Yo La Tengo live

Message Bookmarked
Bookmark Removed
The general opinion seems to be that YLT sucks live, because they're too busy doing wanky jams and experimental artless improvs. The band even seems to acknowledge this by putting up a hate mail in the liner notes for Painful. However, when I saw them last May, they put on an incredible set, probably the best show I've seen this summer (and I've seen quite a few). Their set was tight, and the jams didn't seem any more pointless than Sonic Youth at their best and I was very impressed as a whole. That's why I'm surprised at the negative feelings towards their live shows. Was the gig I went to an exception?

alex in montreal, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Not at all. Yes, Ira likes to diverge & go off on noisy tangents while James & Georgia keep on keepin' on, but it's not so gratuitous. (I'll take free-for-all freakouts over studied soloing any day of the year.) Plus, they're fun (witness their Piping to "You Can Have It All"). Plus, they pull covers out of their ass - some Who, some Kinks, and some punk song I've heard them play twice (James singing lead) that I just can't place.

David Raposa, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I don't expect it was an exception. I expect that if I'd seen it, I would have thought it was rubbish and annoying; and that if you'd seen the set I saw, you would have thought it was great. I'm sorry to be so 'polarizing' about this - you obviously have an admirable enthusiasm for pop music.

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).

the pinefox, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

i saw yo la tengo supporting stereolab june95 and they were superb (esp I Heard You Looking). but, this was a while ago, i have no idea what they are like live now, and their records since i saw them are nothing special, so i can believe they were dull at ATP, i can also believe they may have been good. hmm, i've not been very helpful here have i?

gareth, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

saw them last year at livid - apart from lou reed, they were the best thing all day, way ahead of the cure, green day, dandy warhols etc

Geoff, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I've seen them many, many times and they've varied between mediocre and brilliant. I was at that Stereolab gig in 1995 and never having seen them before they blew me away. Subsequently the quality of their gigs has been in direct proportion to Ira's restraint. When he gets carried away with being the 'Jewish Jimi Hendrix' (please shoot whoever first described him as such, btw) they can wander into dodgy territory. But when he reins himself in they're one of the best live bands on the planet. Oh, and I thought Sonic Youth were dreadful at ATP2000 as well.

Richard Tunnicliffe, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

re: ylt/stereolab, richard. which town?

gareth, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Well, they have altered their shows a bit since, say, Electr-O- Pura. Before that --- and even during that tour, to a certain extent --- they seemed to take a lot more pleasure in winding up their shows with deconstructive bits (hence the liner on Painful). But now they're more, you know, "mature."

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 . . .

Nitsuh, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Seen them twice, both times years ago and both times opening up for bands that wiped the floor with them with their main sets (but considering one of those bands was My Bloody Valentine, how do you expect me to feel?). While I can't speak for recent years in concert, the group has always been something of a bete noire for me, only recently changed slightly by the _And Nothing_ album. Both shows I saw they did one very good song which I enjoyed, the rest was timekilling nonsense for people who think that guitars always trump synths. ;-)

Ned Raggett, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

London, with Quickspace and Sebadoh. I assumed that was the one you were talking about, but it's just occurred to me that you probably weren't living in London then.

Richard Tunnicliffe, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

i've been lurking here for a while, though this is the first time i've managed to check in and contribute to a thread usefully. so: ylt have long been one my absolute faves, and i've tried to see 'em at least once a year. their shows have changed a lot in recent times, tho: they've always experimented and done lotsa jams that, in other's hands, would've come across as self-serving and well, evil... but they manage to pull it off.

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.

bucky wunderlick, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

It really depends on the night, the show, the ambience, the phases of the moon, the alignment of the planets, etc. etc. etc.

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.

masonic boom, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I - hooray! - agree with the latter parts of what Masonic Boom says.

