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Doom & Gloom From The Tomb

A selection of rad bootlegs + other music. Come fly with me.

Yo La Tengo - Peel Session, July 15, 1997 / Unknown English Radio Session, July 25, 1997
Did we all forget to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Yo La Tengo’s 1997 masterwork I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One last month? Maybe I just missed it. But... — Yo La Tengo - Peel Session, July 15, 1997 / Unknown English Radio Session, July 25, 1997
Did we all forget to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Yo La Tengo’s 1997 masterwork I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One last month? Maybe I just missed it. But anyway, consider this a celebration. What a great record. The band had been on a hot streak throughout the 1990s (especially with the addition of James McNew), and while fans will quibble as to which of their LPs is the absolute best, I think that the sprawling ICHTHBAO manages to encapsulate all the amazing things that Yo La Tengo is capable of – it’s all in there, from beautiful balladry to noisy skronkfests, from dreamy pop to guitar nirvana. And more! Go listen to it. And then listen to these two brief ‘97 radio sessions, which are both totally sweet. ¡Viva Yo La Tengo!

yo la tengo John Peel

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Yo La Tengo Does Dylan
Sunday re-up! In honor of Bob’s Nobel Prize, here’s a Sunsquashed Archives comp of Yo La Tengo covering the man over the years. In case you haven’t heard, YLT has been murdering even more classics lately.
Every year during Yo... — Yo La Tengo Does Dylan
Sunday re-up! In honor of Bob’s Nobel Prize, here’s a Sunsquashed Archives comp of Yo La Tengo covering the man over the years. In case you haven’t heard, YLT has been murdering even more classics lately.
Every year during Yo La Tengo’s Hanukkah shows at Maxwell’s, the band pays tribute to some Great Jewish Songwriters – and inevitably, a certain Robert Zimmerman’s tunes show up from time to time. YLT has long had an affinity for Dylan, stretching at least back to the version of “I Threw It All Away” which capped off President Yo La Tengo back in the 80s. Bob and Ira Kaplan are also linked by their Gerdes Folk City connections – Dylan played some of his earliest shows at the positively-4th-Street club and Ira booked the infamous “Music For Dozens” shows there in the early 80s. Ira, Georgia and James are generally far from reverent when taking on these hallowed tunes – and that’s what I like the most about this compilation (the second volume of our trawl through the fan-curated Sunsquashed Archives). I get the feeling YLT thinks of Dylan less as a mythic, generation defining icon, and more of a great pop songwriter. Highlights include the droning, dreamy “It Takes A Lot To Laugh,” the garage-tastic “Rolling Stone” jam (nicked from the Soup Greens) and the lovely country waltz of “Wallflower.” Zimmy himself doesn’t show up, but Yo La Tengo get a helping hand from his old Budokan buddy David Mansfield on an utterly gorgeous “I’ll Keep It With Mine.” How does it feel!?
1. It Takes A Lot To Laugh It Takes A Train To Cry, 8/31/99, BBC Radio 1
2. Like A Rolling Stone, 10/13/89, Maxwell’s (Robert Vickers on bass)
3. I Threw It All Away, 2/17/11, Triple Door, Seattle, WA
4. One More Night, 12/6/02, Maxwell’s
5. I Wanna Be Your Lover, 12/6/07, Maxwell’s (with various dB’s)
6. Sooner or Later (One Of Us Must Know), 12/3/10 Maxwell’s (with Jeff Tweedy)
7. Wanted Man, 3/8/97, WFMU
8. Wallflower, 9/15/98, Maxwell’s (with Dave Schramm)
9. Absolutely Sweet Marie, 12/26/08, Maxwell’s (with Cyril Jordan)
10. 4th Time Around, 11/7/07, Beacon Theatre, NYC (with Terry Adams and Buckwheat Zydeco)
11. I’ll Keep It With Mine, 12/30/05, Maxwell’s (with David Mansfield)
***Bonus***
12. You’re A Big Girl Now, 12/26/08, Maxwell’s (Lambchop, with James McNew on bass)

