You may have had Todd Barry on your Yo La Tengo Hanukkah 2023 bingo card (we did) but did you have Beach House? (We did not.) Having just played an intimate Philly show the night before, Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally headed to NYC to open things on Night 6 at Bowery Ballroom. These shows, which they say they’ll do more of in 2024, are just Legrand and Scally as a duo, and while they’ve said they will feature heavily from their first three albums, they played songs from Once Twice Melody, Thank Your Lucky Stars and 7 on Tuesday night in addition to earlier material. Check out their setlist below.
For their main set, Yo La Tengo welcomed Losers Lounge bandleader and Psychedelic Furs keyboardist Joe McGinty and vibraphonist Danny Tunick to join them for most of the set, which included “Flying Lesson (Hot Chicken #1),” “Our Way To Fall,” and covers of Gary Lewis & The Playboys’ “Count Me In” and “Everybody Loves a Clown.” McGinty and Tunick left after that, but Ira, Georgia and James stuck around for “Here to Fall,” “Cherry Chapstick,” “The Story of Jazz,” “Sugarcube,” and finally “Little Honda,” which had Joe back out on keys.
The Night 6 encore was all Velvet Underground covers, and Yo La Tengo brought out Hanukkah run regular Todd Barry to drum on “We’re Gonna Have A Real Good Time Together.” Todd departed and YLT performed “She’s My Best Friend” and “I Heard Her Call My Name” before bringing out Beach House’s Victoria Legrand to sing on “Pale Blue Eyes.”
Georgia Hubley made the Night 6 mix CD, WFMU’s Amanda Nazzario was the post-show DJ and proceeds benefited the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center.
Check out pictures by P Squared and Night 6 setlists from Yo La Tengo (via Jesse Jarnow) and Beach House, below.
There are only two nights left and Yo La Tengo have been killing it with this year’s surprise guests (Lambchop, The Feelies, Ben Gibbard, more) — who do you think they might have for the final two nights?
Tickets for the remaining shows are currently sold out, but the band often release some day-of show, 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.
SETLIST: Yo La Tengo at Bowery Ballroom 12/12/2023 (Hanukkah Night 6) (via Frank & Earthy)
“Our Way To Fall” through “Everybody Loves A Clown” with Danny Tunick (vibraphone) & Joe McGinty (keyboards), except as noted.
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)
*(encore)*
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)
SETLIST: Beach House @ Bowery Ballroom 12/12/2023
Saltwater
She’s So Lovely
Pay No Mind
Devil’s Pool
Rough Song
Many Nights
The Bells
Somewhere Tonight
