MATISYAHU

Hasidic rap-reggae spiritualist Matisyahu will spend the week tracking at Downtown Recording Studios (515 S. Fourth St., 583-9966) in advance of his Dec. 6 show at Headliners (1386 Lexington Road, 584-8088). John Siket, who produced Sonic Youth’s 1995 album Washing Machine, will engineer and produce, Downtown’s Nick Stevens says.

If it’s a new release, it adds to Matisyahu’s already healthy output for 2008-09: His EP, Shattered, dropped Oct. 21, and full-length Light arrives in March.

Both result from an abundance of material built up in no small way by producer David Kahne (Regina Spektor, Paul McCartney), as well as Stephen McGregor, son of legendary reggae artist Freddie McGregor, who programmed beats for Shattered.

“He’s a 17-year-old kid still in high school who happens to be a very, very nice, humble, sweet guy,” Matisyahu says. “I looked around and saw who was at the top of their game. I heard some of his stuff for Sean Paul. (McGregor) is kind of the premier producer. He grew up in his father’s studio working all the time.”

Where Shattered is a taste of what’s to come, Light explores spiritual themes, “questions about God, self and existential questions about existence in this world,” he says. “I try to tackle the big ones. I’m not trying to come up with any answers.”

Opening the show is K’Naan. Born in Somalia, K’Naan’s family survived that country’s civil war and relocated to Canada. He’s collaborated with Mos Def, won a Juno Award (think Canadian Grammys) and recorded his forthcoming record, Troubadour, for Tuff Gong at Bob Marley’s studio in Jamaica. Check out www.dustyfoot.com.

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Zak Riles (Grails, M. Ward) liked Louisville so much he moved here. Riles, who owns Bluegrass Green Co., is playing his first local show Saturday at Lisa’s Oak St. Lounge (1004 E. Oak St., 637-9315). He’ll play alongside D. Charles Speer & The Helix, which features members of the No Neck Blues Band and Sunburned Hand of the Man, Two & Fews label chief Nathan Salsburg and resonator guitar specialist R. Keenan Lawler. Doors open at 9 p.m., cover is $5.

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Wayne Young & the New Legends celebrate their CD release for Ride This! Friday at Coyote’s at City Block (166 W. Jefferson St., 589-3866). Ride This is aimed squarely at the “Easy Rider” generation. Showtime is 9:30 p.m., cover is $5. A pre-show reception starts at 8 p.m.

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Sub Pop recording artists Vetiver return from their two-year absence with a new album, Thing of the Past, and a new U.S. tour.
They stop at 21c Museum Hotel (700 W. Main St., 217-6300) Thursday for a date with King’s Daughters & Sons. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. A percentage of sales benefits the International Contemporary Art Foundation.