yo la tengo bob dylan sunsquashed archives sunday reup

Yo La Tengo Does Dylan (Sunsquashed Archives)
Every year during Yo La Tengo’s Hanukkah shows at Maxwell’s, the band pays tribute to some Great Jewish Songwriters – and inevitably, a certain Robert Zimmerman’s tunes show up from time to time. YLT has... — Yo La Tengo Does Dylan (Sunsquashed Archives)
Every year during Yo La Tengo’s Hanukkah shows at Maxwell’s, the band pays tribute to some Great Jewish Songwriters – and inevitably, a certain Robert Zimmerman’s tunes show up from time to time. YLT has long had an affinity for Dylan, stretching at least back to the version of “I Threw It All Away” which capped off President Yo La Tengo back in the 80s. Bob and Ira Kaplan are also linked by their Gerdes Folk City connections – Dylan played some of his earliest shows at the positively-4th-Street club and Ira booked the infamous “Music For Dozens” shows there in the early 80s. Ira, Georgia and James are generally far from reverent when taking on these hallowed tunes – and that’s what I like the most about this compilation (the second volume of our trawl through the fan-curated Sunsquashed Archives). I get the feeling YLT thinks of Dylan less as a mythic, generation defining icon, and more of a great pop songwriter. Highlights include the droning, dreamy “It Takes A Lot To Laugh,” the garage-tastic “Rolling Stone” jam (nicked from the Soup Greens) and the lovely country waltz of “Wallflower.” Zimmy himself doesn’t show up, but Yo La Tengo get a helping hand from his old Budokan buddy David Mansfield on an utterly gorgeous “I’ll Keep It With Mine.” How does it feel!?
1. It Takes A Lot To Laugh It Takes A Train To Cry, 8/31/99, BBC Radio 1
2. Like A Rolling Stone, 10/13/89, Maxwell’s (Robert Vickers on bass)
3. I Threw It All Away, 2/17/11, Triple Door, Seattle, WA
4. One More Night, 12/6/02, Maxwell’s
5. I Wanna Be Your Lover, 12/6/07, Maxwell’s (with various dB’s)
6. Sooner or Later (One Of Us Must Know), 12/3/10 Maxwell’s (with Jeff Tweedy)
7. Wanted Man, 3/8/97, WFMU
8. Wallflower, 9/15/98, Maxwell’s (with Dave Schramm)
9. Absolutely Sweet Marie, 12/26/08, Maxwell’s (with Cyril Jordan)
10. 4th Time Around, 11/7/07, Beacon Theatre, NYC (with Terry Adams and Buckwheat Zydeco)
11. I’ll Keep It With Mine, 12/30/05, Maxwell’s (with David Mansfield)
***Bonus***
12. You’re A Big Girl Now, 12/26/08, Maxwell’s (Lambchop, with James McNew on bass)
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Thanks to all the tapers! In case you missed it, we’re posting these rare Yo La Tengo recordings in the lead-up to Jesse Jarnow’s Big Day Coming: Yo La Tengo and the Rise of Indie Rock, published next month by Gotham Books. Jesse is on Twitter and Facebook, offering many more YLT treats. And of course, the band itself is at www.yolatengo.com.