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.

the pinefox, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Well, I know you're trying to agree with me, PF, but I have to add that I'm actually a really big fan of YLT's recorded output. So I'm quite willing to forgive them a few live clunkers.

masonic boom, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Yo La Tengo is the best live band in the world I know of. I saw them only three times but each time they kicked ass. Ira treats his guitar like Jimi Hendrix. When he is on form it looks like he is having sex with his guitar. And Georgia's drumming is subtle but she never shows off. James is a star on bass or keyboards. They are all multi instrumentalists which is quite rare nowadays. And they have so many good songs which they also play live. I think now they must have more classics than VU. The second last concert I saw was a little less good as it was the tour to "And then Nothing Turned Itself...". The album tracks were too quiet, they work better on record than live.

alex in mainhattan, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I forgot Sonic Youth. I thought they were the best live band before I saw YLT. I saw SY in 1992 at the Lorelei festival at the Rhine in Germany. They were amazing. I did not know any of their songs (I happened to own only Dirty which had just been released) but I loved it. Thurston Moore on guitar was incredible. Sorry about my non exact language, it must be my limited knowledge of English. There was also New Order at that festival and they finished it and they were so shite. Not a band but puppets dancing to synthie rhythms, never again.

alex in mainhattan, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

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

Ned Raggett, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Ira did that? I was at the 'Heart Beating as One' show a few years back and found them practically falling asleep.

Jason, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I'm with Ned on this one. I prefer guitarists who sound as if they're tearing their guitars to shreds, with their bare hands, slowly.

Dave M., Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

the entire concept of yo la tengo is a bad idea. their recorded output is dull beyond belief and live they have the collective charisma of peas. ira does wank all over the stage, yes, problem is he has obviously been well-schooled in the neil young school of crap guitarists and never thrills just dribbles. but still they come nowhere near sonic youth's uselessness.

keith, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

hey bucky - welcome to the show.

Geoff, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I rather like Yo La Tengo but I've never gotten to see them live. I think keith just made me cry.

Josh, Friday, 13 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

@Ned: Sorry but I cannot agree. Mind control is ok when playing in the studio and producing an album. But a live show is different. Actually there are so many bands which are amazing on record but only a poor imitation on stage. They just reproduce the records. The most striking example is My Bloody Valentine. I absolutely agree they were probably the most influential band of the 90s. But live they were crap. And when listening to their records now I even ask myself what was so special about them. Probably they have influeneced so many others that their sound is not anything special anymore today.

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.

alex in mainhattan, Saturday, 14 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Well, it hasn't really been in my control due to where I live. Maybe if they make an album in the next 5 years and tour for it...

Josh, Saturday, 14 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Good songs / classics? Bah. They didn't play any when I saw them. The poverty of the songs was the greatest weakness of the whole set.

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.

the pinefox, Saturday, 14 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

The funny thing is, in some interviews I've read, Ira is quite forthcoming about the technical crapness of his guitar soloing technique. (It's not the POINT.)

Josh, Saturday, 14 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Who are you pinefox character? You are only provoking people. You seem to know nothing about indie music (you pretended neither to know Modest Mouse nor Momus who had started the recent thread on Weltanschauung). So go on insulting, it is kind of funny, you are like a cartoon character. You never like anything so what do you do in the forum I love music?

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.

alex in mainhattan, Saturday, 14 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Sorry it is really difficult to post a link. I try again. Loads of live YLT mp3's are here

alex in mainhattan, Saturday, 14 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

i believe the pinefox rather likes the sundays and lloyd cole. rumours that he is a fan of dj wankchops are, however, still uncomfirmed...

gareth, Saturday, 14 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

"collective charisma of peas": but peas ONLY hve collective charisma — this is surely the point of them. I had an acquaintance once who would describe his favourite meal as "A pie, a chip and a pea… " This is funny because of the gap between what you imagine him eating, and what he actually was eating (= pie, chips and peas).

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.

mark s, Saturday, 14 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Who are you mainhattan character? You are only, how you say, stimulating people. You seem to know so much about the music pop (you know Jacob's Mouse also Falco, yes rock me, amadeus, oh. I wish to know your Weltanschauung, is good, yes. Your cartoon bonfire it tease me). So go on writing, it kind of funny is, you are like is a movie star from years 20. You like anything so is good you in the forum I love music yes.

the pinefox, Saturday, 14 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Oh dear, here we go.

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. ;-)

Ned Raggett, Saturday, 14 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Who are you mainhattan character? You are only, how you say, stimulating people. You seem to know so much about the music pop (you know Jacob's Mouse also Falco, yes rock me, amadeus, oh. I wish to know your Weltanschauung, is good, yes. Your cartoon bonfire it tease me). So go on writing, it kind of funny is, you are like is a movie star from years 20. You like anything so is good you in the forum I love music yes.

