Playbill

Clearly there's novelty appeal, and the music on Shake Off the Dust is superb. Drummer Jonah David, guitarist Aaron Dugan and bassist Josh Werner all shine, especially on "Got No Water," "Father in the Forest" and "Exaltation." As for Matisyahu himself, well, that's another matter. He does have talent, but on songs like "King Without a Crown" and "Chop 'Em Down," his faux Jamaican patois all but ruins promising tunes. His Kingston-style rapping does come together elsewhere, but he sounds best when he's singing in Hebrew, as he does on a couple of other tunes.

While most of his work has religious overtones, don't expect to be preached to. The album is a mellow, groove-ridden piece of work created to relax and uplift, and this show promises more of the same. Arise! -- Quibian Salazar-Moreno

Sunday, February 20, at the Kaplan Theater at the Jewish Community Center, 5601 South Braeswood, 713-729-3200.

Voodoo Organist, with Two Star Symphony and the Invincible Czars

A versatile instrument, the organ can add an angelic glow to hymns, an eerie hum to horror movies and a seedy soul to garage rock. In the hands of Scott Wexton, the Voodoo Organist, it achieves all of these objectives, sometimes during a single song. Wexton alternates between haunting and holy tones, incorporating upbeat instruments into his rollicking revival numbers and pumping up the percussion on his blues tunes. Like Screamin' Jay Hawkins and Tom Waits, he whistles through the graveyards, using his abundant charisma to persuade listeners to follow him into foreboding territory. Live, the one-man band's skull-intensive stage setup establishes his demonic credentials. He released his latest album, Holy Ghost Town, last week, which made it a timely gift for goth couples who wanted Valentine's Day to sound as haunted as Halloween. -- Andrew Miller

Friday, February 18, at Super Happy Fun Land, 2610 Ashland, 713-880-2100.

Ultra DJ Competition Finals

Dozens entered, and now we're down to the nine excellent finalists in our quest to send an H-town representative to the Ultra Music Festival at Miami's upcoming Winter Music Conference. Without further ado, here is that noble nonet: DJ Cubanito, Miss Madd Maria, Blaine Hummel, Champa Moore, Mr Bristle, Henry Chow, DJ Alex C, Andrew Lawrence and Little Martin. The good news for them is that they made it this far in the competition. The good news for the rest of us is that all of them will be spinning on Sunday night at South Beach, and there is still more good news to go around for some of us: The next day is Presidents' Day, so this will be the second Saturday night in a row for those of us with generous bosses. These DJs will be spinning early, so all you Sunday brunchers should head over to South Beach around six or seven, kick back and shift gears out of mimosas and Marys and into night mode. Get ready to be amazed by nine of the city's top house, Latin house and techno-tinged house DJs. -- John Nova Lomax

7 p.m. Sunday, February 20, at South Beach, 810 Pacific, 713-529-SOBE.