Yo La Tengo live

Sonic Youth 'at their best' - well, I've heard it said that SY were great last year. I saw them last year and it was maybe the worst gig I've ever seen - worse than YLT 2001. So I'm not sure that the SY comparison does YLT favours in my eyes (though I expect it will for others).

Last time I saw them --- on their sit-down, chill-out tour for And Then Nothing. . . --- there was a palpable and sort of disappointing absence of noise. Ira played one of his incredible drunken-swerving solos for "Stockholm Syndrome," got the biggest crowd reaction of the night, and then . . . nothing. Obviously I don't mean to criticize, as the stated point of the tour was to concentrate on the other side of their sound, but . . . it was just odd to watch a guitar player deliberately holding back the abilities that would impress listeners most obviously. I suppose that's pretty admirable, when you think about it . . .

the big difference lately has been where the jams come in: the songs used to start normally and then deconstruct into a jam; now, the jams start as a lot of unrelated noodeling that (eventually) coheres into a song. it can be rewarding to listen to, but takes a lot of patience -- and they don't always pull it off.

For some reason, I always have a better time at YLT if I'm sitting down. Having seen them in the two theatres at the Royal Festival Hall, (one time with Sonic Boom along for the ride...) I thought they were one of the best bands I'd ever seen in my life- adventurous, chaotic, spontaneous, yet tightly controlled and disciplined. Amazing shows.

And then I saw then a few months ago, at an overcrowded, poorly sounded show in Shepherds Bush, and I thought they were one of the worst bands I'd ever seen in my life, their solos interminable and their free jazz intolerable.

So, it really can vary, depending on both the band, and the state in which you see them (mentally, not as in US)

Sonic Youth at ATP2000 has gone down in the dictionary as The Worst Show Ever Performed By A Rock Band. No, really, look it up, there's a little picture of Kim and her trumpet.

I'm afraid I can't live with Nitsuh's ref to 'abilities'. My feeling was, here's an average rock guitar player - come to think of it, a BAD rock guitar player, by the standards of most professional-type axe-workers - and he's going to prove it ad nauseam.

When I go to a concert I want more than there is on the record. I want that the band play a set just for me, something unique, which will never be reproduced. That is also the reason why I love improvisations. And YLT and SY do exactly that. They make me feel that I am part of the show. They make human music, MBV does not. And live shows are not about perfection. Especially the imperfect bits, the false tones, the unplanned things make the charm of a live show.

@Josh: You should go and see them. You have missed something.

Keithkey is spot-on. And comparing that YLT geezer to Hendrix seems to me a serious critical misjudgement - like comparing, um, Simon Armitage to Wyndham Lewis or something. No, worse than that.

To the others: try for loads of Yo La Tengo live songs. Blue Line Swinger is a classic for example. I like the version at St. Louis which is stretched to ten minutes. The song evolves very slowly. Almost like Low's cover of Joy Division's Transmission (one of the few covers which can compete with the original). I must admit I did not have the time to listen to all these mp3's. Anyways next time they are around and they love Germany and Germany loves them I will go to see them.

Sonic Youth played the single most amazing live show I have ever seen , at the ICA in 1983 or 1984. The three or four times I have seen them since they have been boring: I realise I have been buying records and liking them purely in expectation of having a repeat experience delivered. Nothing suggests to me that this *cannot* occur: but it *may* not. I have next to no opinion abt Yo La Tengo either way.

To Alex in all seriousness -- well, again, a matter of perception here. Were you fortunate enough to attend, you might have found the YLT set opening for MBV involved and interesting, but as mentioned for me aside from the one song it was crudulous (I vaguely remember Ira starting on stage flailing all around on his guitar and trying to 'rock out,' I guess -- it looked stupid and I wasn't impressed). MBV, for my money, had enough get-into-it live energy to easily carry the performance -- Deb Googe was always the most active of the bunch, unquestionably, but on things like the 35-minute (yes!) version of the "You Made Me Realize" midsong jam that I saw at the second show everybody seemed possessed by the music and performance. To be sure, Kevin and Bilinda were mostly concentrating on what they were playing and getting it across -- but the music itself was so enveloping, it was insane. The first time I saw them that year, the overcrowded, packed club audience were constantly swaying back and forth, unsteady, a queasy slow-motion pit while the band blasted away. Who needed acrobatics on the stage itself at that point?

As for Sonic Youth's alleged improv skills -- hm. The one time I saw them back in 1999, it was just after the equipment theft, so I allowed for the fact that it was a greatest hits set of a sort and fairly conservative all around, played on borrowed equipment and generally not being much different from what was on record (they did at least do my all time favorite SY song "Mote," though, so I was very pleased). Great was my surprise when I learned from a friend who had been at both that show and the SF show just before the instrument theft that they had played *the same exact set*. I had been resolutely unconvinced by them over time, and that just made it all the worse.

And don't knock the Pinefox -- like it or not, Alex, there *are* people with different opinions from yourself who will hold to that opinion just as strongly as you do yours. ;-)

Wait -- so for a comeback, you're making fun of the fact that he's from Germany? That crosses the line, IMHO, especially inasmuch as his English is just fine; I suspect you wouldn't do that with someone from Japan, or Ghana, or so on. Attack his arguments, if you like, but not his ethnicity.

As for Yo La Tengo, surprisingly, I know very little of their recorded output. However, when I saw them live in May 1998 (my band, among others, opened for them), I enjoyed it quite a bit. Talkative college students ruined all the quiet songs (which were very good otherwise), and the loud songs were fun -- Ira was tossing his guitar everywhere, squalling and howling. It was a good time.

To the previous question:

I found YLT to be quite enjoyable live. A very professional, tight band who know when to let go and when to come back in.

I missed them at the Town Hall shows here in town tho, and have never been to a sit-down show with them. I'm sure it's on par with Kronos or going to hear chamber music.

which is why the sonic youth comparisons mystify me, unless we're only talking about the last two sy geffen albums, and even that's doubtful. maybe i haven't heard the right ylt but what i heard just sounded like another, albeit better-than-average, music-for-old- people indie-mumble band. i don't see a "death valley '69" coming out of that bunch anytime soon.

i didn't think sy were especially known for their improvisations live. most of what's on the records sounds pretty through-composed to me. obviously they stretch out some songs but they were never a postpunk dead afaik. too bad to hear they were in poor form at atp last year. i saw them last summer in montreal and they were good, though the show was short. they even opened with a searing version of "burning spear" and did stellar versions of "schizophrenia" and "kool thing," closing with an extended "nyc g&f." their workout through their whole back catalogue did make me appreciate that i like some parts of it a lot more than others.

@Pinefox: Nice reply. I could not stop laughing (I am dead serious). But how about: Who are you mainhattan characters? They are only, like you say and with energy supply people. They seem, in the music bang so much, versed to be (you know mouse also Falco Jacob, swing me, amadeus, OH - . I would like to know well-being their world opinion in the morning. It neckt Karikaturbonfire it I). If you go into such a way on writing, it, type of merry, is you is, like film star of years 20. Therefore they like, everything are good you in the love music of the forum I. Now it makes sense. Thanks to Babelfish. So you like Lloyd Cole? Mmm. Me too. But could it be that you have taken the title of his last album too literal? Don't get weird on me pinefox.

@Phil: No. My English is crap and was even worse in that post above. And you are exaggerating. Pinefox cracked a joke. I do not think that this is enough to start a war. And I guess our ethnicity is the same (I am Indo-European). But thanks anyway.

My first experience to MBV, as I've gone on about elsewhere (time and again!) on this board, was pure shock and stunned trance at how wonderful it was, hearing "Soon" for the very first time. That had about as much to do with rationality as throwing myself off a cliff because I might bounce.

I have no problem with you arguing your case and all, but junk your attempts at artistic psychoanalysis. If you can't accept the fact I disagree, that's your problem and not mine.

On the other hand when I read your last post I am flabbergasted by your sensitivity.

I accept that and I do not want to go any deeper (only a little bit). I just wanted to understand why our judgements differ. Especially as we start from practically the same point. When I saw MBV ten years ago they were my favourite group. Loveless was the most hypnotic album of the 90s. A song like When you sleep is absolutely stunning and still today. The concert left me totally cold. No interaction between the band and the public whatsoever. Except some stage-divers. When I went to see YLT the first time I did not expect a lot. And Ira talked to us and reacted when people asked for songs. And he was playing guitar like a devil (sorry another stereotype). Totally involved into his music. He was on a trip and he took us with him. I left the concert as a convert to YLT. When comparing those two bands to drugs I would say MBV is about taking LSD, a lonely but very strong experience. But YLT is about sharing a joint. It is a social thing and it is a soft and quite feeble high which lasts.

