Yo La Tengo paid tribute to Rob Reiner, had Built to Spill open at Hanukkah Night 2 (pics setlist, video)

"Night 2 of Yo La Tengo's 2025 Hanukkah run at Bowery Ballroom was pretty special. As we thought might happen, recent YLT tourmates Built to Spill, who are in the area for their own shows, were the surprise opener, and their set included a cover of R.E.M.'s "Laughing." Built to Spill drummer Teresa Esguerra joined Yo La Tengo for their whole main set on a second kit, and frontman/guitarist Doug Martsch came out for the second half of the set, which included "Last Days of Disco," "Barnaby, Hardly Working," "Nothing To Hide," and "Ohm," before closing with a cover of The Velvet Underground's "Heroin.""

"For the all-covers encore, Yo La Tengo opened with a tribute to This is Spinal Tap director Rob Reiner by covering "Gimme Some Money" from the film, which as you all surely know is by pre-Tap group The Thamesmen. (Video of that is below.) They then did another Velvet Underground cover, "She's My Best Friend," and then closed out Night 2 by bringing out Martsh again to take on Bob Dylan's "Jokerman." Check out the full setlist, via Jesse Jarnow's Frank & Earthy blog, below."

"SETLIST: Yo La Tengo @ Bowery Ballroom 12/15/2025 (Hanukkah Night 2) Nutricia Sinatra Drive Breakdown Stockholm Syndrome Beanbag Chain Let's Do It Wrong I Was the Fool Beside You For Too Long Detouring America With Horns (acoustic) Alyda Nowhere Near The Room Got Heavy Last Days of Disco (with Doug Martsch on guitar) Barnaby, Hardly Working (with DM) Nothing"

Yo La Tengo performed Night 2 of their 2025 Hanukkah run at Bowery Ballroom with Built to Spill as the surprise opener. Built to Spill covered R.E.M.'s "Laughing" and drummer Teresa Esguerra joined Yo La Tengo on a second kit for the main set. Doug Martsch joined for the second half, appearing on songs including "Last Days of Disco," "Barnaby, Hardly Working," "Nothing To Hide," and "Ohm," and the set closed with a Velvet Underground cover of "Heroin." The all-covers encore included "Gimme Some Money," "She's My Best Friend," and Bob Dylan's "Jokerman." Proceeds benefited Neighbors Together; the mix CD was by Gail O'Hara and Alex Edelman was the surprise comedian opener.

Read at BrooklynVegan