Yo La Tengo celebrated the sixth night of Hanukkah at New York’s Bowery Ballroom last night. Bassist/composer Mali Obomsawin served as the surprise opener while Calvin Trillin provided a reading in the traditional comedy slot.

Mali Obomsawin Quintet then returned at the start of Yo La Tengo’s set for “Night Falls On Hoboken” and remained onstage for “Damage,” “Swing For Life,” “The Summer” and “Let’s Be Still.” As always, the group’s encore focused on covers; this time they offered, seasonal sections, as Relix contributing editor Jesse Jarnow reports, such as Angry Samoans’ “Right Side Of My Mind,” Velvet Underground’s “Candy Says” and Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich’s “Heaven Only Knows.”

Yo La Tengo’s Hanukkah run continues with a performance that falls on Christmas Eve tonight.

Here’s a look at last night’s setlist via Jesse Jarnow’s blog.

Friday, December 23, Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY

Night Falls on Hoboken
Damage
Swing For Life
The Summer
Let’s Be Still
Tired Hippo
Cherry Chapstick
Did I Tell You
I’ll Be Around
I Should Have Known Better
From A Motel 6
Today Is The Day (fast)
Deeper Into Movies
Frenzy (The Fugs)
Blue Line Swinger

E:
Right Side Of My Mind (Angry Samoans)
Candy Says (Velvet Underground)
Heaven Only Knows (Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich)