Yo La Tengo Bring Penultimate Hanukkah Celebration to Bowery Ballroom

Last night, Yo La Tengo played their seventh Hanukkah celebration of 2023 at the Bowery Ballroom. The evening was opened by Foggy Notion, the comedian for the night was the iconic David Sedaris, and the show was in benefit of Trust Women Foundation & Abortion Care Network.

After Foggy Notion’s eight-song opening set, Yo La Tengo stepped on stage. The majority of the set featured Ryan Sawyer on drums save for two songs: the opening number “Miles Away” and “Alyda.” After “Miles Away,” they played “Tiny Birds,” which was followed by “Evanescent Psychic Pez Drop” with Steve Gunn adding his skill on guitar. Gunn continued to to add his skill on “Ballad of Red Buckets,” “One PM Again,” and “Can’t Forget,” which also welcomed Sue Garner. The collaborations continued to unfold, as Garner stayed on for her songs “Rose Colored Glue” and “Other You,” which further expanded the lineup with guitarist Alan Licht joining. Licht continued to stay on through the end of the set, ripping through songs like “I Was the Fool Beside You For Too Long,” “We’re An American Band,” and the set closer, “Mushroom Cloud of Hiss.”

The encore was dedicated to the spirit of collaboration and Jewish songwriters and kicked off with Carole King & Gerry Goffin’s “Take A Giant Step.” Next came “The Boxer,” written by Paul Simon, which saw Damon Krukowski on guitar and vocals from Naomi Yang. The energy kicked up a notch as they broke into “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)” by the Beastie Boys, with Krukowski and Yang staying on. Finally, the show came to a close with a rendition of “Don’t Let Our Youth Go To Waste” by Jonathan Richman.

Yo La Tengo’s final Hanukkah Celebration will take place at the Bowery Ballroom tonight.

Yo La Tengo

Bowery Ballroom – New York

Dec. 13, 2023

*(Hanukkah, night 7)*

opening act: Foggy Notion

comedian: David Sedaris

mix CD: James

benefiting: Trust Women Foundation & Abortion Care Network

Foggy Notion: European Son > Waiting For the Man, Venus In Furs, Femme Fatale, Run Run, Run, Heroin, I’ll Be Your Mirror, Foggy Notion

Set: Miles Away, Tiny Birds, Evanescent Psychic Pez Drop (with Steve Gunn on guitar), Ballad of Red Buckets (with Gunn), One PM Again (with Gunn), Can’t Forget (with Gunn & Sue Garner on vocals guitar), Rose Colored Glue (Sue Garner) (with Gunn, Garner, & Alan Licht on guitar), Other You (Steve Gunn) (with Gunn, Garner, & Licht), Alyda, Last Days of Disco (with Licht), Double Dare (with Licht), I Was the Fool Beside You For Too Long (with Licht), Styles of the Times (with Licht), We’re An American Band (with Licht), Mushroom Cloud of Hiss (with Licht)

Enc.:

Take A Giant Step (Carole King & Gerry Goffin)

The Boxer (Paul Simon) (with Damon Krukowski on guitar/vocals & Naomi Yang on vocals)

(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!) (Beastie Boys) (with Damon & Naomi)

Don’t Let Our Youth Go To Waste (Jonathan Richman) (with Damon & Naomi)

Notes: Whole set (minus “Miles Away” & “Alyda”) with Ryan Sawyer on drums.