Matisyahu As musical and cultural boundaries bend and blend, there was bound to be a Hasidic Jew singing rasta music. Matisyahu (born Matthew Miller) weaves traditional Jewish spirituality with mighty, uplifting reggae grooves. He is touring for his third album simply called Light, where conscious lyrics, funky riddims, ragamuffin, dancehall, roots reggae and soaring rock riffs collide in this, well, a cross-cultural blend. With Moon Taxi. The Fillmore Charlotte (Samir Shukla)
The Flatlanders Like a shooting star across the Texas sky, The Flatlanders began in the early '70s and then quickly dispersed after record company hassles. But the band birthed three fab singer/songwriters Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely and Butch Hancock. After a three-decade break, and a slew of solo recordings, the gents are recording and touring twangy country records laced with folk, Texas blues and slow-mo rockabilly. The fluid new album Hills and Valleys is a statement on the vast songcraft skills of this Lubbock trio. With Colin Gilmore. McGlohon Theatre (Shukla)