Yo La Tengo live

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I'll allow for honest reactions, Josh. ;-) But I'll lay money on the next album pissing me off again. ;-)

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

@Ned: I guess we have different approaches to music. To put it short: mine is intuitive and yours is rational. On the other hand maybe MBV had a bad day when they played in Brussels ten years ago and maybe YLT had two bad days when you saw them opening for those "big" names.

@Pinefox: Nice reply. I could not stop laughing (I am dead serious). But how about: Who are you mainhattan characters? They are only, like you say and with energy supply people. They seem, in the music bang so much, versed to be (you know mouse also Falco Jacob, swing me, amadeus, OH - . I would like to know well-being their world opinion in the morning. It neckt Karikaturbonfire it I). If you go into such a way on writing, it, type of merry, is you is, like film star of years 20. Therefore they like, everything are good you in the love music of the forum I. Now it makes sense. Thanks to Babelfish. So you like Lloyd Cole? Mmm. Me too. But could it be that you have taken the title of his last album too literal? Don't get weird on me pinefox.

@Phil: No. My English is crap and was even worse in that post above. And you are exaggerating. Pinefox cracked a joke. I do not think that this is enough to start a war. And I guess our ethnicity is the same (I am Indo-European). But thanks anyway.

― alex in mainhattan, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Mine is *rational*? No offense, Alex, but I'll kindly ask you not to presume what my own thoughts and reactions to music are and what they're motivated by. I'm not presuming what *yours* are. Sheesh!

My first experience to MBV, as I've gone on about elsewhere (time and again!) on this board, was pure shock and stunned trance at how wonderful it was, hearing "Soon" for the very first time. That had about as much to do with rationality as throwing myself off a cliff because I might bounce.

I have no problem with you arguing your case and all, but junk your attempts at artistic psychoanalysis. If you can't accept the fact I disagree, that's your problem and not mine.

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

I did not want to offend you Ned, but a couple of posts up the thread you wrote: People should play by mind control and never touch the actual instrument. and you were answering to my post on Ira having sex with his guitar. I do not believe that you want to tell me that your concept of mind control is emotional and intuitive.

On the other hand when I read your last post I am flabbergasted by your sensitivity.

I accept that and I do not want to go any deeper (only a little bit). I just wanted to understand why our judgements differ. Especially as we start from practically the same point. When I saw MBV ten years ago they were my favourite group. Loveless was the most hypnotic album of the 90s. A song like When you sleep is absolutely stunning and still today. The concert left me totally cold. No interaction between the band and the public whatsoever. Except some stage-divers. When I went to see YLT the first time I did not expect a lot. And Ira talked to us and reacted when people asked for songs. And he was playing guitar like a devil (sorry another stereotype). Totally involved into his music. He was on a trip and he took us with him. I left the concert as a convert to YLT. When comparing those two bands to drugs I would say MBV is about taking LSD, a lonely but very strong experience. But YLT is about sharing a joint. It is a social thing and it is a soft and quite feeble high which lasts.

So maybe we have different preferences concerning those substances.

― alex in mainhattan, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Alex - a generous response to Pinefox's (in hindsight) slightly offensive post, which I thoughtlessly supported. I shouldn't have. Sorry.

― Dr. C, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

This is starting to get in the realms of the ridiculous, Alex. For one thing I've never taken (illegal, at least) drugs either, so please stop while you're ahead about assuming what I'm all about. You've now failed on two counts -- and again, I've made no assumptions about * your* favorite drug/reading material/sexual activity/late night snack/ whatever, so quite why you think your own assumptions about me are possibly the key to all this mystifies me. Can you not accept the idea of difference of opinion?

For another thing, this 'really getting into it, man = emotion; concentrating on playing = technical, unemotional' vision -- I absolutely refuse this limiting, ridiculous stereotype. Some of the most calculated bullshit I've ever encountered at shows has been from the most active people on-stage, some of the freest, most evocative and emotional playing from the most calm and controlled performers. Roy Montgomery in particular, with two extended improvisatory pieces at Terrastock 2, showed that much, all while sitting down, but he had that crowd -- and a large one it was -- on as much of a trip as Ira did for yours. *And* Mr. Montgomery was engaging in a bit of audience banter too if that makes you happy.

