On Dec. 22, Yo La Tengo began their annual Hanukkah Run at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City. The show was highlighted by a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Wharf Rat,” as well as sit-ins from comedian/drummer Fred Armisen and guitarists Steve Gunn and William Tyler (Gunn and Tyler also performed an opening set as a duo).

After Gunn and Tyler’s opening set, Tyler sat in on guitar for Yo La Tengo’s entire set, except for the opener. Fred Armisen sat in on drums for the entire evening.

Yo La Tengo began with a cover of The Beatles “From Me To You;” however, they changed the lyrics to “from me to Jews.” Later in the set, Steve Gunn returned to the stage for a series of sit-ins, including a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Wharf Rat.”

For the encore, Yo La Tengo continued their tradition of highlighting songs by Jewish songwriters. Greg Hetson, who is Jewish, sat in for songs by his bands Red Kross and Circle Jerks (including “Live Fast Die Young” and “S&M Party”), as well as other covers by Jewish songwriters such as Dee Dee Ramone and Irving Berlin. The evening concluded with a cover of Berlin’s “White Christmas,” featuring comedian Jon Glaser (portraying a character called the Man in the Green Mask) on vocals.

Yo La Tengo’s Hanukkah run continues on Dec. 23. Tickets to shows on Dec. 23 and Dec. 26-29 are sold out, but tickets to Dec. 24 and 25 show are still available and can be purchased here. For more information, visit yolatengo.com. Check out the complete setlist from their Hanukkah run opener below, courtesy of Jesse Jarnow’s Frank & Earthly Blog!

Yo La Tengo
Dec. 22, 2019
Bowery Ballroom, New York, N.Y.

Set I: From Me To You$, Everyday, Here You Are, Stockholm Syndrome, Let’s Save Tony Orlando’s House, The Point Of It, Swing For Life, Tears Are Your In Yours%, Shades of Blue, Flying Lesson*, Wharf Rat*, Today Is The Day*&, Tom Courtenay*, Pass the Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind*

Enc: Live Fast Die Young^, S&M Party^, Chinese Rocks^, Carbona Not Glue^, White Christmas@

Entire set minus opener with William Tyler on guitar.
Entire set (and encore) with Fred Armisen on drums.
$lyrics changed to “from me to Jews.”
%performed as a guitar instrumental
&fast version
*with Steve Gunn on guitar
@Jon Glaser (as the Man in the Green Mask) on vocals

Setlist and info via: jessejarnow.com/category/ylt/