by Mike Lisching
Day 3 of a four-day residency for Yo La Tengo at the Chapel. What a luxury it must be to leave all the gear up for a few days, both for the band and the venue. By Monday night, the band seemed at ease, with their own little mugs on stage, and a very relaxed vibe from the start. It felt almost like we had been invited to a sold-out rehearsal.
Leading up to the show, fans chatted amongst themselves, sharing their favorite moments of concerts past, with some sharing moments from previous nights in this Chapel residency. I would have loved to attend every night to fully experience the variety and orchestration that goes into crafting multiple unique nights and sets.
Monday was a tale of two sets. The first set was a mood. Nearly all ambient and downtempo compositions, leading with “Big Day Coming”, including songs like “Until it Happens” and “Apology Letter”. Long grooves leading into songs and long solos. This set found me with my eyes closed trying to capture every nuance.
The second set was an incredible contrast. A set of whammy bars, picked bass lines, and meted faces. It was a full-on rock show from beginning to end, fans stood staring at the stage to “watch it burn”.
Sad to see them leave San Francisco, and I long for the full Yo La Tengo residency experience. Looking forward to their 8-day Hanukkah residency at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC. Count me in for multiple nights!
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