I am not trying to set up an opposing set of rules to yours, Alex, but I am trying to demonstrate that your own vision is not automatically the mirror image of mine. Is this so hard to understand?

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Alex -- point taken; if you're not offended, I'm certainly not going to presume to be on your behalf! ;-)

(But I still maintain, however, that your English is not crap. Es ist ganz besser als mein Deutsch...)

― Phil, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Just wanted to say that this discussion is worthless since YLT are a bunch of Lou Reed fans. They should be put up against a wall and shot.

On the subject of YLT live- I remember Alec Empire interview in NME where he talked about seeing YLT live and how they were scared to go on because the stage was covered in water and so they might get fried! Onstage!

And alec then called them a bunch of assholes- he would love to be there himself, he'd relish that kind of situation- and he proceeded to tell the the kids to stop buying all of this indie garbage.

― Julio Desouza, Monday, 16 July 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

4 years pass...

They're doing their 8-night Hanukkah charity stand at Maxwells again, but it appears 3 of the shows are sold out... I lucked out with the surprise guests the last two years: Ronnie Spector and Wreckless Eric.

http://www.yolatengo.com/schedule.html

'Fun' reading above.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 1 December 2005 22:34 (7 years ago) Permalink

I saw them about a year ago, and it was one of the biggest letdowns of the year.

I suppose I'm only really familiar with "And the nothing...", "I Can Hear the Heart...", "Summer Sun", and "Painful", since those are the only ones I own. Oh, and their first album, which I've listened to 1/2 a time.

But I only recognized about 5 of the songs they played, total. I assume the rest were covers, obscure b-sides...who knows. When things couldn't get any worse, they ended with their "Nuclear War" cover, which lasted about 15 minutes and wasn't very impressive. Then, when they finished, a fall-over-drunk woman yelled out, "HAY!!1 Play it...aGEE-YEN!"

And they did. They played another 15 minute long version of Nuclear War, which was just as disappointing as the first. Then, they were done.

Plus, it looked like Ira and Georgia were in the middle of a messy divorce the whole show.

― Zach S, Friday, 2 December 2005 02:06 (7 years ago) Permalink

I was at both 3-11-2000 shows, matinee and late, at the GAMH in San Francisco — and they were fantastic. But they were supporting an album I liked a lot, and Lambchop was the support, so the circumstances were all good. But then I saw them last year in Memphis and they kinda sucked. Antietam opened and were boring, and it was summer and 912 degrees, YLT was supporting an album I don't like at all, and like Zach said, their "Nuclear War" goes on forfuckingever.

― I do feel guilty for getting any perverse amusement out of it (Rock Hardy), Friday, 2 December 2005 02:33 (7 years ago) Permalink

i still count the first couple times i saw them (at the late, not very lamented LA club the Alligator Lounge) as among the best shows i've ever attended. that was back in 95, when they were supporting electra pura. they sounded pretty mind blowing to me and my other 16 year old friends. since then, i've seen them a bunch and have enjoyed each show, but these days they may be trying to squeeze a bit too much into a set--leaping haphazardly from goofy covers to noise freakouts to whispery ballads to epic jams. i like all of that, but the last time i saw them, i wished they'd just stick with one or two of those styles...

― Tyler Wilcox (tylerw), Friday, 2 December 2005 03:08 (7 years ago) Permalink

The Hanukkah shows are pretty much always great.

― cdwill, Friday, 2 December 2005 03:22 (7 years ago) Permalink

I've seen 'em more than a few times; their Lollapolooza show was pretty much what got me into indie rock (well, the organ freakout in False Alarm). I wasn't as wild about the last few times I saw them, including playing with The Clean (who were surprisingly good), but I like the freakouts. And I've never seen 'em be bad, just that sometimes I think they'd be more worth it at $8 than $16.

― js (honestengine), Friday, 2 December 2005 05:22 (7 years ago) Permalink

I saw them at the Alligator back around then, Tyler, was 28th Dye opening? I remember some goofballs in the audience were trying to clap along with "Speeding Motorcycle" and failing.

I've loved them both times I've seen them, and like all the LPs, though And Nothing... doesn't get much play.

― nickn (nickn), Friday, 2 December 2005 08:24 (7 years ago) Permalink

no i didn't see them with 28th dye. the opening acts were run on and chris knox, i believe. i also recall that tabitha soren was at one of the shows...ah, tabitha.

