Reggae artist Matisyahu has some work cut out for him, and he couldn't be happier. Reportedly, Matisyahu plans to begin work on a new record by the end of the summer, with hopes that it will be released in the spring. The news brings relief to the legions of fans who have been awaiting more inspiring music since No Place to Be was released in December, 2006. Matisyahu has been on the Unity Tour with 311 since June. Because of his religious practices, he does not perform on Friday nights or Saturday until sundown. He also cannot perform with a woman on the stage, which explains why he turned down perfoming with Madonna. Well, it's either that, or he just didn't want to be seen on stage with her.

 

You might find that the next album is a bit different, as Matisyahu's beliefs are starting to change a bit. According to the Republic, he no longer feels himself to be tied to the Chabad, a sect of Hasidic Judaism. On the issue, Matisyahu responded by saying, "To me, there are certain things that I connect with, and I'm the kind of person that can connect to things very deeply." Since Matisyahu has always incorporated his faith in his music, you can expect to hear some new things in the spring. He probably won't be advocating anything crazy, but keep your ears peeled for those clever lyrics he comes up with. They're bound to have a deeper meaning.

 

Matisyahu, as many know, is a very deep and spiritual man. Before he goes on stage he meditates and prays. He's even brought his entire family with him on tour, including his infant children. For him, getting the mood and feeling right are some of the most important things when it comes to performing. As long as he can keep churning out solid albums, he should be performing for years to come.

 

As for the Unity Tour with 311, the word circulating around is that the shows have been incredible. The tour ends in Seattle on August 29th, after concluding a west coast swing. Tickets are still available for remaining shows, so if you're going to be on the west coast in the next few days, check out the venues to see if you can get tickets. The remaining shows are:

 

8/21: Phoenix, Az

8/22: Santa Barbara, CA

8/24: Las Vegas, NV

8/25: Lake Tahoe, NV

8/26: San Francisco, CA

8/28: Portland, OR

8/29: Seattle, WA