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.

Phil, Saturday, 14 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Ah... perhaps we should compare YLT live with Mogwai, or Godspeed or Sigur Rios or Built To Spill or [noise-art band] live rather than always using Sonic Youth? Might make for another level of discussion.

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.

JM, Saturday, 14 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

The most recent YLT stuff I heard made me think of Low. Which was a worthy enough approach...

Ned Raggett, Saturday, 14 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I think that's the first nice thing I've ever seen you say about YLT, Ned. ;)

Josh, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Funniest post ever, Pinefox!

Dr. C, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

The most recent YLT stuff I heard made me think of Low.

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.

sundar subramanian, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I'll allow for honest reactions, Josh. ;-) But I'll lay money on the next album pissing me off again. ;-)

Ned Raggett, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

@Ned: I guess we have different approaches to music. To put it short: mine is intuitive and yours is rational. On the other hand maybe MBV had a bad day when they played in Brussels ten years ago and maybe YLT had two bad days when you saw them opening for those "big" names.

@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.

alex in mainhattan, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Mine is *rational*? No offense, Alex, but I'll kindly ask you not to presume what my own thoughts and reactions to music are and what they're motivated by. I'm not presuming what *yours* are. Sheesh!

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.

Ned Raggett, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I did not want to offend you Ned, but a couple of posts up the thread you wrote: People should play by mind control and never touch the actual instrument. and you were answering to my post on Ira having sex with his guitar. I do not believe that you want to tell me that your concept of mind control is emotional and intuitive.

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.

alex in mainhattan, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Alex - a generous response to Pinefox's (in hindsight) slightly offensive post, which I thoughtlessly supported. I shouldn't have. Sorry.

Dr. C, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

This is starting to get in the realms of the ridiculous, Alex. For one thing I've never taken (illegal, at least) drugs either, so please stop while you're ahead about assuming what I'm all about. You've now failed on two counts -- and again, I've made no assumptions about * your* favorite drug/reading material/sexual activity/late night snack/ whatever, so quite why you think your own assumptions about me are possibly the key to all this mystifies me. Can you not accept the idea of difference of opinion?

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?

Ned Raggett, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Alex -- point taken; if you're not offended, I'm certainly not going to presume to be on your behalf! ;-)

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

Phil, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Just wanted to say that this discussion is worthless since YLT are a bunch of Lou Reed fans. They should be put up against a wall and shot.

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.

Julio Desouza, Monday, 16 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

four years pass...
They're doing their 8-night Hanukkah charity stand at Maxwells again, but it appears 3 of the shows are sold out... I lucked out with the surprise guests the last two years: Ronnie Spector and Wreckless Eric.

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


'Fun' reading above.

Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 1 December 2005 22:34 (nineteen years ago) link

I saw them about a year ago, and it was one of the biggest letdowns of the year.

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.

Zach S, Friday, 2 December 2005 02:06 (nineteen years ago) link

I was at both 3-11-2000 shows, matinee and late, at the GAMH in San Francisco — and they were fantastic. But they were supporting an album I liked a lot, and Lambchop was the support, so the circumstances were all good. But then I saw them last year in Memphis and they kinda sucked. Antietam opened and were boring, and it was summer and 912 degrees, YLT was supporting an album I don't like at all, and like Zach said, their "Nuclear War" goes on forfuckingever.

I do feel guilty for getting any perverse amusement out of it (Rock Hardy), Friday, 2 December 2005 02:33 (nineteen years ago) link

i still count the first couple times i saw them (at the late, not very lamented LA club the Alligator Lounge) as among the best shows i've ever attended. that was back in 95, when they were supporting electra pura. they sounded pretty mind blowing to me and my other 16 year old friends. since then, i've seen them a bunch and have enjoyed each show, but these days they may be trying to squeeze a bit too much into a set--leaping haphazardly from goofy covers to noise freakouts to whispery ballads to epic jams. i like all of that, but the last time i saw them, i wished they'd just stick with one or two of those styles...

Tyler Wilcox (tylerw), Friday, 2 December 2005 03:08 (nineteen years ago) link

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

out-of-print LaserDisc edition (sleeve), Wednesday, 29 November 2023 02:21 (one year ago) link

two weeks pass...

