Beach House and Yo La Tengo Welcome the Sixth Night of Hanukkah in New York

Last night, Yo La Tengo carried on their Hanukkah celebrations at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City. Following a run that has already welcomed an eclectic collection of performers–Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard joined the night prior–they continued to raise the bar with Beach House serving as the opening act during Tuesday’s gathering.

During most of the main set, Danny Tunick (vibraphone) and Joe McGinty (keyboards) joined Yo La Tango from the opening “Our Way To Fall” through a cover of Gary Lewis’ “Everybody Loves A Clown” save for a rendition of The Poets’ “Coffee House” during which Tunick sat out. Other highlights included a jam of “Cherry Chapstick” > “The Story of Jazz” > “Sugarcube” and a set closing interpretation of The Hondells’ “Little Honda,” which saw yet another McGinty assist.

The sixth encore of the residency, like the previous evenings, was dedicated to songs penned by Jewish songwriters, but for the first time in the run, they were all penned by the same artist: Lou Reed of the Velvet Underground. They opened the encore with “We’re Gonna Have A Real Good Time Together” featuring Todd Barry on drums. Next came “She’s My Best Friend” and “I Heard Her Call My Name” before the final song of the evening, “Pale Blue Eyes,” began with Beach House’s Victoria Legrand adding to the incredible sonic mixture.

Yo La Tengo will continue their Hanukkah run tonight.

Yo La Tengo

Bowery Ballroom – New York

Dec. 12, 2023

*(Hanukkah, night 6)*

opening act: Beach House

comedian: Todd Barry

mix CD: Georgia

benefiting: Callen-Lorde Community Health Center

set: Our Way To Fall, Flying Lesson (Hot Chicken #1), Tears Are In Your Eyes, Is That Enough, Coffee House (The Poets) (minus DT), If It’s True, Did I Tell You, Aselestine, Count Me In (Gary Lewis), Everybody Loves A Clown (Gary Lewis), Here To Fall, Cherry Chapstick > The Story of Jazz > Sugarcube, Little Honda (The Hondells) (with JM)

Enc.:

We’re Gonna Have A Real Good Time Together (Velvet Underground) (with Todd Barry on drums), She’s My Best Friend (Velvet Underground)

I Heard Her Call My Name (Velvet Underground)

Pale Blue Eyes (Velvet Underground) (with Victoria Legrand on vocals)

Notes: “Our Way To Fall” through “Everybody Loves A Clown” with Danny Tunick (vibraphone) & Joe McGinty (keyboards), except as noted.