Yo La Tengo’s annual Hanukkah run at New York’s Bowery Ballroom continued last night. For the third night of the holiday celebration, cosmic jazz-improv group Sun Ra Arkestra—who join Yo La Tengo during Hanukkah almost every year—and comedian David Cross—another longtime Yo La Tengo pal—served as the evening’s surprise openers. 

Halfway through their set—after their popular cover of Daniel Johnston’s “Speeding Motorcycle”—Yo La Tengo brought out the Sun Ra Arkestra horns for Sun Ra’s own “Dreaming.” The horn section remained onstage for the rest of Yo La Tengo’s set, which included takes on Jad Fair’s “Clumsy Grandmother Serves Delicious Dessert By Mistake,” Rex Garvin & the Mighty Cravers’ “Emulsified,” the fast version of their original “Big Day Coming,” The Hondells’ “Little Honda” and Sun Ra’s “Nuclear War.”

As is tradition, Yo La Tengo used their encore to pay tribute to a range of Jewish songwriters who have influenced their eclectic catalog. The group opened the segment with Gary Lewis & The Playboys’ “This Diamond Ring,” and then closed the Christmas Eve performance with The Left Banke’s “Walk Away Renee” and Velvet Underground’s “I’ll Be Your Mirror.”

Yo La Tengo will return to Bowery Ballroom this evening.

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

Tuesday, December 24, Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY 

Here To Fall

Stupid Things

Forever

Evanescent Psychic Pez Drop

Walking Away From You

The Weakest Part

Five-Cornered Drone (Crispy Duck)

Speeding Motorcycle (Daniel Johnston)

Dreaming (Sun Ra)

Clumsy Grandmother Serves Delicious Dessert By Mistake (Jad Fair)

Emulsified (Rex Garvin & the Mighty Cravers)

Big Day Coming (fast)

Little Honda (The Hondells)

Nuclear War (Sun Ra)

*(encore)*

This Diamond Ring (Gary Lewis)

Walk Away Renee (The Left Banke)

I’ll Be Your Mirror (Velvet Underground)

Sun Ra Arkestra horns enter during “Dreaming” & stay for rest of set.