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

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

curmudgeon, Wednesday, 13 December 2023 04:53 (one year ago) link

feelies night pretty much put me in a FOMO coma

tylerw, Wednesday, 13 December 2023 15:21 (one year ago) link

(with Ira on saxophone)

!?

Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 13 December 2023 15:34 (one year ago) link

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

tylerw, Wednesday, 13 December 2023 15:36 (one year ago) link

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

Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 13 December 2023 16:24 (one year ago) link

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

tylerw, Wednesday, 13 December 2023 16:42 (one year ago) link

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

"i heard you looking" with lambchop is wonderful

ufo, Thursday, 14 December 2023 07:28 (one year ago) link

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?

Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 14 December 2023 15:17 (one year ago) link

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

tylerw, Thursday, 14 December 2023 15:42 (one year ago) link

Ah, yeah, that's right..

Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 14 December 2023 15:52 (one year ago) link

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.

curmudgeon, Friday, 15 December 2023 17:37 (one year ago) link

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.

curmudgeon, Saturday, 16 December 2023 17:39 (one year ago) link

Aislers Set would have been very cool. What a gift these shows are.

grandavis, Sunday, 17 December 2023 17:00 (one year ago) link

Aislers Set did their first gig in 8 years ( and practiced twice to prepare for gig. ) . Ira said they had toured with YLT 20 years ago. It was a good set

curmudgeon, Monday, 18 December 2023 15:31 (one year ago) link

I remember that tour and am slightly dazed to realize it was 20 years ago.

waste of compute (One Eye Open), Monday, 18 December 2023 15:48 (one year ago) link

Aislers played my buddy's party on Saturday, but try as I did to make it out there it was just not in the cards.

Josh in Chicago, Monday, 18 December 2023 16:05 (one year ago) link

I am glad to hear. I love those records but have never seen them live (Aislers Set, I have seen Yo La Tengo many times). Maybe they will get the bug and play again.

grandavis, Monday, 18 December 2023 17:36 (one year ago) link

I only saw Aislers Set once and it was also 20 years ago but not supporting YLT, they were headlining. I think Comet Gain and the Would-Be-Goods were supporting them. Yes, it was, and the Lucksmiths

Colonel Poo, Monday, 18 December 2023 23:13 (one year ago) link

five months pass...

live now on twitch @ Primavera Sound

https://www.twitch.tv/amazonmusices

(•̪●) (carne asada), Friday, 31 May 2024 20:00 (seven months ago) link

Aww , missed seeing this . Clipse on now .

I see that YLT have a special Lincoln Center event with a movie on June 16

The Love Song of R. Buckminster Fuller
With Yo La Tengo
Lincoln Center Presents
In collaboration with Film at Lincoln Center
Alice Tully Hall
Sunday, June 16, 2024 at 7:30 pm

curmudgeon, Friday, 31 May 2024 22:56 (seven months ago) link

Saw them do the Buckminster Fuller show a while’s back (actually before my kid was born, so over a decade ago) and it is brilliant.

a based robot like Bender (stevie), Saturday, 1 June 2024 07:45 (seven months ago) link

i loved them live! they played at my school's chapel. so weird that i like this band.

Swen, Saturday, 1 June 2024 17:49 (seven months ago) link

two months pass...

i saw them tonight. i had thought it was about 8 or 9 years since i last saw them but it turns out that was way back in 2000.

teenage fan club joined them for a few songs which excited some of the crowd but i dgaf about them so it didn't really enhance the gig for me.

YLT were great though and i think i could listen to georgia hubley drum forever. she rules!

stirmonster, Tuesday, 27 August 2024 23:36 (four months ago) link

They played one of the best shows I've ever seen and, a few years later, the worst show I've been to.

WmC, Wednesday, 28 August 2024 00:31 (four months ago) link

They were absolutely incredible both times I saw them last year, just inspired and at the top of their game. It will be criminal if we don’t get a live document of the last two years of touring. They really could use a live album!

Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Wednesday, 28 August 2024 00:40 (four months ago) link

Last time I saw them was a few years back and Georgia's drumming was a real high point.

kornrulez6969, Wednesday, 28 August 2024 00:43 (four months ago) link

I’m a couple weeks away from seeing them here in Maryland. Will bump this thread once I have!

(Previously saw them in DC in ‘97, remains one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.)

