It was a Hoboken Hanukkah miracle on Sunday night at Bowery Ballroom as Yo La Tengo had another legendary NJ band, The Feelies, as the night’s surprise opening musical guest, performing an acoustic set. The Feelies are pretty far-flung around the US these days and don’t really tour, so this was a real treat. Drummer Stanley Demeski and percussionist Dave Weckerman sat in with Yo La Tengo for most of their set, while Feelies guitarist Bill Million came out for “Song For Mahlia,” and then again, along with bassist Brenda Sauter, to close out the main set with a cover of The Velvet Underground’s “Sister Ray.”
For the encore, Yo La Tengo welcomed back Million and Sauter, as well as The Feelies’ Glenn Mercer to peform “The Empty Pool” by Feelies side project Yung Wu, and Mercer stuck around for Bob Dylan’s “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere,” Jefferson Airplane’s arrangement of traditional song “Good Shepherd,” and The Psychedelic Furs’ “Pretty in Pink.”
The Night 4 comedian was Ronny Chieng, who you may also know from Crazy Rich Asians and Marvel film Shang-Chi, and who has two big NYC standup shows coming up at Radio City Music Hall on January 27 and February 8.
Filmmaker Kelly Reichardt made the Night 4 mix, Gaylord Fields was the post-show DJ, and proceeds from the evening went to Groundwork USA.
Check out the Night 4 setlist (via Jesse Jarnow) along with fan-taken pics and videos, below.
Four shows remain. Tickets are currently sold out, but the band often release some day-of show or during the week, and it’s worth checking back if you’re really trying to go.
Check out pics, setlists, video and recaps of Yo La Tengo’s whole 2023 Hanukkah run.
The Feelies will be back in NYC to play Racket on April 12.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMqtEtTwqko&pp=ygULeW8gbGEgdGVuZ28%3D
SETLIST: Yo La Tengo @ Bowery Ballroom 12/10/2023 (Hanukkah Night 4) (via Frank & Earthy)
whole set & encore (minus last 2 songs) with Stan Demeski (drums) & Dave Weckerman (percussion)
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)
*(encore)*
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)