Local Chiropractor Watches Matisyahu’s Back

Matthew D. Berman, D.C., of Berman Chiropractic & Wellness (website), is St. Louis’ chiropractic physician to the stars. Through schmoozing at concerts and getting to know the right people, he has found an interesting niche and addition to his practice – adjusting the spines of those who are famous. He explained. “Some of the tour managers of the big shows, like the touring show of American Idol, will call in advance and make sure that I’m there to do my thing. Usually they’ll have a little room where I can set up my portable table backstage.”  ” 

Typically, as with Matisyahu, Dr. Berman adjusted the star's spine as well as the spines of a few members of the band. "Sometimes I'll also adjust the crew and the roadies who set up the stage. This can range from 5 to 25 people a show." 

Before the show, Dr. Berman noted that Matisyahu and crew had a craving for Kohn’s Deli. “That’s when Lenny Kohn’s 16-year-old son Jake brought the band a smorgasbord of dairy dishes, including ravioli, lasagna, Caesar salad and desserts.”  And then Dr. Berman got to work. 

After the show, Dr. Berman went one step further for the Orthodox reggae rock star. He organized a minyan. “My friend Stu Klamen picked up a few Siddurs and Yarmulkes from Bais Abraham. Then, Stu and I went into the crowd and picked out 10 Jewish men we knew  - some of whom won free tickets to the concert on jewishinstlouis.org .”

At this point, Matt is a Matisyahu maven. He’s been (back) stage at three concerts: two at The Pageant and one at the Verizon Amphitheatre. He said that the performance on Wednesday, June 25, was "wonderful because The Pageant is one of the best smaller and intimate venues in the country. People are right there, sitting within 50 feet of the stage. To be that close to see a performance is a really cool feeling.” 

After an evening of music and davening, Matisyahu and his crew boarded their tour bus and hit the road, heading for the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Il. (outside Chicago).

Winners of jewishinstlouis.org Matisyahu tickets and other members of the audience who agreed to daven en masse @ a Matisyahu minyan after the concert are (from left) Jon Shanker, Craig Dobkin, Noah Goldberg, Matt Berman, Matisyahu, Benjamin Singer (ticket winner), Eldad Bialecki, Ran Mano, Scott Keller (in front also a ticket winner), Stu Klamen and Adam Robin.

See photos from the concert in the jewishinstlouis.org photo gallery