Heeb

Matisyahu, a sub-Weird Al novelty music act, has begun his eight-part series of Chanukkah shows here in NYC. The series is called the "Festival of Lights," and each night of the holiday, he will perform with a different opener, celebrating the underdog victory of his namesake, and the long-standing Jewish tradition of making bank off of black culture. The New York Times, in their coverage, summarize the mixed blessing of his schtick thusly:

"Matisyahu rarely improves on his sources. His voice is thin and sometimes nasal…his rhymes can be as awkward as they are earnest. But his band — which was augmented, for a few songs, by an Israeli oud player — carries simple vamps through multiple transformations, from meditations to shredding guitar solos. It’s music for believers, with a groove for everyone else."

Fun! And while M-dawg has managed to maintain his popularity far longer than any of us here at Heeb could have imagined, it’s really no more surprising than a bunch of drunks, perverts and nerdlingers cranking out a "New Jew Review" every three months.