So maybe we have different preferences concerning those substances.

For another thing, this 'really getting into it, man = emotion; concentrating on playing = technical, unemotional' vision -- I absolutely refuse this limiting, ridiculous stereotype. Some of the most calculated bullshit I've ever encountered at shows has been from the most active people on-stage, some of the freest, most evocative and emotional playing from the most calm and controlled performers. Roy Montgomery in particular, with two extended improvisatory pieces at Terrastock 2, showed that much, all while sitting down, but he had that crowd -- and a large one it was -- on as much of a trip as Ira did for yours. *And* Mr. Montgomery was engaging in a bit of audience banter too if that makes you happy.

I am not trying to set up an opposing set of rules to yours, Alex, but I am trying to demonstrate that your own vision is not automatically the mirror image of mine. Is this so hard to understand?

(But I still maintain, however, that your English is not crap. Es ist ganz besser als mein Deutsch...)

On the subject of YLT live- I remember Alec Empire interview in NME where he talked about seeing YLT live and how they were scared to go on because the stage was covered in water and so they might get fried! Onstage!

And alec then called them a bunch of assholes- he would love to be there himself, he'd relish that kind of situation- and he proceeded to tell the the kids to stop buying all of this indie garbage.

http://www.yolatengo.com/schedule.html

'Fun' reading above.

I suppose I'm only really familiar with "And the nothing...", "I Can Hear the Heart...", "Summer Sun", and "Painful", since those are the only ones I own. Oh, and their first album, which I've listened to 1/2 a time.

But I only recognized about 5 of the songs they played, total. I assume the rest were covers, obscure b-sides...who knows. When things couldn't get any worse, they ended with their "Nuclear War" cover, which lasted about 15 minutes and wasn't very impressive. Then, when they finished, a fall-over-drunk woman yelled out, "HAY!!1 Play it...aGEE-YEN!"

And they did. They played another 15 minute long version of Nuclear War, which was just as disappointing as the first. Then, they were done.

Plus, it looked like Ira and Georgia were in the middle of a messy divorce the whole show.

I've loved them both times I've seen them, and like all the LPs, though And Nothing... doesn't get much play.

But other than that, they've never been bad. And I told Ira Kaplan he was a Rock God at Maxwells one time, and he was doubled over laughing with (or at) me. I was pretty drunk at the time.

http://www.yolatengo.com/ylt/hanukkah2005diary.html

I was at the Sun Ra Arkestra show Wednesday, which was fine (esp the jammy version of "Little Honda") except I found the comedians only mildly amusing.

Their pieces with new-music horn players (Arkestra, Sabir Mateen, etc.) are the most disappointing collaborations since Dim Stars.

YLT were almost the Who circa 1968. Now they're the Who circa 1989. A huge and tragic waste.

"Tragic waste" is a ridiculous overstatement even if you don't like the horn stuff. Having the same approach to your shows in 1992 and 2005 would be ossification.

The double 7" is spectacular. Nuclear War 12, not so much.

I have to agree though, some of the best shows I've ever seen were Yo La Tengo shows. When they're on, they're on.

Yea, but there are other approaches they could have taken (and could still take?) without "ossification'.

xpost

(also, you literally couldn't see the band whether you were standing or not. I had no qualms about standing cuz I arrived after 9, and any everyone-sits protocol was out the window by then.)

In addition to the octopi-sex score, I like the funk stuff for "Shrimp Stories."

fun performance, but i'm with Morbs, really not a rock show at all. here's an interesting essay on Painlevé and a video example:

http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/03/25/painleve.html
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8604649289441675492

also, i noticed Love Life of the Octopus was originally scored by Pierre Henry. pretty bold of them to redo that one.

i would've liked to have made my own decision, is all.

it was a fun show!

Yeah, that was the next-best part for me too. I wondered why the drummer was so sleepy the rest of the time.

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/1755/218yola0ne.jpg

but its by no means necessary to have captions in a film/sound performance such as this, as you're there for the interplay between image and sound. captions distract to a certain extent, but its a minor quibble.

omg!

yeah, i can't wait. bought tix right when they went on sale, so i'll be in the front row!

you mean, do they limit themselves to one lengthy noisejam? no.

Jersey City show was a good one, I liked the "Goodkind" jam, not the... uhhhh... other one.

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/40706/Yo_La_Tengo_Hit_the_Road

Now that I have my tix, here's the Hoboken Hanukkah sked:

http://yolatengo.com/news.html

Very easily the best act at Austin City Limits 2007. Ira absolutely shredded his geetar. Great stuff.

Bored the crap out of me. And I like their records.

Very easily the best act at Austin City Limits 2007. Ira absolutely shredded his geetar. Great stuff.

-- kijiji, Thursday, October 25, 2007 4:05 PM (26 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

oh my god seconded. i thought i was the only ILMer who caught that show!

didja go to the Parish the following night? 2-1/2 hours of goodness, opened the show with a 20-minute "I Heard You Looking" etc. etc. so so good.

oh my god seconded. i thought i was the only ILMer who caught that show!

didja go to the Parish the following night? 2-1/2 hours of goodness, opened the show with a 20-minute "I Heard You Looking" etc. etc. so so good.

-- stephen, Thursday, October 25, 2007 4:32 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Link

No, unfortunately I had to go take off on Monday. But maybe I shouldn't have...2.5 hrs? Dayum.

But I knew YLT were doing something right when a) a gaggle of teenaged girls walked through the grass in front of me, their fingers all tightly stuck into their ears to block out any of the RAWK; and b) when the dudes next to me, who were definitely there for Robert Earl Keene (and who, by the way, was very good), shouted out "You done already" after the 12 minute mind-fuck that was "Pass The Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind." But the medley of "Tom Courtenay/Little Honda," the aforementioned "PtH,ITIG," and Ira's rapid decent into dirty rockabilly insanity on the closer "Watch Out For Me Ronnie" were all extended moments of pure bliss to me.

Though I should mention that Andrew Bird was pretty fucking amazing, too.

i'm not a fan, but yeah Andrew Bird was pretty great, actually.

I don't think "Watch Out For Me Ronnie" was the closer -- they did about a 15-minute version of "The Story of Yo La Tango" to close though, which is I think what you're referring to. And yeah, the whole set was incredible. Loved the old songs thrown in there; couldn't have picked a better opener than "From a Motel 6" IMHO.

looks like only 3 of Hanukkah shows have tix left.

Would anyone who's seen the current Freewheelin' tour care to comment? I've going to the Thursday show in Boston.

hey morbs, which hanukkah show(s) are you going to?

Thu the 6th only

I believe I meant to say "I'm going" up there.

So I went and it was great. The Georgia-sung version of Fourth Time Around made me need that new soundtrack. Tons of requests honored for early classics, so if that sounds like your thing the tour ends in Brooklyn tonight. Also they mentioned that they'll be playing at this on Saturday: http://www.ucbtheatre.com/schedule/showdetails.php?showid=1585

i'm sure i've said it before but YLT are about my favourite live band around.

and ira = http://www.lhdepottheatre.org/images/stuart800_600.JPG + http://www.jbexp.com/images/hendrix.gif

Anyone see them play the Bang on a Can Marathon in NYC this summer? It was quite awkward. They came on after some very beautiful and serious works by Alvin Lucier and others and they just noodled around in some apparent attempt to seem "experimental" I guess.

I've never seen them live any other time but judging from the posts above it seems like this isn't a rare thing for them to do.

Anyway, I came excited to see them live for the first time and wound up leaving right in the middle of it because it was too embarrassing to watch them make fools of themselves.

recent boston show up for download over here: http://www.bradleysalmanac.com/2007/11/mp3s-freewheeling-yo-la-tengo-live-in.htm

Loader, maybe you should've gone to a "regular" show first.

Apparently, YLT on snl this weekend.

SNL isn't airing during the writers' strike. They played at an onstage SNL edition at a NY improv theater this past Saturday.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/yo-la-tengo-snl

morbs, your opener is rumored to be the db's

and mine is rumored to be the clean

yeah, I knew about the dB's. how was the Clean? who was comedian / encore guest?

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2007/12/yo_la_tengo_han.html

the clean was v. v. good. the comedian was john oliver (english dude from the daily show). he was good too, but the funniest moment was when someone asked him if he was the geico lizard.

bwaHA!

(is he?)

