Yo La Tengo - Part Dos (The Metro)

There are some qualities in a band that I look for: the songs and albums all sound unique and take from a variety of styles...each band member sings and plays a different instrument...the band opens up and jams a bit during live shows...also not afraid to throw in some covers...they interact jokingly with the crowd...and they all seem like genuinely good people. OK, those lst two are a bonus if you can get it.

You know what else is cool? When you share the same favorite baseball team as the band. I sported my Mets shirt for the Metro gig and even chatted up singer Ira Kaplan, who commended me for my choice in NY baseball teams.

For night two of YLT, the band tuned up, tuned in (sometimes out) and played for about two hours through a feedback-heavy show. I've rarely seen a band that can range among music styles but still manage to stay consist with their own unique sound. The setlist consisted of soft, whisper-like ballads to fuzzed out 10-minute jams that left the band twisting knobs, hitting wah wahs and making some godawfully great sounds on the organ.

A night before, the band joked about how their Spanish-inspired name relegated them to a spot in the Salsa section of the record store. At the Metro, I was convinced they could also fall under Blues, Punk, Indie, Hip Hop, Jazz, Motown and a yet-to-be-defined category. If I didn't know they were from Hoboken, I wouldn't have guessed it. Although you know a band's in a good state when they're still pushing boundaries 26 years in.

They carried through a setlist of old and new, up to the recent 'Popular Songs.' If you haven't had a listen, I'd encourage at least a few tracks off this album for the iPod.

Towards the end of the main set, they went on a fury of about 2-3 songs at hardcore punk pace, highlighted by a jaw-dropping version of 'Little Honda.' Instead of a little guitar solo, they created about eight minutes of feedback that would make Jimi blush and experimented with the fantastic sounds when you slide an electric guitar's strings on an amp. Then, right back into the final fuzzed verse. The crowd, I think amazed (never can tell with the Aussie audience). Me gusta mucha.

Ira thanked the crowd while alluding to another gig in town: a little outfit known as Australia's own AC/DC was playng at the massive ANZ Stadium. Keep the fireworks and power chords at Homebush, I'll take my invetive rock and furious feedback, thank you. Their homage to Oz was a familiar sounding tune, but when given an alternative rock twist, almost seemed foreign. I've included the track below. Now imagine a louder and (obviously) cooler version of this easy listening hit from '78, complete with roadies providing background vocals:



As for the actual band, here's a clip (really just audio) of another song they featured at the Metro. From the fabulouly titled (and written) album, 'I Am Not Afraid of You snd I Will Beat Your Ass.' Hearing a portly, curly haired and spectacled guitarist sing this was pretty special.



Oh, I found another good one from the show. These are the mellow ones, feedback for live ears only. Sorry for having to stare at album covers.



Defintely a top show from the last few years. The Metro seems to have that touch every so often. Next up, a reunited Pavement at the Enmore.

Yo La Tengo - Part Uno (The Basement)

One of the critics' (and my) favorite bands from the last 25 years added Sydney dates to their Down Under tour. One of those stops was at the Basement, a club that reminded me of a mix between your local sports bar, a cabaret theatre and cool jazz joint. In fact, I halfway expected Mr. Burgundy to whip out his jazz flute at some point. But instead, the low-key trio from Hoboken took the stage for their 'Freewheelin Yo La Tengo' set.

Along with a cool Dylanesque name, the Freewheelin shows are more Unplugged/Storytellers than your average concert. The band engaged with the audience and gave some insights into their large catalog of songs. It would be a more mellow affair than their gig at the Metro the next night, but good to see the band chill it out and get chummy with the fans. There were some faves, a cooled-out 'Autumn Sweater' and 'Mr Tough,' along with a super funky track about Nuclear War, where 'if they push that button...you ass got to go.'

I can't recall all the questions from fans, but they ranged from song meanings to their strangest gigs and Spanish-influenced band name. Here are a few examples:

- 'The Story of Yo La Tengo' isn't a sad song, in fact it's pretty upbeat...about how they made it as a band by trying really hard. Or in Spanish, duro.

- 'Afraid of Sharks' is a 9/11-ish song, about how all people were scared of on Sept 10 was shark attacks...until something really scary happens to replace that irrational fear.

- A few bad concerts stick out: anything for gay-heavy crowds...without the big shebang, probably not the music they're into. Then a Tibetan freedom concert, where lead singer Ira Kaplan was forced to hang with the Tibetan monks and M Ward to avoid the big jam session at the end.

- The band name comes from baseball phrase, when someone is trying to catch a flyball and call off their teammate: I got it! What makes this even better, is the story is from the infamous 1962 Mets team and the band are Mets fans themselves.

- They knew they made it as a band when they weren't in the salsa section of record stores anymore. Nobody in the band knows Spanish, the name is just a silly coincidence. One of those things you do as a band when you really don't exect you're going to do big things. Then promoters get turned off by thinking you're a Mexican mariachi band instead of an Indie rock outfit.

