Photo via Marky Ramone’s Official Facebook

Last night, Dec. 21, Yo La Tengo continued their 2022 Hanukkah residency at New York’s Bowery Ballroom. For the fourth night of the Festival of Lights, the Ira Kaplan-led band, which originally hails from Hoboken, N.J., kicked off their concert with an instrumental take on the Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop.” But, little did the audience know, the song choice alluded to the evening’s surprise guest: Marky Ramone, who assisted the band on a selection of Ramones classics during the night’s six-track encore. 

After closing out the frame’s initial number, Yo La Tengo dug into a selection of original songs, including “Stockholm Syndrome,” “Little Eyes,” “Walking Away From You,” and “Today is the Day,” before landing on a cover of The Shams’ “Ice Tea.” Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg penned “Je t’aime… mou non plus” came next, before “Tears Are in Your Eyes” and the debut of their new track “Apology Letter.” 

The main set continued with what felt like a career-spanning choice of tunes that were plucked from albums such as Popular Songs, There’s a Riot Going On, May I Sing With Me, as well as I am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass. Yo La Tengo delivered another cover for the frame’s final song. This time, the beloved band took on The Velvet Underground’s “I Found a Reason.”

A high point of the night arrived next as the billed musicians welcomed the evening’s special guest to the stage. Ramone stepped out to helm the drum kit beside Yo La Tengo, who dove into six covers of Ramones favorites, beginning with  “Rockaway Beach.” To follow the first song of the evening’s encore, the musicians picked up “I Can’t Make It on Time” next, before running through “Be My Baby” and “I Wanna Be Sedated.” “Loudmouth” prefaced the final song of the night, “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker,” off the Ramones’ 1977 album, Rockets to Russia. 

After last night’s concert, Yo La Tengo will return to New York’s Bowery Ballroom stage in continuation of their sold-out Hanukkah residency this evening. Scroll down to view last night’s official setlist. 

Yo La Tengo 

Bowery Ballroom – New York 

Dec. 21, 2022 

Set: Blitzkrieg Bop (Ramones cover), Stockholm Syndrome, Little Eyes, Walking Away From You, Today is the Day, Ice Tea (The Shams cover), Je t’aime…mou non plus (Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg cover), Tears Are in Your Eyes, Apology Letter+, Periodically Double or Triple, For You Too, Out the Window, Double Dare, Pass the Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind, I Found a Reson (The Velvet Underground cover)

Enc.: Rockaway Beach (Ramones cover)*, I Can’t Make It on Time (Ramones cover)*, Be My Baby (Ramones cover)*, I Wanna Be Sedated (Ramones cover)*, Loudmouth (Ramones cover)*, Sheena Is a Punk Rocker (Ramones cover)*

Notes: 

+ Debut

* With Marky Ramone on drums 

Setlist, kindly provided by Frank & Earthy.