Hooray, southern dates announced. Do I go to Atlanta, B'ham or Memphis?

he is not in fact the geico gecko, but he encouraged people to claim so on wikipedia

I am really, really glad I missed the Night 1 comedians.

friend of mine got Versus as the opener and Mark Arm from Mudhoney as the encore guest (not sure which night this was)

how is the room temperature in Maxwells during a sold-out show these days?

it was pretty damn cold on arrival and warmed up to fine after a few hours

It was OK.

Our encore guest was the My Morning Jacket dude; he sang "Secret Agent Man" and Kiss' "Hard Luck Woman," which is about as pretentious as he should ever be allowed to get.

It seems New Pornographers opened last night. Other nights were Alex Chilton and, um, Endless Boogie.

!!!!!!

The NPs did "Don't Bring Me Down"!

also during the week, Sarah Vowell. and Dave Rick!

http://www.yolatengo.com/ylt/hanukkah2007diary.html

CAPITALISM

http://www.yolatengo.com/forsale/index.php

The KISS/Star shirt is kinda sweet...

Okay, the new Unplugged/Storytellers tour is kind of boring.

The KISS/Star shirt is kinda sweet...

Yeah, but it would be even sweeter if it was a star-eyed shirt of Bob Odenkirk in Kiss Makeup.

they're doing Hanukkah fest at Maxwells this year. tix soon.

they're also playing new year's eve in haledon, nj with the feelies, making me wish, for the first time, that I lived in New Jersey.

Montclair, NJ!

oops, yeah you're right -- Montclair! any predictions on who the guests'll be this year at the hannukah shows? some great ones in the past ...

yeah. i can't believe they had alex chilton last year. the youtube stuff's tremendous

can anyone devise some kind of ticket buying logarithm, like working out that night five's gonna be the best?

yo la tengo at atpny was interesting in terms of the debate about being good live versus extended jams, but totally redeemed by the last thirty seconds being SUPER LOUD, courtesy of the mbv pa i guess.

oh, &, dump are playing somewhere ny soon, too.

chilton stuff is really nice, no doubt. he should make an album with ylt. couldn't be worse than that big star in space album, right?
yeah there's gotta be a new Dump album sometime, right? been 5 years or so since the last one.

there's one coming, called HEARTBLEEPS, i think. he had a split single out a while back.

big star in space - uhh, but some recent alex chilton stuff's totally classic - the standards on his cliches lp, there will never be another you etc, are beautiful.

no, you seldom know in advance who yer gonna get at Hanukkah shows. And they are making no announcements.

yeah. i think there were a few leaks last year, just beforehand. but i wondered whether it's always night one young and upcoming matadorites, night two ylt forefathers and night three, BAM, chilton/marshall allen etc.

they've promised that the feelies are not one of the hannukah guests ... so it'll probably be yung wu.

i bet there'll be some sonic youth or lou reed, considering that they're now labelmates ...

reports? I hear Magnetic Fields opened the other night. Tonight, Willie "Boom Boom" Alexander.

i went to two (2x) of these shows, and caught some indie rock headliners and not lou reed or someone of chiltonesque stature. i did see jon benjamin, though, which was tremendous and akin to watching someone have a nervous breakdown onstage.

ylt were really good. maybe seeing them somewhere smaller made the jams kinda heavier and easier to get involved in, rather than sit through. played lots of nice things like tiny birds.

well I'll never hear David Cross sing "To Sir with Love Again" I bet.

this thread has one of my favorite Ned-isms, maybe in the all-time top ten:

Bah on having sex with a guitar. People should play by mind control and never touch the actual instrument.

recordings of some of the hannukah gigs are up at nyctaper.com ... the one with smokey hormel looks particularly cool ...

So Yo La Tengo decided for their Pitchfork Festival "Write the Night" set, for which fans vote to determine the set list, to play three new songs that weren't even on the ballot. Nice work, guys. As much as I'm sure they enjoy the new tunes, it kind of sucks if we were deprived hearing stuff like "Moby Octopad" or "Blue Line Swinger" because they decided to thumb their nose at the concept.

god, that sounds awful. i don't know how you coped

Haha, I was worried I sounded too indignant in that post. I'm not, really, it's just kind of like why agree to the thing if you're just going to deviate from it, anyway?

http://www.cvcomics.com/artandstory/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/money.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPoQAwZjn08

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5FjzqwWyiA

there you go jaymc, you can stop being upset now, because you can hear these songs!

i think they should have played it with the exception that voters were allowed to vote for songs by anyone except yo la tengo

you mean like the WFMU pledge drive?

also i just looked at the pitchfork festival schedule page and lol they asked wavves to play even after the debacle at their euro festival? idiots.

yeah that was what i was thinking of, the wfmu thing (couldn't think what it was called)

more disappointed they didn't use their gig in ornette coleman's meltdown to unveil their new free jazz direction tbh

live recording from nyctaper of the Coney Island show this month: http://www.nyctaper.com/?p=1364

Xposts: Go Blue Jays.

Seeing Yo La Tengo is one of those things I want to do once, and have wanted to see them since I was 14, but just never bothered. Not sure if I'm missing out or not.

depends on the show. but yeah, you're most likely missing out.

Avoid them if it's billed as "The Freewheeling Yo La Tengo." That show sucked.

also i just looked at the pitchfork festival schedule page and lol they asked wavves to play even after the debacle at their euro festival? idiots.

― ian, Saturday, July 18, 2009 9:54 AM (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

uh they probably asked them to play like 6 months ago when they were booking people for the festival. not defending wavves though.

Anyone go to the Roseland show? I was more tired than broke.

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2009/09/yo_la_tengo_pla_3.html

well this year's Hanukkah shows sold out in record time (12 days I think) and I didn't move on em. If anyone acquires "extras" let me know.

I'm going Monday.

didnt think they'd get Elvis:

http://hoboken.patch.com/articles/yo-la-tengo-kicks-off-hanukkah-concert-series-with-m-ward-urge-overkill-and-elvis

sounds like some of the feelies were there last night ...

yes

http://www.jambands.com/news/2010/12/03/members-of-the-feelies-join-yo-la-tengo-on-night-two-of-chanukah

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2010/12/wilco_week_cont.html

http://www.nyctaper.com/?p=4446
recording of the first night

apparently I'm seeing Mofungo tnite (did back in the day)

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2011/03/david_byrne_gle.html

show sounds amazing.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqTqKzyfRy4
not great sound quality, but here's a vid of yo la feelies playing a ripping "run run run"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqTqKzyfRy4

kind of weird how ageless ira kaplan seems to be? not that he looks terribly young, but he looks pretty much exactly the same as he did when i saw ylt for the first time in 1995.

He actually kinda looks the same as he did when I saw him as the soundguy at Maxwells in 1985.

the anti aging effects of moisturizing and feedback

Man, even the totally crappy quality of that recording couldn't obliterate the coolness of the guitars. Bet that was a blast in the actual room.

run, run, run by the motorcycle boy. about the best cover of a vu song ever. that singer from the shop assistants. wow!

you can get a recording of the japan benefit show http://www.nyctaper.com/?p=5530 by donating to peace winds japan. good cause of course.

or at least you could -- as seems to happen to these guys frequently, their server is down at the moment.

Brooklyn 'spinning wheel' shows at Bell House in May

they're doing a spinning wheel show in london, at the royal festival hall, for meltdown, and i can't wait!

Hanukkah tix on sale tom'w:

http://www.yolatengo.com/schedule.html

the show i mentioned above was AMAZING. they played their own support slot as condo fucks!!

they're playing here next week as the CFs, opening for the Glands.

All the Hanukkah shows except for Xmas night and Xmas Eve are sold out!

wowzers.
guessing that the reunited trypes are going to play one of these nights.

shit, goes faster every year

ie, I was shut out and can't go those 2 nights

will beg Matador connex

These sell out pretty fast but I had no trouble getting tickets at face value near the show date last year since holiday plans are usually fluid for people and these go on sale so far in advance.

same, think they're always changing hands prior to the shows, & ylt fans aren't necessarily capitalistic enough to boost the prices

Yeah I think I traded my original pair twice, sold it, then bought a new ticket at less than face the night of.

^^ yo la tengo fan into pyramid schemes

I'm known as the Bernie Madoff of Yo La Tengo scalpers.

got a hard ticket for the final Hanukkah show at a rekkid store.

