Yo La Tengo hosted the penultimate show of their Hanukkah run at New York’s Bowery Ballroom last night. Avant-garde combo Natural Information Society opened and Hari Kondabalu served as the evening’s guest comedian.


At the start of Yo La Tengo’s headlining set, the members of Natural Information Society returned for a show-opening take on “Green Arrow.” A few songs later, the musicians returned for a stretch of songs that included “Swing For Life,” “The Last Days of Disco” and “The Room Got Heavy.” Soon after, sound engineer Dutch Worthington appeared on a cover of Angry Samoans’ “Too Animalistic.”


The trio’s encore kicked off with their celebration of Jewish songwriters–a cover of Bob Dylan’s “I Threw It All Away” and a version of The Ramones’ “I Don’t Care.”  The latter tune featured Jon Langford and Sally Timms, members of the British post-punk band The Mekons, who stayed on the stage to help the ensemble through their own “Dan Dare – Out of Space (It’s A Really Nice Place)” and “Keep on Hoppin’.” The night came to a close with a second take on “Dan Dare – Out of Space (It’s A Really Nice Place)” featuring the members of  The Mekons).”


Yo La Tengo’s  Hanukkah will come to a close this evening.

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

Saturday, December 4, 2021, Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY 
Green Arrow (with Natural Information Society)
I Can’t Stand It 
Let’s Save Tony Orlando’s House
Mr. Tough
Did I Tell You
Is That Enough
Swing For Life (with Natural Information Society)
The Last Days of Disco (with Natural Information Society)
The Room Got Heavy (with Natural Information Society)
False Alarm
Too Animalistic  (with Dutch Worthington)
Drug Test
Upside Down
We’re An American Band
Blue Ling Swinger

E:
I Threw It All Away 
I Don’t Care (with Jon Langford & Sally Timms)
Dan Dare – Out of Space (It’s A Really Nice Place) (with JL & ST)
Keep on Hoppin’  (with JL & ST)
Dan Dare – Out of Space  (The Mekons) [take 2] (with JL & ST)