I have seen Yo La Tengo at Maxwell’s before, but this was my first chance to ever catch a Hanukkah show. Playing all 8 nights of Hanukkah at Maxwell’s is an annual tradition for them and I was glad to finally be able to be there for it. All I can say is, wow. I love Yo La Tengo, and have seen them at a variety of places. I feel that large outdoor shows, or even larger venues like Webster Hall, are not the appropriate place for them. I still enjoy those shows, but they do not allow Yo La Tengo to do what they do best. That place is Maxwell’s. They feel comfortable here and it shows. They also play a lot of rare tunes and awesome covers during these shows. As a longtime fan of Yo La Tengo, it’s really a special treat. This night they opened with two of my favorite songs(not just by them, but ever!) Were an American Band and Damage. They play American Band often, but this was the first time I have ever seen them do Damage live and it was really special for me. I can't wait for next year.