They're going to be here accompanying The Sounds of Science next week:

http://torontoundergroundcinema.com/synopsis.php?MV=The+Sounds+of+Science

This is a big deal for me; believe it or not, "How Some Jellyfish Are Born" is my single favourite Yo La Tengo song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsfRqwpJQnk

i saw them do that in SF the first time they did it, must have been 10 years ago. It was awesome, easily the best YLT show I ever saw (I've seen them three other times, ranging from really cool to incredibly boring).

yeah sounds of science is great, definitely essential YLT. i think i passed up the opp to see them do it live 2003 and have regrets.

for anyone who cares: http://doomandgloomfromthetomb.tumblr.com/post/22594311245/i-can-hardly-wait-yo-la-tengo-best-band-ever
7 live versions of "big day coming" over the years. I know, might not sound that exciting, but it is! it is!

colour me excited, tyler!

tyler, is it possible to find the shows on the ylt database online anywhere?

not that i know of, sadly. I'm going to be posting a bunch of highlights though -- i don't even have that much of it, i just have a source who is providing a bunch of live YLT.

thx tyler. i really love yo la tengo.

yeah it's fun stuff -- listening to a bunch of these live recordings, it's clear they're more in the vein of NRBQ than the VU. Kind of like the ultimate neighborhood band (who somehow made it big).

At first I lolled at NRBQ comparison, but it's actually rather apt. I was telling a friend just recently that NRBQ were "record collector rock," in the sense that why NOT combine Sun rockabilly, Lovin' Spoonful pop and Sun Ra skronk; they obviously loved all those things. And YLT does a similar thing with their influences, for sure.

yeah i mean obviously there are big differences, but just the approach -- almost like both bands tap into an alternate american songbook kind of thing (both with covers and originals).

nrbq/yung wu members are regular guests for ylt's hanukkah shows

really, nrbq have played those things? i know yung wu/feelies/etc always show up.

well, terry adams has

cool, yeah at this point it'd be weirder if someone from nrbq *hadn't* played with YLT. they've played with everyone.

that first, epic big day coming gets really delicious and spacey 16 minutes in

ha, yeah, it almost turns into some kind of 4AD/cocteau twins thing. really is great -- i wasn't too excited about a 27-minute big day coming when it started but i was a believer by the end.

what is the rest of that show like??

that's all they played that night, i think! they just jumped on a bill w/ sleepyhead and love child at the last minute.

pretty excited about hearing those versions of "Big Day Coming"!

when I saw them on the And Nothing... tour they opened with like a 45 minute version of "Night Falls On Hoboken" & I couldn't figure out where they could go from there. tbh they didn't really go anywhere; it was a weird mellow night, only one short electric solo (on "Cherry Chapstick"), with the gong player, you guys were probably there too, you know what I mean.

could def go for a compilation of diff versions of night falls tbh. and also cherry chapstick.

just put up a new one -- Yo La Does Dylan http://doomandgloomfromthetomb.tumblr.com/post/22844703264/yo-la-tengo-does-dylan-sunsquashed-archives

i was really worried that your blog was gonna die out when your mediafire links went down. so happy

http://sydneytapes.blogspot.com.au/2010/02/freewheelin-with-yo-la-tengo.html (link in comments)

this is a really cool Freewheelin' show. I think the talking/answers are actually better than the music, and it's an awesome setlist. Phone interference dies out after like the 25 minute mark too. It isn't split up though

cool, thanks for the link! those freewheeling shows are fun.
yeah, kinda keeping the blog rolling in a hopefully low-key way. next up is a totally great fakebook era comp.

tyler, do you have their london royal festival hall performance, hosted by john peel? i was in the audience for that, and have a recording on CD that's ace - Ira tussles manfully with some awful technical difficulties throughout, but the band are entirely charming, and they open with a totally enchanting trip thru Night Falls On Hoboken (i could totally listen to a CD of multiple takes of that song). i can try and upload it if you've not heard it yet.

i do have that one -- the long, opening "night fall on hoboken" right? great show. i think part of this "sunsquashed" archives thing will be an ambient/epic compilation that will definitely include a version of "hoboken".

aye, that's the one...

aight, here's another one http://doomandgloomfromthetomb.tumblr.com/post/23231602272/a-world-of-funny-changes-more-from-the
really great stuff, live shows/in-stores/radio sessions all from the Fakebook era.

another one of these! http://doomandgloomfromthetomb.tumblr.com/post/23741012089/number-15-spotlight-on-james-mcnew-sunsquashed
spotlight on james mcnew/dump.

From the Neil Young voting thread:

yo la tengo's probably one of the more adventurous bands when it comes to setlists, at least in my experience. i don't think there's anything in their catalog that they wouldn't at least give a go.

― tylerw, Friday, July 6, 2012 2:14 AM (9 hours ago)

Do they do anything from Ride the Tiger these days? IIRC, Ira was either embarrassed by it or felt it was a Dave Schramm album (or both). Love that record so much.

Does 'The Evil That Men Do' count?

Yes. Yes it does. Although I'd like to hear them (or Dave Schramm) do "The Way Some People Die" or "Five Years," sometime.

think i've seen "the empty pool" and "alrock's bells" crop up on a few setlists recently, but yeah, that is probably the record they draw from the least. those songs might just show up when they do a random hanukkah gig with schramm.

just posted another ylt live thing -- Sun Ra Tengo! This one is a lot of fun: http://doomandgloomfromthetomb.tumblr.com/post/30995666916/or-the-i-ra-arkestra-of-all-the-hundreds

Heh, great timing tyler, I just got done reading the bit in the book where Jarnow talks about YLT meeting up with the members of the Arkestra and playing with them.

Hanukkah shows in Hoboken happening this year (12/8-15), tix on sale next week.

sold out already apparently!

got hooked up for the 12th....

http://yolatengo.com/schedule.html

looks like at least Monday & Saturday finale still available.

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2012/12/the_raybeats_em.html

I'm missing Wyatt Cenac tom'w apparently, dammit

What I love about the Hanukah shows is that they allow YLT to actually have fun. I can't think of the last time I saw the band where Ira and Georgia looked much more than joyless, and that includes a Condo Fucks show, though I guess I missed the spinning wheel tour, which may have been a concerted effort to liven things up.

Judging by the photo the band tweeted, it looked like the Arkestra was with 'em last night.

Yep. Would have liked seeing the Raybeats open (on night one). Plus this Yo La Tengo cover with guest:

The Kid With the Replaceable Head (Richard Hell) (with Jody Harris of the Raybeats/Contortions on guitar)

rumor is i'm gettin L3e R4n4ldo

Josh I think they just have a game face when they play. Anyone going on Wednesday? I think that's when I'll be there.

yeah that's when i'm goin

It may be a game face, but it's definitely stopped me from enjoying shows as of late. I used to look forward to YLT live c. 93, 94, 95. But now it's kind of a slog. Oh well. Perhaps it is just me.

lee ranaldo

^ correct spelling

have never seen ylt not thoroughly enjoying a show (not even the 1999 royal festival hall show where their gear glitched all the way through) tbh

http://slowshutter.org/yolatengo/120912/

some good pics a friend took.

gonna listen to yo la tengo today. good band.

new album is strong

have never seen ylt not thoroughly enjoying a show (not even the 1999 royal festival hall show where their gear glitched all the way through) tbh

Last time I saw them in Minneapolis they seemed kind of tired. Kind of turned me off of wanting to see them again? I dunno. They seem to come by enough.

being tired after so many years. who could blame them? the beatles went on for eight years? yo la tengo have been together for more than 25 already, haven't they? let's hope they don't finish like the bloody stones.

Oh for sure, as much as I love Ira's shredding one wonders if he ever gets tired of it.

When I first saw them ('86 or '87 I think, opening for Camper Van Beethoven) none of us knew who they were, and we all joked that they looked tired and unhappy...

haha! yeah, i'm sure they have plenty of nights where they're not in a great mood. they've played a bazillion shows! i don't think i've ever seen one where it's been really apparent, though. georgia generally looks kinda grumpy playing the drums, but i'm not sure if that means she's actually grumpy. most people look grumpy playing the drums.

http://www.disneyclips.com/imagesnewb4/imageslwrakr01/clipdrums.gif

Sorry, that was Dopey...

You guys get upset with volatile "rockin'" behavior by anyone older than the Replacements ca 1982?

Anyone else ever interview them? Because in my experience said grumpiness extends beyond the stage.

That said, they do always seem to be into their sets, even if I'm not, and even if they frown. They remind me of Dylan, actually, to an extent.

xp i interviewed ira sometime around the i am not afraid of you era and he was very nice, though i've talked to people who haven't had that experience.

Only saw them four times, but only one of those times did they seem less than happy to be there (largely because the audience conversation was nearly drowning out the quiet sections).

I talked to Ira once after a 1994 show, and he seemed upbeat and happy to be talking to a fan (I asked if he listened to Albert Ayler; he said, "Yeah, he's great, but the guy I really love is Frank Wright!")