bob dylan yo la tengo sunsquashed archives

Big Day Coming: Yo La Tengo and the Rise of Indie Rock
Via the ongoing Sunsquashed Archives dig, we’ve been plugging Jesse Jarnow’s muy excelente Yo La Tengo bio over the past few weeks – and the book is available now! Go get it. Suffice to say, the... — Big Day Coming: Yo La Tengo and the Rise of Indie Rock
Via the ongoing Sunsquashed Archives dig, we’ve been plugging Jesse Jarnow’s muy excelente Yo La Tengo bio over the past few weeks – and the book is available now! Go get it. Suffice to say, the book is highly recommended! While YLT has not had the standard sex/drugs/self-destruction narrative that fuels many a rock bio, Jarnow expertly pieces together the often complicated tale of a very unusual band, along with a detailed exploration of how indie rock evolved (de-volved?) from a small-time, neighborhood-based phenomenon into the nebulous Indie Rock of the 21st century. As a guy who prizes the bootleg/ROIO side of things (hadn’t you noticed?), I especially appreciate that Jarnow has spent countless hours with Yo La’s huge live tape archive – the records only tell half of the story, and Jesse knows this. There’s also plenty of baseball and BBQ trivia, which is important. Anyway! Get a taster of the delights in store with this excerpt. And then, if you haven’t already, go check out the Sunsquashed Archives – here, here, here and here.

yo la tengo sunsquashed archives

Yo La Tengo Request-A-Thon 2016
Dig it! Yo La Tengo will once again be murdering the classics in order to raise funds for WFMU, also known as the greatest radio station in the universe. This year’s bloodbath takes place Saturday, March 12, 3-6pm EST.... — Yo La Tengo Request-A-Thon 2016
Dig it! Yo La Tengo will once again be murdering the classics in order to raise funds for WFMU, also known as the greatest radio station in the universe. This year’s bloodbath takes place Saturday, March 12, 3-6pm EST. Pledge $100 or more and make your request ahead of time by clicking here. Even if that’s too rich for your blood, everything helps, so donate!
Another cool thing is this Avant Ghetto collection of psych stars (Meg Baird, Chris Forsyth and Matt Valentine among them) covering the good ol’ Grateful Dead, offered as a premium. You can check out William Tyler’s gorgeous “Attics of My Life” over at Aquarium Drunkard for a taster. WFMU Freaks Unite!

wfmu yo la tengo william tyler The Grateful Dead

Robyn Hitchcock - The Regent, Los Angeles, California, October 1, 2017 (with Yo La Tengo) / The 40 Watt Club, Athens, Georgia, January 19, 2018 (with Elf Power)
Two recent Hitchcock tapes to check out! The first sees Robyn and Yo La Tengo taking... — Robyn Hitchcock - The Regent, Los Angeles, California, October 1, 2017 (with Yo La Tengo) / The 40 Watt Club, Athens, Georgia, January 19, 2018 (with Elf Power)
Two recent Hitchcock tapes to check out! The first sees Robyn and Yo La Tengo taking their Black Snake Diamond Role show out to the west coast. I loved the NYC Taper documents of this collaboration, but this overall performance might be a little bit stronger … and you get to hear Robyn (doing a Bryan Ferry impersonation?) singing YLT’s “Tom Courtenay,” too. The highlight, however, is probably the blazing rendition of Syd’s “Lucifer Sam.”
Then there’s an even more recent Athens, GA gig with Elf Power serving as the backing band. Some relative rarities here, including “Wax Doll” and a killer “Surgery.” Thanks to the tapers / uploaders!

Robyn Hitchcock - The Regent, Los Angeles, California, October 1, 2017 (with Yo La Tengo) / The 40 Watt Club, Athens, Georgia, January 19, 2018 (with Elf Power)
Two recent Hitchcock tapes to check out! The first sees Robyn and Yo La Tengo taking their Black Snake Diamond Role show out to the west coast. I loved the NYC Taper documents of this collaboration, but this overall performance might be a little bit stronger … and you get to hear Robyn (doing a Bryan Ferry impersonation?) singing YLT’s “Tom Courtenay,” too. The highlight, however, is probably the blazing rendition of Syd’s “Lucifer Sam.”
Then there’s an even more recent Athens, GA gig with Elf Power serving as the backing band. Some relative rarities here, including “Wax Doll” and a killer “Surgery.” Thanks to the tapers / uploaders!

