Yo La Tengo Reach the Shamash with Fourth Night of Hanukkah

On Sunday, Yo La Tengo continued their annual Hanukkah celebrations at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City. The ongoing residency–which celebrates Jewish life, music and an overall sense of connection through music–saw its fourth night, marking the halfway point in this year’s celebration of light.

Along with the main act, Sunday’s show featured The Feelies as the opening act, who performed acoustically and Ronny Chieng, who served as the evening’s comedian. The charity of the evening was Groundwork USA.

Yo La Tengo were joined by The Feelies’ Stan Demeski on drums and Dave Weckerman on percussion for the entirety of the show save for the last two songs. The ensemble opened the show with “Center of Gravity” and performed a collection of originals through the middle of the show, moving through songs like “You Are Here,” “Tonight’s Episode,” “A Worrying Thing,” “Forever,” and more.

As for guests during the main set, they welcomed Bill Milion on guitar for “Song For Mahlia” following “Nowhere Near.” The guitarist continued to join them on “Hardly Working” and on the set closer, the only cover from the band during the main set, the Velvet Underground’s “Sister Ray” which also Brenda Sauter on organ.

In line with tradition, the extended encore was focused on collaboration and music penned by Jewish songwriters. They opened with Yung Wu’s “The Empty Pool” with Milion, Sauter and Glenn Mercer. Next came Bob Dylan’s “You Ain’t Going Nowhere” with Sauter and Mercer, the former of whom continued on for the traditional “Good Shepherd.” The final night of the evening was Psychedelic Fur’s “Pretty In Pink,” for which Mercer was the sole collaborator.

Yo La Tengo will continue their Hanukkah celebrations tonight.

Yo La Tengo

Bowery Ballroom – New York

Dec. 20, 2023

*(Hanukkah, night 4)*

opening act: The Feelies (acoustic)

comedian: Ronny Chieng

mix CD: Kelly Reichardt

benefiting: Groundwork USA

Set: Center of Gravity, You Are Here, Tonight’s Episode, Everyday, Until It Happens, The Summer, A Worrying Thing, Forever, Nowhere Near, Song For Mahlia (with Bill Million on guitar), Barnaby, Hardly Working (with BM), False Alarm, Five-Cornered Drone (Crispy Duck), Deeper Into Movies, Sister Ray (Velvet Underground) (with BM & Brenda Sauter on organ)

Enc.:

The Empty Pool (Yung Wu) (with BM, BS, & Glenn Mercer on guitar), You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere (Bob Dylan) (with BS & GM), Good Shepherd (traditional, arr. Jorma Kaukonen) (with GM), Pretty In Pink (Psychedelic Furs) (with GM)

Notes: whole set & encore (minus last 2 songs) with Stan Demeski (drums) & Dave Weckerman (percussion)

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