[spoilers for tonight!] http://25.media.tumblr.com/b2bbf89a1c99d2ae746360e7af20b087/tumblr_meu70s88Co1rxbnrlo1_500.jpg

I just don't think they show a lot of emotion. Maybe a stink-face kind of thing? Ira was very nice when I've talked to him around town here briefly but they kind of keep to themselves generally.

Anyone else ever interview them? Because in my experience said grumpiness extends beyond the stage.

a couple of times, and always found them to be fine. i even asked ira about his time as a music journalist, and he didn't bite my head off, like i expected him to.

He's never been a total dick, just sort of watching the clock with extreme prejudice. Probably doesn't help that there's not much generally worth asking them about beyond the music they like to listen to in their spare time. My experiences with them have been fine, honestly, but the farthest thing from engaging.

> Anyone else ever interview them? Because in my experience said grumpiness extends beyond the stage.

Interviewed Ira in college around May I Sing with Me. He totally put me in my place. To his credit, he was right -- I was just asking regurgitated questions from other interviews.

A couple years earlier, they did sign my copy of Ride the Tiger ~`1990 and were super super cool about it, though. I need to track down Dave Schramm and have him sign that, too.

yeah, they *are a hard sell, features-wise. every time they release a new album, i want to write about them, but how to pitch it? "Sterling, dependable indie-rock perennials release another good album" is hardly going to make commissioning editors quiver with anticipation.

The first time I ever heard their music was when they were opening for Teenage Fanclub on a US tour in 1993. That being the Painful era, the unexpected trifecta of From a Motel 6, Big Day Coming & I Heard You Looking just seemed like the best shit ever. That was a fantastic double-bill, actually.

looks like an amazing night last night [from here: http://www.jessejarnow.com/2012/12/yo-la-tengo-hanukkah-2012-night-3-setlist/]
The Feelies:
Deep Fascination
For Now
Invitation
For Awhile
On the Roof
Let’s Go
Higher Ground
The Final Word
Slipping (Into Something)
Away
Way Down
When You Know
Doin’ It Again
Time Is Right
Raised Eyebrows
Crazy Rhythms

Yo La Tengo:
Paul Is Dead
Time Fades Away (Neil Young) (with Glenn Mercer of the Feelies on guitar)
Barnaby, Hardly Working (with GM)
Tears Are In Your Eyes
Something To Do
The Point of It
Tom Courtenay (Georgia version)
Tired Hippo (with Dave Weckerman and Stan Demeski of the Feelies on percussion)
The Room Got Heavy (with DW & SD)
False Alarm (with DW & SD)
The Story of Jazz (with DW & SD)
Double Dare (with DW & SD)
Little Honda (The Hondells)

*(encore)*
You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere (Bob Dylan) (with The Feelies’ Bill Million on guitar & Brenda Sauter on vocals)
Sister Ray (Velvet Underground) (with GM & BM)

and nyc taper is posting recordings -- http://www.nyctaper.com/ first two nights are up now.

The first time I saw them I had a heavy cold, sweats, shivering - and I probably wouldn't have gone if it wasn't just a five minute walk away from where I lived at the time. It was a beautiful experience and my physical condition made it more so - it was a loving cuddle that I really damn needed.

I have a snapshot of me and Ira tucked in the sleeve of my copy of "Painful," taken when they did an acoustic show at my school. Ira wrote on a the back: "A secret message: TUO PORD."

One of the best shows I ever saw was Eleventh Dream Day at Lounge Axe in ... '94? With Ira as second guitarist. Pure guitar bliss.

Misread the setlist right above as featuring Neil Young, rather than covering Neil Young. But you never know! They got Ray Davies, after all. And the blurry picture on the "Painful" jacket is the plate of leftover fries Neil Young didn't finish when Ira interviewed him for Spin way back when.

haha, is that right? i don't think i knew that. neil would probably enjoy jamming with ylt. i wonder when the last time was that he played a place the size of maxwell's.

anyone read Jarnow's book?

The centre of the New Jersey trio Yo La Tengo's 1993 album, Painful, features a blurred polaroid of a plate of French fries. Neil Young's French fries. Yo La Tengo's guitarist Ira Kaplan, a moon-faced thirtysomething once described as "the Jewish Jimi Hendrix", had lunched with the grandfather of grunge in a New York restaurant and asked the waitress to wrap his leftover sandwich. Young's uneaten fries were accidentally wrapped with it, and were soon back in the apartment Kaplan shares with his wife Georgia Hubley, Yo La Tengo's drummer, co-vocalist and the daughter of John Hubley, the creator of the cartoon character Mr Magoo. At first they attempted to preserve the historic fries, dating as they did from the week of Young's acclaimed MTV unplugged performance. "Initially, we refrigerated them but, hey, cooked potatoes have a half-life," Kaplan explains. "We thought about varnishing, but eventually we decided on photodocumentation." Lucky. The inherent weirdness of the daughter of the creator of Mr Magoo varnishing Neil Young's French fries for future generations doesn't bear contemplation.

Found this somewhere just now, though I don't remember how I knew about the fries. What's weird about this is how much it misses to mention the importance of Georgia's mom, or her dad's awesome feud with Walt Disney.

xp yeah, i did. i liked it a lot -- it loses a little bit once the band falls into the standard album-tour-album-tour rhythm at the end, but the early stuff is really well done. the peripheral info about maxwell's / wfmu / etc is interesting as well.

i don't think i've read kaplan's interview with neil -- is it online?

Kaplan, Ira. "Interview." Spin. Vol. 8, No. 12. March 1993.

Awesome, I found it in here!

http://books.google.com/books?id=6ADSCfip83cC&pg=PA14&lpg=PA14&dq=ira+kaplan+spin+neil+young&source=bl&ots=WRr2nwQTOR&sig=wN6MIS6xbscu7nRtK89f5mUAZTY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=XYjHUI3bKuiligKYkoDIBQ&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=ira%20kaplan%20spin%20neil%20young&f=false

Page 57.

nice! thx

Real Estate tonight. By far my very favorite newer band. Would have liked to be there and see those guys all jam together. The lead singer told me Yo La Tengo is his biggest influence so this must be really special for them.

sweet f'n jesus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3jE-muV7iE

sick! love that bill million is so ocd that even on sister ray he keeps his rhythm part totally together.

totally. An anchor amongst the chaos.

I, uh, ... that didn't seem that chaotic. I guess I'm just burned out on the band.

A poor choice of wording on my part. It's more unpracticed than chaotic. But Bill is dead certain to make every change at the appropriate time while the rest do their best to just keep chugging at whatever speed they can. He keeps it from being too sloppy.

False Alarm (with DW & SD)

want to hear this so bad

jarnow book only recommended if not having read the only yo la tengo book out there is gonna nag at you. some annoying errors, not a lot of insight, but you definitely get a sense of context for the early years

yeahhh, was hoping an nyc taper recording would be forthcoming of the feelie la tengo jamz. those dudes are slacking!

The book is best for examining the early NJ/NYC indie rock scene; YLT is really the frame around most of that discussion.

yeah i almost wish it was more of an our band could be your life book with chapters on the bongos, and the dbs and shit. ylt were such passive participants, and there was so little insight into the personalities or their music (it's referenced how little ira knew about guitar at first, but we never get a real sense of when/how became mr wall of pedals) that would have been better to just be like "and then they lived matadorly ever after"

contrary to earlier rumors, it was El-P and John Oliver tonight.

didnt recognize many of the covers (of which there weren't a lot) aside from "I Can Hear Music"

https://soundcloud.com/nyctaper/19-sister-ray-vu

last time i saw yo la tengo it was "no smoking by request of the artist," fuck them. had bought tickets in advance too.

Hmmm, I used to smoke, but this bothers me not at all any more. Can't you go outside and smoke, or take a break from smoking for an hour? Not that I don't smoke, I can totally understand why non-smokers cannot stand to play in a room full of smoke. Seems more like something the venue needs to be up front about, not the musicians.

Uh, that was supposed to say "Now that I don't smoke"

it's been so long since i've lived in a state where you can smoke in a club.

Yeah, me too. But also, at this point, if I like the musician, I am fully on board with making touring/playing shows as cool for them as possible, especially if they are not millionaires and are still out there fighting the good fight. The cards are mostly stacked against them.

I don't want to breathe someone's cigarette smoke and I don't want my clothes to smell of smoke either. I was so glad when my area jurisdictions banned smoking in nightclubs.

Yeah, I can't believe I used to smell like that all the time. And that I smoked inside, all the time (though not my own apartment/house). In restaurants, and venues, and bars. Seems really stupid in retrospect.

that's cool, if i cared about that kind of shit i would move somewhere like that. however the expectation here is that if one is paying out the ass to see a bunch of old dudes play sister ray for 90 minutes one gets to drink and smoke and talk to one's friends while one does it, not stand outside like an asshole.

