“I wanna rock n roll eight nights and party for a week and a day!” Yo La Tengo‘s Hanukkah residency is an NYC holiday tradition and within that is another tradition: turning a classic from the annals of rock and pop into a Hanukkah song. On their first night of this year’s run at Bowery Ballroom, they did that with KISS’ “Rock and Roll All Nite.” If Night 1 of Hanukkah 2024 felt extra festive it may been because this year it also fell on Christmas, making for a very Chrismukkah sort of evening.
For most of Yo La Tengo‘s main set they were joined by composer David Nagler (Last Week Tonight) and it included “Let’s Save Tony Orlando’s House,” “Barnaby, Hardly Working,” and “Blue Line Swinger,” covers of songs by Gary Lewis and the Playboys and Boston indie rock cult heroes Christmas (who YLT got to reform to open the last Chrismukkah which was in 2019), their version of Sam Elwitt’s “Eight Candles,” and lots more.
The Night 1 surprise guest openers were both very old friends: comedian Todd Barry who has probably played more of these Hanukkah shows than anybody else; and NYC indie rock band The Sloppy Heads whose members include YLT bassist James McNew and WFMU DJ Jesse Jarnow (whose chronicling of the Hanukkah runs on his website continues to be an invaluable resource to a site like ours).
For the encore, Ira, Georgia and James opened with “Rock & Roll Santa” by outsider cult artist Jan Terri (featuring Todd Barry on sleigh bells) before welcoming another old friend, Superchunk‘s Mac McCaughan, to the stage. Mac sang lead on covers of Ramones’ “Listen to My Heart,” Angry Samoans’ “You Stupid Asshole,” and Circle Jerks’ “Live Fast Die Young” before knocking out a version of Superchunk classic “Slack Motherfucker.” They then brought out The Sloppy Heads, David Nagler and Todd out to finish with The Fugs’ “Nothing.”
The Night 1 mix CD was made by Bill Frisell, the post-show DJ was Joe Belock, and proceeds from the whole evening benefitted We Act.
Check out Yo La Tengo’s Night 1 setlist, plus fan-shot video and Instagrams, below.
Keep up with all the Hanukkah 2024 action here.
This year Hanukkah runs tonight (Merry Chrismukkah!) through January 1 and 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.
In other news, Yo La Tengo have partnered with artist Steve Keene to raise money for The Brigid Alliance, an organization that supports people who must travel long distances across the U.S. for abortion care. “For each donation made to Brigid Alliance, you will be entered into a raffle to win a 2’ X 2’ painting featuring his album art tribute to I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One. Two winners will be chosen to receive paintings, while two runner-up winners will receive a copy of The Steve Keene Art Book.” More information is in YLT’s Instagram below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoOL_oh8TUY&pp=ygULeW8gbGEgdGVuZ28%3D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrbZc5IP4gs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL6LWwttr5g&pp=ygULeW8gbGEgdGVuZ28%3D
SETLIST: Yo La Tengo @ Bowery Ballroom 12/25/2024 (Hanukkah Night 1) (via Frank and Earthy)
This Stupid World
Rock & Roll 8 Nites (KISS cover)
Let’s Save Tony Orlando’s House
Eight Candles (Sam Elwitt cover)
All Your Secrets
If It’s True
Everybody Loves A Clown (Gary Lewis & The Playboys cover)
Pablo and Andrea
Alyda
Junk (Christmas cover)
Barnaby, Hardly Working
Super Kiwi
Shaker
Double Dare
Blue Line Swinger
*(encore)*
Rock & Roll Santa (Jan Terri cover with Todd Barry on sleigh bells)
Listen to My Heart (Ramones cover with Mac McCaughan on guitar/vocals)
You Stupid Asshole (Angry Samoans cover) (with MM)
Live Fast Die Young (Circle Jerks cover) (with MM)
Slack Motherfucker (Superchunk) (with MM)
Nothing (The Fugs cover) (with DN, TB, MM, & the Sloppy Heads on vocals)