robyn hitchcock elf power yo la tengo

“Sunsquashed” - Yo La Tengo, Maxwell’s, Hoboken, New Jersey, January 4, 1992
It’s probably against the laws of nature for a band 30+ years into its career to release an album as strong as Yo La Tengo’s just-announced There’s A Riot Going On. But I’ll... — “Sunsquashed” - Yo La Tengo, Maxwell’s, Hoboken, New Jersey, January 4, 1992
It’s probably against the laws of nature for a band 30+ years into its career to release an album as strong as Yo La Tengo’s just-announced There’s A Riot Going On. But I’ll leave the band’s punishment for this transgression up to others. I’ve been lucky enough to be enjoying a promo of the record for the past month or so – and I jotted down some thoughts over at Aquarium Drunkard, where you can also check out four (count ‘em!) new tracks.
Luc Sante, a far better writer than me, wrote this about Riot: “While there’s a riot going on, Yo La Tengo will remind you what it’s like to dream. The sound burbles and washes and flows and billows. If records were dedicated to the cardinal elements, this one would be water. There are shimmery hazes, spectral rumbles, a flash of backward masking, ghostly flamingos calling ‘shoo-bop shoo-bop.’ You are there. And even if your mind is not unclouded–shaken, misdirected, out of words and out of time–you can still float, ride the waves of an ocean deeper than your worries, above the sound and above the Sound.”
Hopefully, 2018 will also see the revival of the long-dormant Sunsquashed Archive series, wherein we dig into the endless live tapes of the band from over the decades. As a teaser, here’s a live version of “Sunsquashed” itself, in all its raw, solar-powered glory.
[photo: Godlis]

yo la tengo luc sante Maxwell's sunsquashed archives

This Is Where I Belong: Yo La Tengo at Maxwell’s, 1986-2013
As you know, Maxwell’s, the Hoboken club that’s been Yo La Tengo’s home away from home for three decades, is closing its doors … any minute now? There have been many great, bittersweet... — This Is Where I Belong: Yo La Tengo at Maxwell’s, 1986-2013
As you know, Maxwell’s, the Hoboken club that’s been Yo La Tengo’s home away from home for three decades, is closing its doors … any minute now? There have been many great, bittersweet tributes posted over the past month or so. Here’s ours: The Sunsquashed Archives’ 21-gun salute to YLT’s nights at Maxwell’s, presented in conjunction with Big Day Coming, Jesse Jarnow’s highly recommended bio of the band (which could also work as a bio of Maxwell’s come to think of it).
What you’ve got here is a wild and wooly collection of Yo La Tengo live recordings, chock full of everything that makes the band great – epic jams, hushed pop songs, covers both predictable (Kinks, Feelies, etc) and unpredictable (Don McLean, Black Flag), and guest stars galore. It’s a blast, and I think it fully demonstrates how comfortable YLT was at Maxwell’s. This was a place where they could experiment, relax, and fully enjoy themselves. The warm vibes are plentiful. This was clearly where they belonged.
Thanks as always to the intrepid fans who took the trouble to bring their tape recorders to these shows over the years. And thanks to Yo La Tengo and Maxwell’s for being so awesome. Obviously, you should be buying everything YLT puts out.
DISC ONE
1. American Pie (Don McLean) - Dec. 31, 1996
2. The Last Time (Rolling Stones) - Dec. 31, 1996
3. Sad (unreleased original) - Oct. 13, 1989
4. Barnaby, Hardly Working - Oct. 28, 1988
5. Days (The Kinks) - Oct. 28, 1988
6. You’re Gonna Miss Me (Roky Erickson) - Oct. 6, 1990
7. Sunsquashed - Jan. 4, 1992
8. We’re Gonna Love (Sir Winston and the Commons) - Oct. 13, 1989
9. Monica (Antietam) - Nov. 11, 1990
10. Artificial Heart - March 21, 1992
11. Next Big Thing (The Dictators) (with Gaylord Fields) - Dec. 31, 1996
12. Abbada-Dabba-Doo Dance (T. Lance and Coctails) (with Todd Abramson) - Dec. 31, 1996
13. Big Day Coming - March 2, 1991
DISC TWO
1. Now 2000 - Sept. 14, 1998
2. It’s Only Life [Feelies] (with Glenn Mercer) - March 23, 2011*
3. Fa-Ce-La (The Feelies) (with Glenn Mercer and Dave Weckerman) - Dec. 31, 1996
4. He’s Frank (The Monochrome Set) - Sept. 14, 1998
5. A Day In the Life Of A Tree (Wilson, Riley) - Sept. 17, 1998
6. See My Friends (The Kinks) - Dec. 31, 1999
7. TV Party (Black Flag) - July 24, 2000
8. Thank You For Sending Me An Angel [Talking Heads] (with David Byrne) - March 23, 2011*
9. A Plea For Dump - March 23, 2011*
10. Bad News Beat (Neil Young) - Sept. 20, 1986
11. Ohm - June 15, 2013
12. Are You A Boy or a Girl? (The Troggs) (with Dave Schramm) - June 29, 2011
13. Paul Is Dead - June 29, 2011
14. Outrage [Booker T] - June 15, 2013
15. Did I Tell You? - Dec. 31, 1996
16. This Is Where I Belong (The Kinks) - Sept. 14, 1998
17. Borstal Breakout (Sham 69) - Dec. 31, 1996
*These recordings come from NYC Taper’s recording of YLT’s benefit for the victims of the Japan Tsunami of 2011. Donate to a good cause and get the full show here.
Note: Some of you may notice that there are no recordings from Yo La’s famed Hanukkah gigs at Maxwell’s. Fear not! That’ll be a whole other (eight volume?) compilation.

