Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Matt Berninger & Lenny Kaye Join Yo La Tengo’s Hanukkah Concert

Last night (Wednesday, December 17), Yo La Tengo reached the halfway point of their 2025 Hanukkah residency at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom. Bonnie “Prince” Billy, The National frontman Matt Berninger and Patti Smith Group guitarist Lenny Kaye each shuffled on and offstage during the band’s encore at their fourth of eight shows celebrating the Jewish holiday.

Bonnie “Prince” Billy (Will Oldham) was selected as the surprise opener before Wyatt Cenac served as the evening’s comedian. Yo La Tengo — guitarist Ira Kaplan, drummer Georgia Hubley and bassist James McNew — performed in various configurations as part of their all-original, 15-song main set on Wednesday. The legendary trio offered material from 10 of their releases spanning 1989 through their most recent album, 2023’s This Stupid World.

Rarities played on Wednesday included “Here To Fall,” “A Worrying Thing,” “Here You Are,” “Stupid Things,” “86-Second Blowout” and the first documented “Two Trains” since 2023. Yo La Tengo treated the capacity crowd to staples “Sugarcube” and “Pass The Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind” to wrap their main set.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sfgazcMy2U

In typical fashion, Yo La Tengo devoted the encore to covers of songs written by Jewish songwriters featuring special guests. Bonnie “Prince” Billy helped get the encore underway by fronting a take on P!nk’s 2023 hit, “Trustfall.” Kaplan then welcomed Matt Berninger to lead performances of Fred Neil’s “Little Bit Of Rain,” “Inland Ocean” from Berninger’s 2025 solo album Get Sunk and the beloved The National cut “Bloodbuzz Ohio.” Berninger introduced the latter as “Bloodbuzz New Jersey” in honor of Yo La Tengo’s home state.

Residency regular Lenny Kaye was the next special guest to take the stage. Kaye added a second guitar to a Berninger-sung rendition of the protest song “Eve Of Destruction.” Bonnie “Prince” Billy then returned to end the night by singing a version of the Patti Smith classic “Free Money” featuring its co-writer, Lenny Kaye, on guitar and Berninger on keys.

Yo La Tengo presents night five this evening back at the Bowery Ballroom. Watch footage of the encore and other highlights from night four of YLT’s 2025 Hanukkah run captured by videographer Chad Sclove:

. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AQVPSd-cFg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG5rm_mvf-A&pp=0gcJCTwKAYcqIYzv https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1VXXsdZjUc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-XHXtMOLRw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnPUcHIwIHc

Setlist (via Frank & Earthy)

Set: Green Arrow, From A Motel 6 > Tonight’s Episode, Here To Fall, Shades Of Blue, A Worrying Thing, Here You Are, Pablo & Andrea, Two Trains, Stupid Things, False Alarm, The Evil That Men Do (Craig’s Version), 86-Second Blowout, Sugarcube, Pass The Hatchet, I Think I’n Goodkind

Encore: Trustfall (P!NK)*, Little Bit of Rain (Fred Neil)**, Inland Ocean (Matt Berninger)** (with MB), Bloodbuzz Ohio (The National)**, Eve of Destruction (Barry Maguire)^, Free Money (Patti Smith/Lenny Kaye)^^

Notes:

• * – with Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy on vocals
• ** – with Matt Berninger on vocals
• ^ – with Matt Berninger on vocals and Lenny Kaye on guitar/vocals
• ^^ – with Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Matt Berninger and Lenny Kaye