Hah, sounds like exactly the wrong way to see Yo La Tengo do their thing to me. I mean, they play a ton of quiet songs, but more power to you. Everyone has their own idea of what makes a good show. I don't really have sympathy for the "I paid money damn it, so I get to do what the fuck I want" argument though. Again, I think your complaint is with the venue. Make them post when shows are non-smoking.

http://www.jambands.com/news/2012/12/13/yo-la-tengo-s-hanukkah-shows-continue-with-special-guests-surprise-covers

Norman Blake tonight. Sorry speculative folks hoping for Keith Richards (not in this thread)!

Has anyone seen the shows they're doing with Amber Tamblyn to promote her book? It's coming to town and I'm wondering if it's worth going to. (Only about 45 minutes of performance, but for $10 that may be OK)

Actress and author Amber Tamblyn and iconic alternative rock band Yo La Tengo will be presenting a very special musical and lyrical hybrid showcase for the book release party in support of Tamblyn’s third book of poetry, DARK SPARKLER, a haunting collection that explores the lives and deaths of more than 25 actresses who died tragically and before their time. The 45-minute show will be a journey intertwining verse and music to tell the emotionally charged stories of these deceased women, some of whom are buried inside The Hollywood Forever Cemetery, as well as Tamblyn’s own dark revelations in researching them over the course of six years.

While I liked the conversation overall, I was really, really unimpressed by the poetry she read on Marc Maron's podcast, so that part doesn't sound appealing to me at all. On the other hand, Yo La Tengo! I might go for 10 bucks.

Ah well, sold out now. Maybe I'll look for it on youtube.

suggest you nab this yo la lambchop set from big ears 2016 while you can! http://sweetblahg.tumblr.com/post/142334976673/yo-la-lambchop-2016-big-ears-festival

I thought the revive might be about their Jersey City performance this weekend, which I'll be working! I don't know what I'll be doing yet, though. My help is needed for something.

security muscle? ylt fans are known to be violent.

I could probably take ylt fans, but I definitely am not built to take any other kind of fan.

free in Central Park on July 17

http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/event/yo-la-tengo-ultimate-painting/

^I guess I am going

enjoy! my first season not working out there since 2010.

i like ultimate painting but imagine they'd be pretty boring live

Quite a large segment of young'uns like jabbering their heads off during quiet songs at outdoor shows, don't they?

did ylt drown 'em out, though?
seeing reports that they announced the Hanukkah gigs would be back this year (at the bowery ballroom).

interesting, at least 10x the capacity

Yeah those shows were jam-packed at Maxwells

bowery ballroom's capacity is not 10x maxwell's

575 vs 200

it does feel 10x bigger though

ok, im sure you're right. damn, 200 was a lot for a rec room

as was usually the case when these things were announced in years past, i'm wondering if this should be the year I fly out ...

Free YLT show in LA on Aug 12 (I think). Burton Chase park in Marina Del Rey.

re December

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/yo-la-tengo-played-central-park-setlist-pics-announce-return-of-hanukkah-shows/

Did you go 1st night?

setlist via http://www.jessejarnow.com/category/ylt / @bourgwick ... looks amazing.

Yo La Tengo at Bowery Ballroom
12 December 2017
*(Hanukkah, night 1)*

Todd Barry, Bob Odenkirk, and Miriam & Nobody’s Babies opened
mix disc by Mike Watt

whole set with Mary Halvorson (guitar) and Zeena Parkins (harp), entering during “Before We Run” outro jam.

Back in the New York Groove (KISS) (sung “Back With the New York Jews”)
Before We Run >
Everyday
From A Motel 6
Walking Away From You
Last Days of Disco
Saturday
The Kid With the Replaceable Head (Richard Hell)
Moby Octopad
Artificial Heart
Tom Courtenay
I Heard You Looking

*(encore)*
So Easy Baby (The Zantees) (with Miriam Linna on percussion/vocals & Bruce Bennett on guitar/vocals)
Cruel To Be Kind (with Nick Lowe on guitar/vocals)
Baby, It’s You (Burt Bacharach/Luther Dixon/Mack David) (with NL)
Here Comes the Night (Bert Berns) (with NL)
Shake That Rat (Nick Lowe) (NL on bass)
(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love and Understanding? (Nick Lowe) (with NL)

Saw a pic on Instagram of Nick Lowe onstage with them

Apparently there was a heckler during the Todd Barry set and then a commotion in the balcony later on (where the heckler was). Anyone have any details on that? I also heard that per the band's request there will be no open/public taping and sharing of these sets, but they may circulate privately.

seems like there's been a bit of a falling out w/ YLT and the taping community ... but yeah, these shows will probably circulate on the down low.

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/yo-la-tengo-began-hanukkah-run-at-bowery-ballroom-nick-lowe-bob-odenkirk-more-pics-setlist/

going tonight

I saw Todd Barry open for them at a Maxwell's Hanukkah show, probably 15 years ago.

going Thursday.
Haven't seen YLT proper since 2005 when I caught them on the Columbia quad.
Saw Georgia and Ira play a Velvet Underground cover with Lee Ranaldo and Steve Gunn last January, and have seen James in Oneida a handful of times in the last two years.

I figured NYCtaper would have all these gigs on lock

2nd show:

opening: Los Straitjackets (saw em 4 months ago, good at showbiz)
comic: Neil Hamburger (some of these were actual jokes, not as meta as i was expecting)
encore guest: John Doe (still sings well)

The major diff from the Maxwells shows is there's room onstage for a guitar tech.

Los Straitjackets ran "My Heart Will Go On" thru the surf-rock mixer

YLT had a harpist

yeah, saw that Mary Lattimore (the harpist) joined 'em last night — she's great.

i thought it was strange she stayed for the loud raveups -- tried to hear her, couldn't

haha, yeah i imagine it'd be tough for a harp to drown Ira out

setlist from last night:

credit to Frank & Earthy: http://www.jessejarnow.com/category/ylt / @bourgwick

Yo La Tengo at Bowery Ballroom
13 December 2017
*(Hanukkah, night 2)*

comedian: Neil Hamburger
opening act: Los Straitjackets
mix CD: Dave the Spazz

whole set (after 1st 3 songs) with Mary Lattimore on concert harp.

The Evil That Men Do (Craig’s Version)
Run, Run, Run (Velvet Underground) (surf instrumental version) (with Los Straitjackets)
new song #1 (“That Guy”)
Green Arrow
Today Is The Day
Gentle Hour (Snapper)
Pablo and Andrea
The Sea Horse
Stupid Things
Big Day Coming (fast)
We’re An American Band
The Story of Yo La Tango

*(encore)*
with John Doe of X on vocals/guitar/bass
The New World (X)
My Darling, Blue Skies (John Doe)
Pressing On (Bob Dylan)
Let’s Get Rid of New York (The Randoms)
Adult Books (X)

never heard "Let’s Get Rid of New York" before

oh man I loooove that tune, nice choice

(nothing against NY, just a great song of regional pride)

i now agree w/ the sentiment

haha, caught last night's comedians about ten years ago; once was enough

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/yo-la-tengo-hanukkah-night-3-jim-jarmusch-jon-benjamin-more-pics-setlist-video/

oh man, they did 'gentle hour' live? love that.

well that's a wrap — pretty amazing, i think the only repeat song in seven nights was "tom courtenay" (they did both the electric and acoustic versions).

there's 8 nights :)

oh lol duh

interested to hear michael shannon's alan vega impression ...

there's a clip on eleanor freiedberger's instagram

Google is our friend, tylerw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zlXbaAheo8

ha, well that was fast ...

pretty good!

oh man i wish i could have made it to more than one of the Maxwell shows

I miss them.

I think I was at the Shepherds Bush gig described by masonic boom at the top of this thread, and I thought they were great. But it was quite busy and maybe I was in a better spot, Shepherds Bush Empire has been very hit and miss soundwise for me. I saw JSBX there once and the sound was terrible.

Anyway I was thinking of that gig today because they covered Neutron Bomb by Art Attacks that night and today I found out the Art Attacks guitarist died last month.

they've done "Autumn Sweater" at least twice this run

Ira, Georgia and James will be back for another NYC show this summer, this time a Rocks Off Concert Cruise on June 28. The show will be aboard the The Liberty Belle which departs from Pier 36 at the Seaport. Tickets ($50) for this show will be available with no service charges at Earwax Records in Williamsburg on Friday, April 13 from 5-9 PM and are cash only. Any remaining tickets will then go on sale online on Saturday (4/14) at noon.

https://www.ticketweb.com/event/yo-la-tengo-the-liberty-belle-tickets/8277535

Ira is still a crazyman, georgia’s voice sounds great, and they played ‘be thankful for what u got’

And that’s my show review. Print that shit!