yo la tengo maxwell's The Feelies David Byrne

This Is Where I Belong: Yo La Tengo at Maxwell’s, 1986-2013
It’s Yo La Tengo’s 30th birthday today! We should have some kind of incredible tribute planned, but this will suffice, I think. One of my favorite Doom & Gloom things ever!
The Sunsquashed... — This Is Where I Belong: Yo La Tengo at Maxwell’s, 1986-2013
It’s Yo La Tengo’s 30th birthday today! We should have some kind of incredible tribute planned, but this will suffice, I think. One of my favorite Doom & Gloom things ever!
The Sunsquashed Archives’ 21-gun salute to YLT’s nights at Maxwell’s, presented in conjunction with Big Day Coming, Jesse Jarnow’s highly recommended bio of the band (which could also work as a bio of Maxwell’s come to think of it).
What you’ve got here is a wild and wooly collection of Yo La Tengo live recordings, chock full of everything that makes the band great — epic jams, hushed pop songs, covers both predictable (Kinks, Feelies, etc) and unpredictable (Don McLean, Black Flag), and guest stars galore. It’s a blast, and I think it fully demonstrates how comfortable YLT was at Maxwell’s. This was a place where they could experiment, relax, and fully enjoy themselves. The warm vibes are plentiful. This was clearly where they belonged.
Thanks as always to the intrepid fans who took the trouble to bring their tape recorders to these shows over the years. And thanks to Yo La Tengo and Maxwell’s for being so awesome. Obviously, you should be buying everything YLT puts out.
DISC ONE
1. American Pie (Don McLean) - Dec. 31, 1996
2. The Last Time (Rolling Stones) - Dec. 31, 1996
3. Sad (unreleased original) - Oct. 13, 1989
4. Barnaby, Hardly Working - Oct. 28, 1988
5. Days (The Kinks) - Oct. 28, 1988
6. You’re Gonna Miss Me (Roky Erickson) - Oct. 6, 1990
7. Sunsquashed - Jan. 4, 1992
8. We’re Gonna Love (Sir Winston and the Commons) - Oct. 13, 1989
9. Monica (Antietam) - Nov. 11, 1990
10. Artificial Heart - March 21, 1992
11. Next Big Thing (The Dictators) (with Gaylord Fields) - Dec. 31, 1996
12. Abbada-Dabba-Doo Dance (T. Lance and Coctails) (with Todd Abramson) - Dec. 31, 1996
13. Big Day Coming - March 2, 1991
DISC TWO
1. Now 2000 - Sept. 14, 1998
2. It’s Only Life [Feelies] (with Glenn Mercer) - March 23, 2011*
3. Fa-Ce-La (The Feelies) (with Glenn Mercer and Dave Weckerman) - Dec. 31, 1996
4. He’s Frank (The Monochrome Set) - Sept. 14, 1998
5. A Day In the Life Of A Tree (Wilson, Riley) - Sept. 17, 1998
6. See My Friends (The Kinks) - Dec. 31, 1999
7. TV Party (Black Flag) - July 24, 2000
8. Thank You For Sending Me An Angel [Talking Heads] (with David Byrne) - March 23, 2011*
9. A Plea For Dump - March 23, 2011*
10. Bad News Beat (Neil Young) - Sept. 20, 1986
11. Ohm - June 15, 2013
12. Are You A Boy or a Girl? (The Troggs) (with Dave Schramm) - June 29, 2011
13. Paul Is Dead - June 29, 2011
14. Outrage [Booker T] - June 15, 2013
15. Did I Tell You? - Dec. 31, 1996
16. This Is Where I Belong (The Kinks) - Sept. 14, 1998
17. Borstal Breakout (Sham 69) - Dec. 31, 1996
*These recordings come from NYC Taper’s recording of YLT’s benefit for the victims of the Japan Tsunami of 2011. Donate to a good cause and get the full show here.