― Tylerw (tylerw), Friday, 2 December 2005 15:01 (7 years ago) Permalink

I've got to be in double digits with YLT shows. The only time I saw them put on a bad performance was at Irving Plaza one time, they brought on this free jazz horn section to play along for about 70% of the set. Really irritating stuff...it sounded like an experimental Boz Scaggs cover band.

But other than that, they've never been bad. And I told Ira Kaplan he was a Rock God at Maxwells one time, and he was doubled over laughing with (or at) me. I was pretty drunk at the time.

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Friday, 2 December 2005 15:10 (7 years ago) Permalink

I've seen them 30+ times I think. You really don't hafta LOVE them to enjoy the Hanukkah shows for their vaudeville aspect; the one I saw last year opened with some 12-year-olds doing punk covers, a reunion of the Shams, the comedian Patton Oswalt (who shocked me by being funny) and then YLT with Wreckless Eric for encores.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 2 December 2005 15:14 (7 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

Ira's Hanukkah marathon diary:

http://www.yolatengo.com/ylt/hanukkah2005diary.html

I was at the Sun Ra Arkestra show Wednesday, which was fine (esp the jammy version of "Little Honda") except I found the comedians only mildly amusing.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Monday, 2 January 2006 17:01 (7 years ago) Permalink

yo la tengo have never disappointed me live.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Monday, 2 January 2006 17:52 (7 years ago) Permalink

Those Chanukah shows with Lennie Kaye,David Johansen, Lois Mafeo, and Half Jap must have been great. I think the one with Tortoise must have been less happening, unless you like those long long jams.

― Curmudgeon Steve (Steve K), Tuesday, 3 January 2006 01:57 (7 years ago) Permalink

Two of the five or so greatest shows I've seen were YLT shows, and I don't wear indie-rock glasses or ringer shirts. However, after the quality of their albums nosedived (starting with And Then Nothing..., depressingly solidified with the monumentally mediocre Summer Sun), their live shows took a similar hit.

Their pieces with new-music horn players (Arkestra, Sabir Mateen, etc.) are the most disappointing collaborations since Dim Stars.

YLT were almost the Who circa 1968. Now they're the Who circa 1989. A huge and tragic waste.

― Lawrence the Looter (Lawrence the Looter), Tuesday, 3 January 2006 08:47 (7 years ago) Permalink

did anyone catch their maxwell's show this new year's eve?

― it was jody that killed the beast (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 3 January 2006 08:48 (7 years ago) Permalink

As someone said to me when we were picking a night for this year: "Hoboken, New Year's Eve, no thank you."

"Tragic waste" is a ridiculous overstatement even if you don't like the horn stuff. Having the same approach to your shows in 1992 and 2005 would be ossification.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 3 January 2006 14:12 (7 years ago) Permalink

Their pieces with new-music horn players (Arkestra, Sabir Mateen, etc.) are the most disappointing collaborations since Dim Stars.

The double 7" is spectacular. Nuclear War 12, not so much.

I have to agree though, some of the best shows I've ever seen were Yo La Tengo shows. When they're on, they're on.

― mcd (mcd), Tuesday, 3 January 2006 16:56 (7 years ago) Permalink

"Having the same approach to your shows in 1992 and 2005 would be ossification." Dr Morbius (wjwe...), January 3rd, 2006.

Yea, but there are other approaches they could have taken (and could still take?) without "ossification'.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 3 January 2006 19:10 (7 years ago) Permalink

6 months pass...

Anyone seen them do the score to the Painleve science movies? $3 in Prospect Park tonight.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 13 July 2006 18:32 (6 years ago) Permalink

yes - it's definitely worth $3. (and the soundtrack CD is definitely worth $12.)