I have two tickets for this saturday in los angeles if anyone is interested? been under the weather lately.

saw them here in PDX the other night. was kind of lukewarm on the setlist, but agree that Georgia sounded great.
I'm not sure they have such a great job recording/mixing her vocals on these past couple of records.

The last show of theirs I saw was such a snooze I decided I wouldn't go too far out of my way to catch them again, but they're playing Oxford, MS, in September, so I may see them one more time.

I caught the 2nd show in SF and thought they were spellbinding - especially the first, more ambient set they played. The fairly large crowd was so so so wonderfully quiet, too

Hanukkah shows (Dec 2-9) on sale Friday.

http://yolatengo.com/schedule/

anyone going next week? i may not.

I'll be in town the night of the last show, gave it some thought ...

Apparently the other night they covered “Jesus” with the Blind Boys of Alabama. There’s also a nice clip of Ira and Jon Langford duetting on “Girl From the North Country.”

Never been, always wanted to go ... so I got a good deal on tickets, so pretty much coming to the city to hang out with my old buddy and see the Saturday show. I'm pretty jazzed and have really been enjoying There's A Riot Goin' On over the last month.

Matmos last night! I couldn't go.

and LaLa Brooks from the Crystals! jeez, I need to go to this someday ...

setlists etc are over here: http://www.jessejarnow.com/blog/

Anyone seen or heard about this? (Trey Anastacio "Ghosts of the Forest" with YLT)

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/51236182_10156918958796310_2833543972763205632_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_eui2=AeHgIP09MfnQNmUQW_OQk4uKy6GWcDMG3EUKehgdmgVwjt-x9PrtuIHp9bf80XMHdxAk8E7QVt6f5S-Ls9xFnTISh9smw5cuNm3Im-y6eXoOTg&_nc_oc=AQlinRbCQYQfEaIeavFEwZl9YCSbZKb1sA4u3qd-y3HkGls63KvvDoDC4mm2q7tzqSg&_nc_ht=scontent-lax3-1.xx&oh=a377a2a24ab83354dc65e36c35b9a434&oe=5CB524E9

...anyone heard if they are doing a hanukkah run again this yr? had such a good time last yr i kinda want to go again...
not to mention plane tix were super cheap and the weather was ok...

welp, guess i had a good enough time last year to snag tickets for Fri & Sat this yr.
(also good excuse to visit some friends in Kingston afterwards.)
anyone else going?

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/yo-la-tengos-2019-hanukkah-run-kicked-off-with-fred-armisen-greg-hetson-more-pics-video-setlist/

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/janet-weiss-played-her-first-show-since-her-accident-drumming-w-yo-la-tengo-for-hanukkah-night-2-setlist-video/

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/yo-la-tengo-hanukkah-night-3-david-cross-sun-ra-arkestra-more-setlist-pics-video/

Christmas!

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/yo-la-tengo-got-christmas-the-band-to-reunite-on-christmas-day-for-hanukkah-night-4-with-lee-ranaldo-more/

amazing!

TIL James McNew was in Christmas!

well I don't believe what I witnessed tonight...

Stay in the game long enough and you’re eventually gonna see The Amazing Kreskin open for ⁦@TheRealYLT⁩ pic.twitter.com/yW3uk8fytn

— Bruce Orwall (@BruceOrwall) December 27, 2019

And Fenway Park organist Josh Kantor!

... with a repertoire of Jewish songwriters

also Ira crowdsurfed (don't break a hip, dude)

http://www.brooklynvegan.com/yo-la-tengo-hanukkah-night-5-the-amazing-kreskin-sir-richard-bishop-more/

Lol at his guitar also crowdsurfing.

I saw a couple people posting about Kreskin being there and thought it was a joke at first

I saw the sign at the door and figured "one of those hipster comedians will be impersonating Kreskin"

stagediving Ira! :D

https://livemusicblog.com/news/yo-la-tengo-sylvan-esso-hanukkah-night-six/

Snail Mail opened for night 7. Robyn Hitchcock joined YLT for encore covers

http://www.jessejarnow.com/2019/12/yo-la-tengo-hanukkah-2019-night-7-setlist/

https://livemusicblog.com/news/yo-la-tengo-bill-frisell-hanukkah-night-8/

Thanks to everyone's help yesterday, I'm excited to share the seemingly impossible: an AUD safely recorded in the middle of a pandemic. Here's Yo La Tengo's Friday show from Mass MoCa https://t.co/N2XeUb0c8u

— Matt Emmer (@emmer_matt) August 9, 2020

I'd somehow never heard this Fakebook-era lineup live version of New Wave Hot Dog's "Lewis":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNV1nJ89e0o

RIYL Fakebook & New Wave Hot Dogs

you need this! https://doomandgloomfromthetomb.tumblr.com/post/23231602272/a-world-of-funny-changes-more-from-the

haha, I should have just asked you.

They’re doing just one Chanukah show this year, and it is virtual on December 18 at 8 pm eastern ( after sundown of last day of Chanukah). It’s a ticketed online benefit for save our stages . Opening act and comedian tba.

TheGreenespace.org / ylt for more info. Show will also be rebroadcast on the 19th at 7 am and 1 pm. Eastern

This is happening now but I forgot to sign up in time, and you can’t seem to join in progress; BUT there are repeat screenings over the weekend that one can sign up for. $20 benefit show

I'm watching right now and four songs in: it's worth it.

Sorta skipped the Sedaris set, I wasn't in the mood for it.

Autumn Sweater on that baby grand sounding just perfect

Whoa Ivan Julian from the Voidoids in the house!

This is so much fun.

I'll discuss the specifics tomorrow as to not spoil curmudgeon.

Thanks. Current repeat showing is up to David Sedaris, after Amy Rigby .

won't spoil anything for those who haven't watched yet, but this was great. (though still vaguely depressing in the way that these covid livestreams tend to be)

http://www.jessejarnow.com/2020/12/yo-la-tengo-hanukkah-2020-night-9-setlist/

I watched afternoon screening today. I think there’s at least one more ( but no one else has posted that they’re watching a later repeat telecast).

Cool that Ivan Julian ( who was being treated for cancer earlier) was up onstage with them. Yes, Autumn Sweater with Ira on piano was nice. I liked the Flo & Eddie cover and Rosemarie Smile a little Smile by the Flying Machines

Even though I don’t live anywhere near NYC and probably wouldn’t quite be ready to go yet even if I did, still getting some major FOMO about these Hanukkah shows. Killer setlists.

my exact thoughts this week ^

Sun Ra opened and sat in two nights ago, last night:

whole show (minus encore) with Marisa Anderson & William Tyler on guitars/keyboards

!!!

Jesse Jarnow doing a good job of updating the details here

Sun Ra opened and sat in two nights ago

Are you sure? He's been dead a while...

*sigh* his Arkestra

Blondie Sun Ra is a group!

man, this sounds like a great one too:

Yo La Tengo at Bowery Ballroom
1 December 2021
*(Hanukkah, night 4)*

opening act: Cup (Nels Cline & Yuka C. Honda)
comedian: Jo Firestone
mix CD: Blockhead
benefiting: NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund

whole show with Nels Cline on guitar & Yuka C. Honda on electronics

Out of the Pool
Little Eyes
One PM Again (without YH)
Can’t Forget (without YH)
Lewis (without YH)
Tears Are In Your Eyes
The Race Is On Again (without YH)
Above the Sound
I Found A Reason (Velvet Underground) (with John Cameron Mitchell on vocals)
Waves of Fear (Lou Reed) (with JCM)
Clumsy Grandmother Serves Delicious Desert By Mistake (Jad Fair)
Out the Window
Styles of the Times
Tom Courtenay
Little Honda (The Hondells)

*(encore)*
Wasn’t Born To Follow (Carole King/Gerry Goffin)
Cool Metro (David Johanson/Syl Sylvain)
Hanky Panky Nohow (John Cale) (without YH & NC)

Wow, great encore selections there

Low opened last night!!!

remaining nights encores and special guests looked impressive too

http://www.jessejarnow.com/2021/12/yo-la-tengo-hanukkah-2021-night-8-setlist/

night 8 encores
he Whole of the Law (The Only Ones)
Dum Dum (Bush Tetras) (with Cynthia Sley and Pat Place)
Run Run Run (Velvet Underground) (with CS & PP)
Too Many Creeps (Bush Tetras) (with CS & PP)
Here Comes My Baby (Cat Stevens) (with Marilyn Kaplan/vocals & Mark Luecke/whistling)
My Little Corner of the World (Bob Hilliard, Lee Pockriss) (with MK)

Yeah, what a run.