yo la tengo

Ira Kaplan Interview, 2006
Sunday interview … on a Saturday?! Whatever. I’m just using this opportunity to remind you that Yo La Tengo is doing their annual WFMU all-request fundraiser today 3-6pm! So many classics will be murdered. Tune in / chip... — Ira Kaplan Interview, 2006
Sunday interview … on a Saturday?! Whatever. I’m just using this opportunity to remind you that Yo La Tengo is doing their annual WFMU all-request fundraiser today 3-6pm! So many classics will be murdered. Tune in / chip in!
The much-beloved indie rock act Yo La Tengo recently celebrated their 20th anniversary. But the band isn’t mellowing with age—at least if you’re judging by album titles. In fact, they appear to be in something of an aggressive mood these days. Earlier this year, they released an often-hilarious, sometimes un-listenable CD of unrehearsed, live-on-the-radio cover versions titled Yo La Tengo is Murdering the Classics. And last month, the Hoboken, N.J.-based band unleashed the splendidly named I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass. Murder and ass-beating: For a band that’s more likely to be described as loveable than terrifying, this newfound predilection toward violence is a little bit perplexing.
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yo la tengo ira kaplan sunday interview wfmu

McCoy Tyner’s Revolution
“Tyner plays some things on the piano, but I don’t know what they are.” - John Coltrane
A belated happy 80th birthday to living legend McCoy Tyner! Ethan Iverson has a deep appreciation of the pianist over on his essential Do... — McCoy Tyner’s Revolution
“Tyner plays some things on the piano, but I don’t know what they are.” - John Coltrane
A belated happy 80th birthday to living legend McCoy Tyner! Ethan Iverson has a deep appreciation of the pianist over on his essential Do The Math blog, offering insight into why Tyner is one of the true greats. Lots of audio examples to get into as well.
“McCoy’s influences are discernible, but in end he sounded absolutely like no one else. As the Coltrane group grew more popular, Tyner’s approach traveled like a shockwave through the community. No one — not Art Tatum, not Powell, not Monk, not Bill Evans — dropped a bomb on jazz pianists quite like McCoy Tyner. There was pre-McCoy and post-McCoy, and that was all she rote.”

Ethan Iverson mccoy tyner john coltrane