A number of special guests sat in with Yo La Tengo at New York’s Bowery Ballroom last night. The performance was the second night of the group’s famed annual Hanukkah shows. Lucinda Williams, who was in town for a performance with Jesse Malin at Bowery, served as the night’s surprise opening act and Fred Armisen, who played drums with Yo La Tengo for most of their performance on Sunday, was the evening’s comedic support. Former Sleater-Kinney drummer Janet Weiss also augmented Yo La Tengo on drums and percussion throughout their entire set. 

During Yo La Tengo’s set, Williams emerged to sing on covers of Bob Dylan’s “Wallflower,” Velvet Underground’s “Pale Blue Eyes” and T-Rex’s “Get It On.” Armisen resumed his spot behind the kit for “Get on It,” before moving to keyboards for “Deeper Into Movies.” He returned to the drums for the remainder of the main portion of their show, which consisted of “Artificial Heart,” “Sugarcube” and “Mushroom Cloud of Hiss.” 

Yo La Tengo used their encore to pay tribute to their friend and collaborator Roy Loney of Flamin’ Groovies, who passed away earlier this month. Fellow garage-rock icons Lenny Kaye and the A-Bones’ Bruce Bennett and Miriam Linna joined the evening’s hosts for Flamin’ Groovies’ “Yesterday’s Numbers,” Flamin’ Groovies’ arrangement of Randy Newman’s “Have You Seen My Baby,” and Flamin’ Groovies’ “Teenage Head” and “Slow Death” to close the night. Flamin’ Groovies ramped up for their reunion during Yo La Tengo’s Hanukkah in 2008 and members of the A-Bones and Yo La Tengo backed the Flamin’ Groovies’ principals when they reunited a decade ago. 

Yo La Tengo will return to Bowery Ballroom this evening.  

Here’s a look at last night’s setlist via Jesse Jarnow’s Frank & Earthy site

Monday, December 23, Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY

Rock and Roll Santa (Jan Terri)

Green Arrow

Sudden Organ

I Was the Fool Beside You Too Long

She May, She Might

Madeline

I’m On My Way

Wallflower (Bob Dylan) (with Lucinda Williams on vocals)

Pale Blue Eyes (Velvet Underground) (with LW)

Get It On (T-Rex) (with LW, and Fred Armisen on drums)

Deeper Into Movies (with FA on keyboard)

Artificial Heart (with FA on drums)

Sugarcube (with FA on drums)

Mushroom Cloud of Hiss (with FA on drums)

*(encore)*

with Lenny Kaye (guitar/vocals), Bruce Bennett (guitar), Miriam Linna (percussion)

Yesterday’s Numbers (Flamin’ Groovies)

Have You Seen My Baby (Randy Newman)

Teenage Head (Flamin’ Groovies)

Slow Death (Flamin’ Groovies)

Janet Weiss on drums and percussion for entire YLT set