Yo La Tengo jammed with Fred Armisen on a second drum kit. (Photos © 2012, Steven P. Marsh)
Yo La Tengo continued its massively wonderful holiday tradition, kicking off the first of eight shows — one for each night of Hanukkah — on Saturday night. The proceeds from tickets and most merchandise goes to charity. (This year all the charities support Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts.)_
Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone? managed to score tickets to four of the eight nights — not an easy thing to do the way TicketFly is set up.
Our first night was Night 2, when the amazing Sun Ra Arkestra (imagine a DOZEN musicians on the tiny Maxwell’s stage!) was the opener and Fred Armisen of “Saturday Night Live” and “Portlandia” was both the comedian and a musical guest.
Night 3 featured Hoboken’s hometown heroes The Feelies, which opened with a very strong set, and the members of which sat in at various points of YLT’s set. Guitarist and vocalist Glenn Mercer was absolutely on fire all night. And Brenda Sauter did a great job on vocals for “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere.” “SNL” writer John Mulaney was the comic for Night 3.
We’ll be back tonight, but wanted to share some images of nights 2 and 3 with you now.
This is a tradition that has been going on for 11 years, YLT’s Ira Kaplan pointed out last night. We hope it continues for many years to come.
Click through to the jump for lots of photos from Sunday and Monday nights’ shows.
Night 2
Just five of the dozen members of Sun Ra Arkestra on the Maxwell’s stage.
Sun Ra Arkestra: Thinking of Saturn.
Sun Ra Arkestra’s bandleader, Marshall Allen, is 88 years old.
Sun Ra Arkestra vocalist.
Fred Armisen comedy bit.
Fred Armisen on guitar.
Yo La Tengo’s Ira Kaplan.
Yo La Tengo’s Georgia Hubley.
Yo La Tengo’s James McNew.
Members of the Sun Ra Arkestra jammed with Yo La Tengo on Sun Ra composition, and YLT favorite, “Nuclear War.”
Night 3
It’s Night 3 of Hanukkah.
Glen Mercer, Stan Demeski and Bill Million
Glenn Mercer kicks up his heels.
Drummer Stan Demeski
Feelies Bill Million and Brenda Sauter.
Dave Weckerman in the Feelies’ set.
Comedian John Mulaney
James McNew and Glenn Mercer.
Dave Weckerman keeps the clave beat for Ira Kaplan.
Stan Demeski shows Yo La Tengo how it’s done. (Photo by CMM).
Ira Kaplan freaks out on organ.
Georgia Hubley freaks out on James McNew’s bass.
Glenn Mercer and Bill Million join James McNew with Yo La Tengo.
Ira cut his hand during a guitar freak-out
Ira Kaplan
Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone? 