Are they still not allowing tapers? I would happily pay for recordings of these shows.

https://www.jambase.com/article/yo-la-tengo-2022-hanukkah-lambchop-pavement

Night one of Hanukkah shows had some
guests including Ibold from Pavement, Lambchop guy, Barrence Whitfield & his guitarist Pete plus more . A Clean cover, some Lieber-Stoller songs

credit to jesse jarnow for this detailed updates:

Yo La Tengo at Bowery Ballroom
18 December 2022
*(Hanukkah, night 1)*

opening act: Barrence Whitfield & the Savages
comedian: Liz Miele
mix CD: Nick Lowe
benefiting: Attic Youth Center

Seven Day Weekend (Doc Pomus) (sung as “Eight Day Weekend”) (with CJ Camerieri & Mike McGinnis on horns)
Moby Octopad (with CJC & MM)
Before We Run > (with CJC & MM)
She May, She Might >
Tiny Birds
Aselestine (with CJC)
Eight Candles (Sam Elwitt) (with CJC & MM)
Or Thousands of Prizes (Lambchop) (with Kurt Wagner on vocals, CJC & MM)
Season of the Shark
The Ballad of Red Buckets
Styles of the Times
Some Kinda Fatigue
Sugarcube
Ohm
Point That Thing Somewhere Else (The Clean) (with Mark Ibold on bass)

*(encore)*
Long Gone (The Customs) (with Peter Greenberg on guitar & vocals)
I Smell A Rat (Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller) (with Barrence Whitfield on vocals, Steve Lagrega on saxophone, & PG)
One Bad Stud (Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller) (with BW, SL, & PG)
Shopping For Clothes (Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller) with BW, KW, SL, & PG)

Yo La Tengo at Bowery Ballroom
19 December 2022
*(Hanukkah, night 2)*

opening act: Gina Birch
comedian: Brittany Carney
mix CD: Ira
benefiting: One Acre Fund

Steve Shelley on drums for whole show

The Story of Jazz
Radar Eyes (The Godz)
Here To Fall
Here You Are >
I Was the Fool Beside You For Too Long
Madeline
Song For Mahlia
Shadows
Detouring America With Horns (acoustic)
Sunday Morning (Velvet Underground)
Stupid Things
Big Day Coming (fast)
The Kid With the Replaceable Head (Richard Hell)
Drug Test
The Story of Yo La Tango

*(encore)*
Tell Me When It’s Over (Dream Syndicate)
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (Carole King/Gerry Goffin) (with Gina Birch on vocals)
Solitary Man (Neil Diamond) (with Corin Tucker on vocals)
Shape of Things To Come (Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil) (with CT)
The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana) (Mark Barkan/Ritchie Adams) (with GB, CT, & Vicki Peterson on vocals)

Some day I would love to attend one of these shows.

I want to attend also. when I noticed that they were on sale this year, they had just sold out all 8 nights and resale prices were too high.

http://www.jessejarnow.com/category/ylt/

Jesse has the details as noted.

Gina Burch from the Raincoats, Vicki Peterson from Bangles

i always say i'm gonna go and never get it together and then promise i'll do it next year, repeatx20, but reading jesse jarnow's updates has become a holiday tradition of its own for me

definitely a vicarious pleasure to see the setlists / special guests every morning. I flew out for the Feelies last month so my live music budget was blown, but I'll make it out ... someday? Who knows how long they'll do this, seems like a lot of work!

Agreed, I hope long enough for me to attend some day! Helps that they seem to really enjoy doing this.

I totally get why they want to keep these as a special event, but I do wish they'd relent on the "no tapers" stance, or at least release some of these somehow.

I didn't make it to that Jersey City Feelies show but as a local I've been spoiled with many Feelies or Feelies-adjacent shows over the years.

the feelies / willies show was magical, so glad I finally bit the bullet and went out there.

there are tapes of the Hanukkah shows, they're just supposed to be kept on the down-low amongst fans, not shared around publicly. if you need a link, hit me at tywilc at gmail.com

night 3 w/ Burnt Sugar opening looked great . A Bobby Blue Bland cover by YLT and special guests

http://www.jessejarnow.com/category/ylt/

Ryan Sawyer on drums, Lee Ranaldo on guitar/bells, Bill Nace on taishōgoto for whole set except as indicated.

o_O

haha yeah, pretty amazing

man that sounds awesome, i saw bill nace solo ripping on that taishōgoto over the summer and it was fucking nuts, so cool

calvin trillin (who just turned 87!) read at last night’s show, ira seemed totally starstruck

Dawn Richard did the mixtape one of the nights ( on same label as YLT)

Some year I will go to NY and see Yo La Tengo on one of the 8 nights of Hanukkah shows, but they always sell out quickly before I realize it

Yeah, a YLT Hanukkah show is definitely on my bucket list. But, as you mention, getting tickets is one thing, but the bigger obstacle is the cost of getting to NY (well, close enuff) and a place to stay.

i just discovered there is a band called Yo No La Tengo :)

lol

I almost was in NYC while the shows were going on and briefly looked into a ticket, but the secondary market prices were higher than airfare!

I guess I was really lucky to get into the one I saw. Amusingly the guest was Jeff Tweedy, who I've seen multiple times back in Illinois.

that new live-in-the-studio YLT Ep is fantastic — great sound overall ... https://yolatengo.bandcamp.com/album/the-bunker-sessions

seeing them out here in a couple months, can't wait, it's been wayyyyyy too long.

Got back into these guys hard this year. Saw them on the most recent tour for the first time since Summer Sun and now I regret the two decades of not making an effort. Just incredible live.

Yeah, I honestly never stopped liking them, but didn't expect to go into another full-on fan binge like I did this year. Saw them both times they swung through Chicago, making up for the long gap since I'd last caught 'em.

I know I posted about it on another YLT thread, but their show I saw in March was just fantastic. I'd seen them before and liked them for years, but I was really pretty blown away. I'm sure it partly is a matter of circling back around to them, but also I think at least as a live band they just get better and better.

It helps that I also really like the album they were touring on, will definitely be on my year-end list.

Thanks for the heads-up re: the Bunker session--sounds great! Was likewise really impressed by the Big Thief Bunker session recorded in 2019/released in 2021...

Yesterday I got an email saying I had tickets to the first night of Hannukah. I thought maybe my wife bought them? I ask her, she says no. Then we collectively remembered that back in june a friend emailed saying the first night was her birthday and would anyone want to come, so I got tickets. And forgot about it. So now, what a nice surprise. I would consider myself a fan, but haven't seen them in over a decade, nor heard the last few records very much, so I'm excited. They're the real deal.

New album is great. Got a song about doing yo yo tricks.

ian that is so great!!! xp

I have also really gotten into them (again) with the new album, they are just firing on all cylinders it seems

http://www.jessejarnow.com/category/ylt/

Lots of great covers and guests and opening acts during the Chanukah shows

feelies night pretty much put me in a FOMO coma

(with Ira on saxophone)

Ira the K is known to occasionally break out the horn (usually during WFMU fundraisers, I think)

Is like when Lætitia Sadier or Polly Harvey or Sting "plays" the horn?

i mean he probably shouldn't quit his dayjob, but here he is sitting in with 75 Dollar Bill

https://territorialimperatives.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/75-ira-kaplan-on-alto.jpg?w=848

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fSOxehYEpw

"i heard you looking" with lambchop is wonderful

Man, the FOMO is strong always. Hitting up one of these shows is on my bucket list.

Do they still discourage taping of these shows?

i don't think they discourage taping, they discourage public posting of the tapes on the internet

Ah, yeah, that's right..

My wife scored tickets and we are doing NY and went last night. Aislers Set opened. Then David Cross dressed as Ira’s rabbi. Plus Cowsill guy and Vicki Petersen and Ira’s Mom
DJ Todd from wfmu after
A fun night.

Being there for Hanukkah show one can see Ira racing back and forth from guitars to keyboard and a roadie quickly putting out music stands . Georgia messed up one opening and then signaled a time out with her hands , said we’re a bit fried but I got this and then started up the song perfectly.

Ira was profusely thanking their small crew , the club employees and the band’s guests during the evening.

Seeing Ira’s Mom sing lead on “My Little Corner of the World “, cane in hand at end was so sweet.