Anna Webber – Los Angeles Photographer

Howlin Rain and the Akron / Family perform at the El Rey August 29, 2009. Photos by Anna Webber.

Kyp Malone Photo: Anna Webber

TV on the Radio guitarist-singer Kyp Malone’s solo project (Rain Machine) has a September 22 release date, along with his debut LP (Anti- Records).

Check out these dates below:

Rain Machine:

09-21 Brooklyn, NY – Bell House
09-25 Echo Park, CA – The Echo
09-26 Los Angeles, CA – The Getty Center
09-28 San Francisco, CA – The Independent
09-30 Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
10-01 Seattle, WA – Neumos
10-02 Vancouver, British Columbia – The Biltmore
10-09 Birmingham, AL – Bottle Tree
10-10 New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jacks
10-12 Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club
10-13 Atlanta, GA – The Earl
10-15 Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
10-16 Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
10-17 Chicago, IL – Double Door
10-18 Detroit, MI – Small’s
10-19 Toronto, Ontario – Lee’s Palace
10-20 Montreal, Quebec – Il Motore
10-22 Cambridge, MA – Middle East Upstairs
10-23 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s

By: Anna Webber

A little groggy on his fourth cup of coffee, clinking dishes in a New York kitchen, Matisyahu describes the incredible time difference between there, and where he just arrived from – Australia. He was out touring in support of his newest album, Light.

Matisyahu is a sprightly emcee who has been blending Hasidic Judaism with dancehall reggae since his emergence in 2004. He reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Chart after the release of Live at Stubb’s in 2005, with Youth reaching No. 4 on Billboard’s top 200 at its debut the following year.

Youth hit No. 1 on the Reggae Albums chart, gaining some serious critical acclaim by blending Orthodox Judaism and reggae, introducing holy purpose to music – like Bob Marley – at a time when spirituality was necessary in a hardened mainstream. Youth was nominated for a Grammy in 2007 for Best Reggae Album.

With tons of hype already in store from 2008’s Shattered EP, his extensive multi-national summer tour, Light’s high-profile collaborations and the Where’s Matis At Initiative (wheresmatis.at; his interactive social media space), his recent release should be well-received. Light is the most personal record Matisyahu has done, having a darkness to it he describes as “internal struggle and strife that comes from Jewish source, but can almost feel like it has a lot of eastern themes to it. A lot of ideals, emptiness within, allowing oneself to be with oneself.”

(more…)

AUG 8 – The Rock The Bells Tour at the Glen Helen Pavilion in San Bernardino was a mash-up of fluid hip hop, dancehall reggae, gangster rap, and emcee’s. Talent included Nas, Damian Marley, The Roots, Big Boi, Ice Cube, Busta Rhymes, TECH9NE, Talib Kweli,  and special appearance from Slick Rick.

All photos by Anna Webber/WireImage