Sun Ra Arkestra Members Join Yo La Tengo In New York City

Yo La Tengo continued their 8 Nights Of Hanukkah With Yo La Tengo residency in New York City on Monday. The trio welcomed the Sun Ra Arkestra Horns and comedian/musician Todd Barry to share the stage at Bowery Ballroom on Night 2 of the run.

Both Sun Ra Arkestra and Todd Barry are Yo La Tengo Hanukkah run regulars with Barry appearing at all 20 residencies as Brooklyn Vegan pointed out. Sun Ra Arkestra were the evening’s surprise openers and Todd Barry served as the comedian last night.

Yo La Tengo got their set underway With “Stupid Things” off 2013’s Fade. The trio focused on career-spanning originals early in the frame including “Tiny Birds,” “Madeline” and “86-Second Blowout.” There’s A Riot Going On standout “Here You Are” led into “My Heart’s Reflection,” the first song of the night to find the band accompanied by the Sun Ra Arkestra Horns. The horns remained on-stage for the rest of YLT’s main set.

“My Heart’s Reflection” was followed by Sun Ra classic “Dreaming.” Next came “Punishes Students With Bad Impressions And Tired Jokes,” Yo La Tengo’s collaboration with Jad Fair. A cover of Rex Garvin & the Mighty Cravers’ “Emulsified” gave way to what Jesse Jarnow described as the “boogie version” of “More Stars Than There Are In Heaven.” YLT and the horns closed the main set with a take on Sun Ra’s “Nuclear War.”

Todd Barry sat-in on drums for a cover of Blue Oyster Cult’s “This Ain’t The Summer Of Love” to start last night’s encore. Yo La Tengo went at it alone to close the night with the Ramones’ “Can’t Make It On Time,” The Cramps’ “TV Set” and The Shangri-La’s “Heaven Only Knows.” The residency resumes tonight.

Setlist (via Frank & Earthy)

Set: Stupid Things, Ashes, Awhileaway, Tiny Birds, Madeline, Paul Is Dead, I Was the Fool Beside You For Too Long, 86-Second Blowout, Here You Are > My Heart’s Reflection [1], Dreaming [1], Principal Punishes Students With Bad Impressions [1], Emulsified [1], More Stars Than There Are In Heaven (boogie version) [1], Nuclear War [1]

Encore: This Ain’t the Summer of Love [2], Can’t Make It On Time, TV Set, Heaven Only Knows

• [1] – with Sun Ra Arkestra horns
• [2] – with Todd Barry on drums