― rajeev (rajeev), Thursday, 13 July 2006 18:59 (6 years ago) Permalink

It may be worth it for $3. I saw them do it for $23 Tuesday night. They got a standing ovation but the only part I really got into was a rocking noise jam they played to a film on how octopi have sex. For the most part otherwise, there were interesting things happening but I had a hard time finding much of a connection between the music and the films. There were stretches where I just found the music dull, with 4/4 slowcore drums, really basic keyboard loops, and guitar effects that didn't really seem to generate that much in the way of texture. I dunno, they did lots of things that should interest me in theory - extended guitar effects, analog electronics, ambient improv, etc - but somehow it just didn't really come together the way I hoped it would. I actually felt like it distracted from the films. I had to focus on one or the other. I was really tired though. (But I did enjoy the noise I saw at SoundLab afterwards.)

xpost

― Sundar (sundar), Thursday, 13 July 2006 19:05 (6 years ago) Permalink

it was pretty good but the part were you're standing to the right of the sound booth (tower?) and these people keep yelling at you to sit down and you move over so like you're basically behind a guy that was already standing except like half of your body and they're still yelling at you so you turn around and say something like stand up motherfuckers - rock show and then when you turn around they throw maybe a cup or something like that at you and then the whole thing ends pretty much right then and you go over and demand an apology and at first they're like we don't know what you're talking about but then one of them admits to it but they're all standing up is just as bad as throwing something at someone and you disagree and then they start to make the lamest insults like you have no friends you're short and then try to run away so you follow them out and try to get a word in outside the venue and the largest one gets all in your face and is trying to be all menacing but is obv such a pussy and you tell him that he's not at all scary and then he's like i'mna get the cops and you're like what'd i do? besides demand an apology - you could've just said you were sorry instead of being such inane lameasses. you think you should be able to throw things at people with impunity. your level of bullshit entitlement is v high. when you throw something at me that's the start of a relationship then you call them eunuchs. that part was pretty sweet. the movie and all was pretty nice, but the sound was way to quiet for where i was siting way in back hence trying to catch some of it a bit closer.

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Friday, 14 July 2006 12:06 (6 years ago) Permalink

i thought you were standing

― DAVE's secret to fortu-Oh look! Shiny! (dave225.3), Friday, 14 July 2006 12:11 (6 years ago) Permalink

it is true, i was standing. but so were many others. and is sitting somehow more valid than standing? especially at packed rock show!

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Friday, 14 July 2006 12:14 (6 years ago) Permalink

i don't like sitting at rock shows. sitting is good for tv watching.

― DAVE's secret to fortu-Oh look! Shiny! (dave225.3), Friday, 14 July 2006 12:15 (6 years ago) Permalink

their argument was that it was a movie. it was a movie and a rock show. but really people came to see the rock band not the movie.

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Friday, 14 July 2006 12:19 (6 years ago) Permalink

Was it rocky horror? you can throw things at rocky horror; but standing is also acceptable. Those guys didn't have a leg to stand on, so to speak, hah ha.

― DAVE's secret to fortu-Oh look! Shiny! (dave225.3), Friday, 14 July 2006 12:23 (6 years ago) Permalink

i should've just thrown rice at them and called it a day.

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Friday, 14 July 2006 12:37 (6 years ago) Permalink

I must've been standing within 20 yards of you, jhoshea, but I was further away from the mayhem.

(also, you literally couldn't see the band whether you were standing or not. I had no qualms about standing cuz I arrived after 9, and any everyone-sits protocol was out the window by then.)

In addition to the octopi-sex score, I like the funk stuff for "Shrimp Stories."

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 14 July 2006 12:42 (6 years ago) Permalink

(also, the show was about reason #5000 why I'm glad to be leaving Pk Slope)

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 14 July 2006 12:49 (6 years ago) Permalink

and it wasn't a fucking rock show.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 14 July 2006 12:52 (6 years ago) Permalink

it's true.

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Friday, 14 July 2006 12:54 (6 years ago) Permalink

WAIT, are you that short asshole who wouldn't fucking sit down?

― fongoloid sangfroid (sanskrit), Friday, 14 July 2006 13:18 (6 years ago) Permalink

OMG THAT WAS ME!!!!

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Friday, 14 July 2006 13:19 (6 years ago) Permalink

i totally PEGGED you with that solo cup during the Bro La Tengo show.

― fongoloid sangfroid (sanskrit), Friday, 14 July 2006 13:23 (6 years ago) Permalink

you hurt my feelings bad man - say you're sorry.

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Friday, 14 July 2006 13:28 (6 years ago) Permalink

why did you say i wasn't scary when i tried to menace you? that really hurt man.

