Matisyahu's Hanukkah at Hammerstein

Last week Matisyahu performed some of the best shows I've seen him perform for his inaugural 'Festival of Light' concert series at Hammerstein Ballroom. All three shows- on the 16th, 17th, and 19th- were packed with folks dancing and even holding homemade menorahs aloft.

Matis came ready with a few surpises for the NYC crowd: at all three shows, he disappeared from the stage during an instrumental break only to reappear in the first row of the lower mezzanine and lead a dance line all the way around the theatre. The crowd went nuts for that. And on the final night of the 3-night stand, he brought his mom out on stage during the encore to read the blesing as he lit the menorah. It was a great cap to what has been a monumental year for him (topped by his recent Grammy nomination), and i'm looking forward keenly to his next NYC shows.