- They seem to like Australian morning tv. Ira's first guess for the name of the morning show was 'G'day.' Why not, that would be a good name!

One constant with these Q&A Freewheelin sessions is that nobody ever asks about the new record. No worries, we would get our fare share of Popular Songs at the Metro on Thursday.

Decade of Change

I'm currently catching up on my Rolling Stone's from my U.S. trip back home, including the traditional 'year-end' issue with the best albums and songs of the year. This time around, RS has ranked their 50 best albums of the decade...a decade in which it seems more people are downloading albums than ever, half of music fans don't even know what an album is and the world of music continues to be a game of excruciatingly bad/amazingly good music in a side-by-side industry.

We started out in 2000 with boy bands and Brittany and have ended the decade with that weird Gaga broad. OK, we gave up on the pop landscape a long time ago, but not too far from the surface, there were some great stories in the 00s.

Fave trend of the decade: the multiple day fesitval. It's now gotten out of control and too big, but there was a time in 2002 when Bonnaroo and Coachella were wee lads that attracted the hipster and hippie elite.

Best album release: has to be In Rainbows in 2007. Ballsy and defiant, a big middle finger to the 'record' industry. Damn good album, too.

Best new radio station: tie between Indie 103.1 in Orange County/LA and FM 94.9 in San Diego. Eff you, Clear Channel. RIP, Indie on the dial.

Rock-saving moment: when the Strokes played SNL in January 2002. Wait, there's cool rock and roll bands still around? And wait, here comes the White Stripes, Kings of Leon, Franz Ferdinand. Whew.

Music scene of the decade: Brooklyn is the obvious choice, but what's up with bands from Iowa saying they 'hail from Brooklyn?' The Pacific Northwest holds strong with more mellow sounds and Detroit's still rolling thanks to the Stripes and co.

Favorite concerts: My Morning Jacket in Sydney (2009), Lollapalooza in Chicago (2007), Phish in Vegas (2004), Vegoose (2005), Pearl Jam in San Diego (2006), Pearl Jam in Irvine (2003), Allman Brothers at Red Rocks (2003), Sasquatch at the Gorge (2007), The Who at MSG (2000), White Stripes at the Greek (2005), Widespread at the Wiltern (2003)

And here are my 10 fave albums of the decade, in no particular order:

I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass - Yo La Tengo (2006)
Amazingly diversive, arguably best of YLT's career. Then I found out they're Mets fans and the name is Spanish for a baseball player yelling 'I got it!' Sold.

Kid A - Radiohead (2000)
Chuck Klosterman states that Kid A is an unintentional soundtrack to 9/11. Dark and haunting, but well worth the risk the band took.

This is It - The Strokes (2001)
Brought back the New York punk attitude, complete with a nostalgia of a 60s garage band.

Elephant - White Stripes (2003)
I first heard this while travelling the country in a pickup truck and 25-foot trailer. Seven Nation Army kicked ass and the electric blues were back.

Guero - Beck (2004)
This was the creative, excitable Beck, with a Mexican twist. Plus, this reminds me of my friend Annie.

All That You Can't Leave Behind - U2 (2000)
U2 got back to doing what the world loved - and left the giant lemon behind. Another9/11-themed album complete with an ode to New York.

Vampire Weekend - (2008)
Really solid debut, and 'A Punk' has positive energy that we haven't heard in years. Yes, Graceland-type tracks for Gen Y.

Chutes Too Narrow - The Shins (2003)
One of the better acts to come from the last decade. Plus, Steiman gave it to me, so special meaning there.

Merriweather Post Pavilion - Animal Collective (2009)
Odd, spacy and electronic. It took awhile to get this, but I got it.

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - Wilco (2001)
The best of Wilco captured in a bottle, complete with the legendary eff you to the record company. Thanks for the memories, Warners.

Broken Boy Soldiers - The Raconteurs (2006)
Jack White recruits his friends. Nashville, Cincinnati and Detroit have defintely not sounded this good before.

The Gorillaz - (2001)
Blur who? Damon gets funky and re-writes the book. Is it rock, hip hop, funk? New category: Gorillaz

Evil Urges - My Morning Jacket (2008)
With the exception of the horrid title track, captures MMJ moving in new directions. Jam band no more, we're excited to see what road they travel.

Furr - Blitzen Trapper (2008)
Along with New Slang, Furr is the best mellow track of the decade. Rest of the album sounds like the love child of the Eagles and Neil Young.

I've stopped writing mini reviews at this point...

Visiter - The Dodos (2008)

Mass Romantic - The New Pornographers (2000)

Thunder, Lightning, Strike - The Go! Team (2006)

Franz Ferdinand - (2004)

13 Tales From Urban Bohemia - Dandy Warhols (2000)

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - Artic Monkeys (2006)

Stupid record company wouldn't let me imbed, but here's RS's number one song of the decade. Wicked video, too. I'm sure you've heard this one a time or two...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd2B6SjMh_w