― fongoloid sangfroid (sanskrit), Friday, 14 July 2006 13:29 (6 years ago) Permalink

shoulda said "i am not afraid and i will beat yr ass"

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 14 July 2006 13:32 (6 years ago) Permalink

nah, i was way in the back. any and all etiquette usually gets tossed out the window at those things. someone tried to reserve a spot with a splayed out maclaren stroller and a bunch of patchouli smelling co-op workers chucked it over the fence to make room..

fun performance, but i'm with Morbs, really not a rock show at all. here's an interesting essay on Painlevé and a video example:

http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/03/25/painleve.html
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8604649289441675492

― fongoloid sangfroid (sanskrit), Friday, 14 July 2006 13:33 (6 years ago) Permalink

if you wouldn't sit down, you should've at least read us the captions. in harmony.

― marc h. (marc h.), Friday, 14 July 2006 13:34 (6 years ago) Permalink

the captions were kind lame i thought - a nature doc in verse wtf?

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Friday, 14 July 2006 13:36 (6 years ago) Permalink

the captions shoulda been dropped i think.. bit of a distraction. not that i could even see the screen, being half behind a tree.

also, i noticed Love Life of the Octopus was originally scored by Pierre Henry. pretty bold of them to redo that one.

― fongoloid sangfroid (sanskrit), Friday, 14 July 2006 13:38 (6 years ago) Permalink

Skipping 245 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

https://soundcloud.com/nyctaper/19-sister-ray-vu

― tylerw, Thursday, 13 December 2012 18:35 (5 months ago) Permalink

last time i saw yo la tengo it was "no smoking by request of the artist," fuck them. had bought tickets in advance too.

― adam, Thursday, 13 December 2012 18:53 (5 months ago) Permalink

Hmmm, I used to smoke, but this bothers me not at all any more. Can't you go outside and smoke, or take a break from smoking for an hour? Not that I don't smoke, I can totally understand why non-smokers cannot stand to play in a room full of smoke. Seems more like something the venue needs to be up front about, not the musicians.

― grandavis, Thursday, 13 December 2012 18:56 (5 months ago) Permalink

Uh, that was supposed to say "Now that I don't smoke"

― grandavis, Thursday, 13 December 2012 18:56 (5 months ago) Permalink

it's been so long since i've lived in a state where you can smoke in a club.

― tylerw, Thursday, 13 December 2012 19:04 (5 months ago) Permalink

Yeah, me too. But also, at this point, if I like the musician, I am fully on board with making touring/playing shows as cool for them as possible, especially if they are not millionaires and are still out there fighting the good fight. The cards are mostly stacked against them.

― grandavis, Thursday, 13 December 2012 19:08 (5 months ago) Permalink

I don't want to breathe someone's cigarette smoke and I don't want my clothes to smell of smoke either. I was so glad when my area jurisdictions banned smoking in nightclubs.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 13 December 2012 19:36 (5 months ago) Permalink

Yeah, I can't believe I used to smell like that all the time. And that I smoked inside, all the time (though not my own apartment/house). In restaurants, and venues, and bars. Seems really stupid in retrospect.

― grandavis, Thursday, 13 December 2012 19:39 (5 months ago) Permalink

that's cool, if i cared about that kind of shit i would move somewhere like that. however the expectation here is that if one is paying out the ass to see a bunch of old dudes play sister ray for 90 minutes one gets to drink and smoke and talk to one's friends while one does it, not stand outside like an asshole.

― adam, Thursday, 13 December 2012 20:00 (5 months ago) Permalink

Hah, sounds like exactly the wrong way to see Yo La Tengo do their thing to me. I mean, they play a ton of quiet songs, but more power to you. Everyone has their own idea of what makes a good show. I don't really have sympathy for the "I paid money damn it, so I get to do what the fuck I want" argument though. Again, I think your complaint is with the venue. Make them post when shows are non-smoking.

― grandavis, Thursday, 13 December 2012 20:13 (5 months ago) Permalink

http://www.jambands.com/news/2012/12/13/yo-la-tengo-s-hanukkah-shows-continue-with-special-guests-surprise-covers

― saltwater incursion (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 13 December 2012 21:01 (5 months ago) Permalink

Norman Blake tonight. Sorry speculative folks hoping for Keith Richards (not in this thread)!

― Evan, Sunday, 16 December 2012 01:16 (5 months ago) Permalink

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