Yo La Tengo kicked off their annual Hanukkah run at New York’s Bowery Ballroom last night. As in years past, the New Jersey-bred group will play a unique set on all eight nights of the Festival of Lights, each featuring a surprise opening act, guest comedian and special mix CD. The shows will all benefit a different organization as well.

Last night’s show, which supported We Act, fell on Christmas day and Yo La Tengo packed the evening with Hannuklah regulars. Comedian Todd Barry did a warm up set, guitarist Bill Frisell made the mix CD and the Sloppy Heads were the surprise support act. The Sloppy Heads’ first time opening for Yo La Tengo during their holiday celebration was special for several reasons. The trio is comprised of three longtime members of the Yo La Tengo family, Bill Stites, Ariella Stok and Jesse Jarnow. (Jarnow, a Relix contributing editor, even wrote the definitive book on Yo La Tengo, Big Day Coming.) During last night’s show, Yo La Tengo’s James McNew, who has opened for his own group on previous December 25 shows with projects like Dump! and Christmas, also joined Sloppy Heads during their set.

Yo La Tengo’s show opened with their original “This Stupid World,” before keyboardist David Nagler emerged. Nagler, who has worked with Yo La Tengo at New York variety shows like Wesley Stace’s Cabinet of Wonders and his own run at Sid Gold’s, remained on stage for most of their set. Early in their spot, Yo La Tengo slipped in some special thematic covers as well, including a Hanukkah reworking of KISS’ “Rock & Roll All Night” dubbed “Rock & Roll 8 Nites” and Sam Elwitt’s “Eight Candles,” which they recorded for the 2019 compilation, Hannukah+. A bit later, they also busted out “Junk” by Christmas. 

Yo La Tengo are also known to bring out special guests during their Hanukkah encores and last night was no exception. First, Barry emerged to play sleigh bells on Jan Terri’s “Rock & Roll Santa.” Then, Superchunk guitarist and Merge co-founder Mac McCaughan appeared on a mix of covers, which also keeping with tradition, heavily favored Jewish songwriters: The Ramones “Listen To My Heart,” Angry Samoans’ “You Stupid Asshole,” Circle Jerk’s “Live Fast Die Young” and Superchunk’s own “Slack Motherfucker. The members of Sloppy Heads, Barry and Nagler then all emerged for a show-closing take on The Fugs’ “Nothing,” a reworking of an old Yiddish tune that included references to some of the past year’s cultural hardships.

Yo La Tengo’s Hanukkah run will continue tonight. 

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

Wednesday, December 25, Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY

entire set minus 1st song & last 2 songs with David Nagler on keyboards

This Stupid World
Rock & Roll 8 Nites (KISS)
Let’s Save Tony Orlando’s House
Eight Candles (Sam Elwitt)
All Your Secrets
If It’s True
Everybody Loves A Clown (Gary Lewis)
Pablo and Andrea
Alyda
Junk (Christmas)
Barnaby, Hardly Working
Super Kiwi
Shaker
Double Dare
Blue Line Swinger

(encore)
Rock & Roll Santa (Jan Terri) (with Todd Barry on sleigh bells)
Listen To My Heart (Ramones) (with Mac McCaughan on guitar/vocals)
You Stupid Asshole (Angry Samoans) (with MM)
Live Fast Die Young (Circle Jerks) (with MM)
Slack Motherfucker (Superchunk) (with MM)
Nothing (The Fugs) (with DN, TB, MM, & the Sloppy Heads on vocals)