Marten Broadcloak, mild-mannered GOP congressman (Raymond Cummings), Wednesday, 28 August 2024 01:01 (four months ago) link

They've been great every time I've seen them. (The highlight was in Central Park when Ira made a dramatic exit off the stage, done in a way that for a split-second made me think irrationally that was he coming after me for some unknown reason - turns out, he wanted to pass his guitar into the crowd and have us all take a turn.) The only time anyone I know witnessed a bad show was when they willfully did one where they read Seinfeld scripts. Still hard to believe, but I have to say it took guts to stick with it even though it was clearly displeasing their audience.

birdistheword, Wednesday, 28 August 2024 01:32 (four months ago) link

three weeks pass...

Here we go, in Baltimore

Marten Broadcloak, mild-mannered GOP congressman (Raymond Cummings), Sunday, 22 September 2024 23:51 (three months ago) link

8 nights of Chanukah tickets on sale. 1st night is December 25, 2024

https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/00006138BCD880F1

curmudgeon, Monday, 30 September 2024 15:36 (three months ago) link

I went up to NY last year for first time doing one of those shows and it was great. But schedule doesn’t work for my wife and I this year

curmudgeon, Wednesday, 2 October 2024 14:43 (three months ago) link

I'm sure I'm alone on this one, really wish I could afford a trip to take in a night or two of YLT and hit up Phish at the Garden for NYE. Kind of a dream NYC trip for me at the moment.

Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Wednesday, 2 October 2024 15:01 (three months ago) link

playing an in-store at a record shop here as a fundraiser for the harris-walz compaign. tempted to go but tickets are a bit steep at 100$ and i'm not like the world's biggest YLT fan, there's a good chance i don't know half the songs they play. i'm canadian so not sure if attending would be breaking any campaign finance laws lol

flopson, Wednesday, 2 October 2024 15:06 (three months ago) link

I got tickets for the Sunday Chanukah show. Both times I've seen them were really great, but I have never seen one those shows before.

il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Wednesday, 2 October 2024 16:24 (three months ago) link

I'm sure I'm alone on this one, really wish I could afford a trip to take in a night or two of YLT and hit up Phish at the Garden for NYE. Kind of a dream NYC trip for me at the moment.


Not alone, considering it over here!

Lavator Shemmelpennick, Saturday, 5 October 2024 22:48 (two months ago) link

two months pass...

https://jessejarnow.com/2024/12/yo-la-tengo-hanukkah-2024-night-1-setlist/

some great encores on nights 1 and 2

curmudgeon, Friday, 27 December 2024 15:49 (one week ago) link

Yo La Tengo Hanukah shows night 3

*(encore)* with Ernie Brooks on bass/vocals
She Cracked (Modern Lovers)
Government Center (Modern Lovers)
Fly Into the Mystery (Modern Lovers)
Roadrunner (Modern Lovers)

https://jessejarnow.com/2024/12/yo-la-tengo-hanukkah-2024-night-3-setlist/

curmudgeon, Saturday, 28 December 2024 15:31 (six days ago) link

I'm going tomorrow. Dawn Richard would have been great!

il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Saturday, 28 December 2024 19:29 (six days ago) link

these all look incredible, as usual

sleeve, Saturday, 28 December 2024 19:33 (six days ago) link

Soft Boys reunion tonight, or as close as we can get to it, with Lee Cave-Berry on bass instead of Matthew Seligman (RIP) or Andy Metcalfe.

birdistheword, Sunday, 29 December 2024 02:37 (five days ago) link

Video clips on Robyn Hitchcock IG page and story. Saw someone say there was a stream of the set on some site

curmudgeon, Sunday, 29 December 2024 15:01 (five days ago) link

There's something about yt that make critics adore them but i ignore what it is. Same goes for Nick Cave.

LightUserSyndrome, Monday, 30 December 2024 02:39 (four days ago) link

They were great last night and I got to here a few of my favorites - Last Days of Disco, Deeper Into Movies, Sudden Organ.

