New Musical Express
May 8, 2000
Yo La Tengo (And Guests)
London SE1 Royal Festival Hall
by Kitty Empire
Live collaborations -- brrrr. Nominally the preserve of old geezers who ask other old geezers along to play rhythm ukelele at the Albert Hall, the practice nowadays summons up visions of Chris de Burgh and Elton John doing some ghastly "Candle Lady In The Red Wind" medley for a credit-card-sponsored stadium gig. But it can work if the vibes are right. Take Kevin Shields playing guitar on Primal Scream's tour, for instance. But former Spaceman Sonic Boom playing black boxes and tambourine in Yo La Tengo? With old cult dude Robyn Hitchcock (now solo, once a Soft Boy) on guitar and even older dude Neil Innes (former Rutle and Bonzo Dog Doo Dah man) tinkling the ivories?
Against the staggering odds of age, disparate musical heritage and performers' natural egomania, it's actually Okay. More than that, Innes + Boom + Hitchcock = a Yo La Tengo performance to cherish (to paraphrase a YLT album). Songs like "The Crying Of Lot G" and "Tears Are In Your Eyes" are graceful examples of what some Sonic Boom wind noises and an understated Innes piano can add to already lovely tunes.
Mostly, this is a hushed affair -- given that six people are trading instruments around -- that favours thegentle brush-stroke moods of And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out. But all the extra guitar power make older songs like "Stockholm Syndrome" a heady janglefest, allowing nominal frontman Ira Kaplan to assault his own with impunity.
The visitors get their own spotlights too. The Rutles' "Cheese And Onions" and "Mr. Apollo" by The Bonzo Dog Doo Dahs gets Innes' back catalogue a cheerful airing -- with Hitchcock on Viv Stanshall impressions. Hitchcock,
meanwhile, revives The Soft Boys' "I Wanna Destroy You" for a new generation of ears. But the most unexpected thrill comes from Sonic, who sings a mesmeric "Transparent Radiation", once covered by Spacemen 3.
Naturally, though, it's the home side that steal the show. For all the glory in their generous numbers tonight, Yo La are rarely more appealing than when the three Tengos -- Georgia Hubley, James McNew and Ira -- are alone. Armed with nothing save downy-soft vocals and a backing tape, they perform a dance routine along to "You Can Have It All". Less remains more, then --
even when more is rather excellent.
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