Yo La Tengo with Preservation Hall Jazz Band at Bowery Ballroom
photo by Ellen Qbertplaya

Yo La Tengo Hanukkah night 7: John Cameron Mitchell, Heron Oblivion, Steve Gunn & more (pics, video, setlist)

Saturday was the penultimate night of Yo La Tengo‘s Hanukkah run at Bowery Ballroom, and Ira, Georgia and James and more fun and surprises in store. Heron Oblivion were the nights opening band, and Meg Baird and the rest of the band showed up at various points during Yo La Tengo’s main set, including a cover of The Velvet Underground’s “Heroin” with Charlie Saufley on guitar to close out the main set (which hasn’t repeated a song the whole run).

For the encore, Steve Gunn joined on guitar for covers of New York Dolls (“Puss ‘n’ Boots”) and Richard Hell (“The Kid With the Replaceable Head”) and then Hedwig creator John Cameron Mitchell came out to sing Lou Reed’s “Turning Time Around.” As Ira thanked the Bowery Ballroom for hosting them this week, the sounds of a brass band could be heard coming from the back of the room. It was the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, who played their way on stage for a cover of George & Ira Gershwin standard “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” to end the night. “Why not?” said Ira. You can watch video from the encore with John Cameron Mitchell and PHJB, and Yo La Tengo’s setlist (via Jesse Jarnow), below.

Joe Pera was the night’s comedian (and if you haven’t seen Joe Pera Talks With You, remedy that), Georgia made the night’s mix CD and proceeds benefited Environmental Defense Fund.

Check out recaps of Yo La Tengo Hanukkah Night 1Night 2Night 3Night 4, and Night 5. Yo La Tengo’s Hanukkah 2018 wraps up tonight. Any guesses on who the openers and surprise guests might be?

Heron Oblivion play Baby’s All Right tonight (12/9).

SETLIST: Yo La Tengo @ Bowery Ballroom 12/8/2019 (Hanukkah Night 7) (via Frank & Earthy)
comedian: Joe Pera
opening act: Heron Oblivion
mix CD: Georgia
benefiting: Environmental Defense Fund

Dream Dream Away
Satellite
Here To Fall
Barnaby, Hardly Working
Green Arrow
Moby Octopad
The Weakest Part
Mr. Tough
Nowhere Near
Goin’ Back (Carole King & Gerry Goffin) (with Meg Baird of Heron Oblivion on vocals & Kevin Micha on drums )
I Should Have Known Better
Out the Window
Sudden Organ
Heroin (Velvet Underground) (Roky Erickson version) (with Charlie Saufley of Heron Oblivion on guitar)

*(encore)* with Steve Gunn on guitar
Puss ‘n’ Boots (New York Dolls)
The Kid With the Replaceable Head (Richard Hell)
Turning Time Around (Lou Reed) (with John Cameron Mitchell on vocals)
Let’s Call the Whole Thing (George & Ira Gershwin) (with JCM & Preservation Hall Jazz Band)

photos by Ellen Qbertplaya