They brought out MJ Lenderman for an "old Jewish folk song" as Ira put it, then tore into Dylan's Something There is About You.

il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Monday, 30 December 2024 13:00 (four days ago) link

Nice! Reminds me of Elvis Costello's remarks at Live Aid, when he had to play a solo number at the last minute, so he told the audience, "here's a Northern folk song" and led everyone in a sing-a-long of the Beatles' "All You Need Is Love."

birdistheword, Monday, 30 December 2024 20:29 (four days ago) link

Night 5 encores --
*(encore)* with Joey Spampinato (bass/vocals) & Kami Lyle (vocals/trumpet/organ)
Christmas Wish (NRBQ)
Mambo (Kami Lyle)
I Could Write A Book (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart)
What Can I Say (NRBQ)

whole set with Steve Shelley on drums, noise guitar on “Mushroom Cloud of Hiss”

------------------------------------
Night 6
whole set with Marc Ribot on guitar

band enters to “Jimmy Carter Says ‘Yes'”

Little Honda (The Hondells) (with Alan Licht on guitar)

*(encore)* with Swamp Dogg on vocals/keyboard & MoogStar on keyboard/vocals
Synthetic World (Swamp Dogg)
She’s All I Got (Jerry Williams Jr./Gary “U.S.” Bonds)
What Do You Plan To Do About It (Jerry Williams Jr.)
Total Destruction To Your Mind (Swamp Dogg)

curmudgeon, Wednesday, 1 January 2025 20:42 (two days ago) link

All these details are from Jesse Jarnow website

https://jessejarnow.com/2025/01/yo-la-tengo-hanukkah-2024-night-7-setlist/

Night 7-

Here You Are (with Sun Ra Arkestra horns)
Dreaming (Sun Ra) (with Arkestra horns)
midnight
A Bomb Bop (Mike Fern & Del Royals) (with Arkestra horns, Miriam Linna on vocals/percussion, & Bruce Bennett on guitar)
Unmask the Batman (Sun Ra) (with Arkestra horns)
Brain Capers (with Arkestra horns)
Emulsified (Rex Garvin) (with Arkestra horns)
Nuclear War (Sun Ra) (with Arkestra horns

*(encore)*
Don’t Make My Baby Blue (Cynthia Weill) (with ML & BB)
Have You Seen My Baby (Randy Newman, arr. Flamin’ Groovies) (with ML & BB)
It’s So Easy (The Zantees) (with ML & BB)
Get the Message (The Cyrus Erie) (with ML & BB)
Another Girl, Another Planet (The Only Ones) (with ML & BB)
Autumn Sweater (acoustic)

curmudgeon, Wednesday, 1 January 2025 20:46 (two days ago) link

Swamp Dogg, my god.

il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Wednesday, 1 January 2025 21:11 (two days ago) link

been singing

it's a motherfucker, don't you know
they push that button
your ass got to go

to myself ever since I saw this earlier

sleeve, Wednesday, 1 January 2025 21:59 (two days ago) link

https://jessejarnow.com/2025/01/yo-la-tengo-hanukkah-2024-night-8-setlist/

Yo La Tengo at Bowery Ballroom
1 January 2025
*(Hanukkah, night 8)*

opening act: Antietam
comedian: Emily Catalano
mix CD: Ira
benefiting: Hitops

whole set minus “Our Way To Fall” with Dave Rick on guitar/bass

Surfin’ With the Shah (Urinals)
Five-Cornered Drone (Crispy Duck)
We’re An American Band
Demons
3 Blocks From Groove Street
Tears Are In Your Eyes
Why Don’t You Smile Now (Lou Reed)
I Should Have Known Better
From A Motel 6
I Know You Rider (trad., arr. Hot Tuna) (with Tara Key on guitar)
E.T.I. (Blue Oyster Cult) (with TK)
Today Is The Day (fast) (with TK)
Tom Courtenay (with TK)
The Evil That Men Do (Pablo’s Version) (with TK)
Our Way To Fall

*(encore)*
Happy New Year (Kimberley Rew) (with Kimberley Rew on guitar/vocals & Lee Cave-Berry on vocals)
Stomping All Over the World (Kimberley Rew) (with KR & LCB)
Straighten Up and Fly Right (Nat King Cole/Irving Mills) (with KR & LCB)
Going Down to Liverpool (Kimberley Rew) (with KR & LCB)
Walking On Sunshine (Kimberley Rew) (with KR & LCB)
My Little Corner of the World (Bob Hillard/Lee Pockriss) (with Marilyn Kaplan on vocals)

curmudgeon, Thursday, 2 January 2025 20:04 (yesterday) link


You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.