why?”.

Matisyahu, December 28, 2019.

My second date with Matisyahu was at Tupelo Music Hall in New Hampshire, in December 28, 2019. You know, shortly before the pandemic landed and the world skidded sideways. 

This third Matisyahu show places him in the running with my other musician boyfriend, Chris Isaak, as the artist I’ve seen the most often. They are also tied for the title of “famous musicians who don’t yet know they are my boyfriend.”

Summer 2022 may be nearly over, but this was my first concert of the summer. That is because the George Clinton Parliament Funkadelic show scheduled for Worcester in June was cancelled without explanation. There is still a twinge of bitterness over that.

Father and son, Blue Ocean Music Hall.

The night was fun. We kicked it off with beach pizza eaten at a picnic table. 

Matisyahu's older son sang a song about Fake Friends, and the younger son was on stage for a couple songs, playing drums and providing vocals. There was some stage diving coaching from his dad, and the younger son got to crowd surf. After the show, the younger son waved to people as he walked to the tour bus and seemed to be having the best night ever. 

According to the latest official Matisyahu schedule, Salisbury is the first of three shows in Massachusetts this weekend. There is a festival in Spencer on Friday, and another in Marshfield on Saturday. Hmmmm… I’m free both of those days.