Tour Diary. New York City. Yo La Tengo Hanukkah show. Nights 7 and 8
Friday. December 3, 2021
O’Hare flight for NYC, I feel pretty good. Traveling with Janet Bean, son Matthew, and Doug. This is my first flight in a few years. People at O’Hare are pretty responsibly masked up. Always jitters before entering TSA because I have a guitar with cords and pedals to carry on. Jim Elkington lent me his spare deluxe gig bag, and there is room to stuff clean underwear, shirts and socks in there. TSA guy pulls me aside to go through my stuff. My Tube Driver looks a tad suspicious on the x-rays. All good. I thank him and tell him how an agent in Amsterdam once took my other one apart. I have three now. Sweet relief, and steps away is Frontera Grill, the best airport food in the world. A torta and mezcal margarita later I wait for departure. I feel relaxed, but there are some butterflies in there who insist on going to NY with me.
Arrival and a taxi to the hotel. Driver heard Madison in the instructions but ignored the part where we said Lower East Side, and as we rolled through the Village and passed Canal, and the street numbers started to rise, I realized something was off. Do we look like Madison Avenue? But, we finally got to our place near the Manhattan Bridge and got settled, Doug off to see a friend. Dinner later in Little Italy, a magical place this time of year (or any time really, although better now when not so thick with tourists). Mark meets us and gets a Crème Brulee, then we head over to Prince Street, where Mark gets a slice of my favorite pizza in NYC. Yeah, he did that, but as someone I know once said, “When you’re an adult, you can have dessert first if you want.” While Mark waits in line, we show Matt where he once stayed for a month while we recorded El Moodio. Back in fall of 1993, it was a Ray’s Pizza downstairs (I had a slice EVERY day), and we were staying in a 3 story flat that housed the entire band, at 75 Prince St, a very pleasant walk to where Sorcerer was where we recorded. Matt was not quite yet two at the time, and was beginning to take some of his first steps, and here we were again. Many steps back through Chinatown to retire for the evening. We decided not to go to the Bowery Ballroom for night 6 of Hanukkah, but definitely would have reconsidered if we had known Dream Syndicate would be sitting in for a few. We thought conflicts would make us miss each other. Glad to get rest though after a long day of travel and walking.
Saturday, December 4
I told Matt that in the morning I wanted to walk across the Manhattan Bridge to get some brekky in Brooklyn. It was a great walk (he ran half the way), and the day and view were gorgeous. I needed to get myself way across town though to meet friends Tim and Tara, who bought tickets for a Jasper Johns show. Sat at the High Line/ Whitney juncture soaking up sun, appreciating the vibe. As I watched T’nT approach, I thought of how many years we have met in the city this way, agreeing to meet somewhere and seeing their long approach. The show was swell, and though I am not all that versed in Jasper’s work, I found the early, dark works pretty great. Up to the rooftop for the great Hudson views, then to a nearby café for espresso. I needed to get back, so we walked toward a train. It was so beautiful though that I hoofed it alone for the rest of the distance crosstown and down. I’ve walked these streets so many times though, and the vibe is so great, that I forgot that my body had to carry me that distance. I do love to push my physical limits, but I sensed I would pay. Exhilarating walk though!
That night, a slice (okay two) and over to the Bowery Ballroom. Walked in to opening guest Natural Information Society already in a song which lasted 25 minutes or so, and when it ended wondered if they played this one piece for the full 45 minutes. It’s quite a hypnotic trance with Josh Abrams’ guimbri, supplying the groove. Comedian Hari Kondabolu was very funny, and then night 7 YLT. Lots of hits, and a Blue Line Swinger closer. Classic and great every time! I do love this band so much. If I am not in the top ten in terms of people who have seen their shows, I would be surprised. Consider the tours we have done together as well as seeing them nearly every time in Chicago for almost 40 years, and the number has got to be close to triple digits. They are my favorite band, I have to say. Always, always great.
* Totally forgot to write that on Saturday night Jon and Sally joined YLT for some Mekons songs, including Dan Dare which Ira wanted to do. Jon informed the audience that he wasn't even in the band when it came out, and they did a great job with it, but fudged the ending. so they did it again (it's not long!) and fudged the ending again. After a short discussion on stage of a possible third time, the executive decision to end it was administered. Back in the dressing room, Jon did not recognize me with my mask and hat on. When he figured out it was me he rushed over yelling, "Show me your lovely mouth," and I was afraid for what would happen next.
Walk through empty streets back to the pad. Our turn, tomorrow, right butterflies?
Sunday, December 5
Wake up at 7:00 a.m., walk for coffee. Get bagels with schmear and a juice for Matt. Going to go to Bowery at 3:30 for soundcheck. We play at 8:30. That means I have hours to woodshed the songs Ira has alerted he would like a variety of us to play on with them. Sister Ray, don’t need to practice, but the beautiful Avalon or Someone Very Similar is one that I have nuances to learn. Map out Stockholm Syndrome, which although I know in my head backwards and forwards, I don’t want to screw up. Playing on this song on a stage next to James singing is akin to sitting next to Picasso painting. I’m also playing Some Kind of Fatigue, a song I love, and Ira has mercifully included a screenshot of the patented YLT schematic diagram. There are covers too, including a Fugs songs and Goin’ Back. It shouldn’t have been that hard, but the butterflies keep asking if I’m ready.
Get to the club, walk in and see two women on stage doing a song with YLT. Funky beat and slashing guitar. I realize it is Pat and Cynthia of Bush Tetras fame. I last saw them in early 80’s at Metro in Chicago opening for ESG. I have the 45’ Too Many Creeps. New York punk! Their drummer Dee Pop passed away just a couple months ago, so this will be a nice tribute. Then, we start our journey--soundcheck with all of edd and YLt on stage. Ira has invited us to play on everything, and although I will sit out the quieter atmospheric toons (they really didn’t need me for those—Jim has it covered), we are all up there to run through most of the set. It doesn’t go all that smoothly. What the audience sees is the product of much preparation. I severely clam my solo turns with them, playing a Stockholm turnaround too soon, and really botching the Fatigue intro. I make the executive decision not to play on Avalon to hedge my bets. Our soundcheck wasn’t much better, and we move clumsily through a few songs that we will have our friend Sue Garner join us for on vocals. One thing in our favor that I have long known: A less than perfect soundcheck often is the precursor to a great show. And this was less than perfect.
That took far longer than I expected, and it is only 75 minutes until showtime. I realize that part of my discombobulated state of mind is the result of miles of walking and not eating since my 7 a.m. bagel. I manage to find a bowl of lentil soup and side of roasted potatoes at a restaurant down the street. I feel my brain and body start to recharge. Back at the dressing room, ole pal Joe Puleo (who expertly runs the show for YLT) lets us know we have five minutes, and he will bring us to the stage. A masked face pokes its head in with a nod and smize. I have no idea who that was, and then it dawns on Janet and I at the same time. It was Bob Lawton, our old booking agent, and I haven’t seen him since ’93. I track him down, give him a hello hug, and make my way to the stage. My daughter, Peggy, has been telling me a lot lately to be positive, to envision successful outcomes, and know that good things will happen. I tell the butterflies what she said, and they say in her voice, “Durr.” I walk on stage—people seem happy to see us judging by the applause, I say hello, and the first strum on my guitar has me knowing that “I got this.” And I do, for the rest of the night.
Our set went great, I think. I felt great, I didn’t clam anything, remembered all the words (my problem is that when I look at people I get distracted, so eyes were wide shut or on the ceiling). Just Got Home hit a gear that was new. I stepped on my TubeDriver during the final solo section, something that I have refrained from, and it took off, with Jim finding all the right answers in what was a highly-charged dialogue. The stage sound was perfect (Thanks to YLT crew all-star, Dutch), and that is the #1 factor for a show to succeed. While I’m at it, I have to thank YLT stage hand, Kevin, who makes everything go right, particularly during the YLT set. We dumped one song from our list, so I didn’t feel rushed, and when we hit the final note of Two Smart Cookies, we were exactly at our allotted 45 minutes. Set:
Cracks in My Smile
Go Tell It
Just Got Home (in Time to Say Goodbye)
Yves Klein
Look Out Below
Tyrian Purple
Since Grazed
Teenage Pin Queen (dedicated to Matthew Beveridge Bean Rizzo and his 30th birthday)
Two Smart Cookies (dedicated to Wink O’Bannon who I wrote the song about)
I leave the stage sweaty and happy, exhilarated actually, and go up the stairs to the YLT dressing room. As I enter the room the first person in front of me is tonight’s comedian guest, Joe Pera, who my wife and I have loved since my friend, Jason Narducy sent me a link to Joe Pera Discovers The Who a year ago. I blurt out, “Joe Pera ?!?! I Love you!” He gives me a familiar Joe Pera look, that even though it’s only half a face (we stayed masked in the dressing room), is a very familiar look. He then said in his distinctly midwestern voice, “I loved your guys’s set.” We hang out, Joe speaking with Ira, until he goes on after the fifteen minute stage clearing. He kills, of course, doing a funny bit about LCD Soundsystem playing concurrently in Brooklyn, as well as a story about a date with a woman who practices “Space Law.” It was a funny, typically Joe Pera story, but with a twist ending that wouldn’t be appropriate on his t.v. show. When he finished and I saw him upstairs, I let him know how much I loved it, but that my wife would be shocked when I told her Joe Pera worked “blue.” He said, “Gee, I’m sorry.” I had been hoping since his writing partner, Jo Firestone had performed with YLT earlier in the week, that Joe would be on our night. Thanks, Peggy.
Joe Pera Discovers The Who
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I79YNDYrUno
And then the YLT set. Everything is perfect. It’s a perfect night. The tough ones from soundcheck are fine, more than fine. Sister Ray ender followed by Bush Tetras and Ira’s mom to finish. Mark Luecke whistles. Perfect. I find my many friends in the crowd, and it turns into a giant post-gig hang. My friend Braden, who I worked with at the Rainbo is there with his girlfriend. Braden is the younger brother I never had. I don’t see him often, although I had recently when I went to see the screening of his film, The Evening Hour (a must-see by the way) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeE4N-s9Tfk
But there is a group of us who started playing music around the same time, from Louisville and NYC, who is “our group”, and we always see each other whenever possible. Georgia and Ira, Rick and Sue (75 Dollar Bill/Fish and Roses), and Tim and Tara (Babylon Dance Band/Antietam). It’s a true family of friends and expands to include the best hugger ever, James McNew as well as Antietam’s Josh and Dawn. I acknowledge out loud how fortunate we all are to be together tonight, another year, and hopefully for many more. We hang out, we hug, and Matt and I head toward Chinatown in a warm mist of rain. I see Joe Pera approaching two rideshares with who I think might be comic Kyle Kinane (I’m probably wrong), and says in his Joe Pera voice, “Is that your guy, or mine?” Like I said, perfect. We get back to the hotel, I set the alarm for 7 a.m. and melt into the mattress. Tour over. Thank you, Yo La Tengo for having us. Happy Hanukkah.
Here is a link to some great pics and YLT set list:
https://www.brooklynvegan.com/yo-la-tengo-wrapped-up-hanukkah-2021-w-bush-tetras-eleventh-dream-day-more-pics-setlist/
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