The fact that Yo La Tengo has been together as a rock band for over 20 years should lead most people to naturally assume that they lack the spirit and raw energy of their more youthful days. Let's face it, we've all seen so many aging bands attempt and sadly fail to match the musical prowess that they once had. There's no question that the spirit of rock and roll will always inherently be linked to youth. However, Yo La Tengo proved today at McCarren Park Pool that the ability to rock, I mean to truly rock, really has no age limit.
Yo La Tengo hit the stage at McCarren Park Pool today in Williamsburg for what may very well be the last summer Pool Party event that the venue hosts (with the almost definite plan in the near future to renovate the pool area into...that's right, an actual pool). Moments before Yo La Tengo took the stage, I was beginning to get worried that they wouldn't be able to match the ruthless energy delivered by the previous act Titus Andronicus (which included a bizarre beard trimming incident and multiple beach ball stabbings by lead singer Patrick Stickles). However, all fear was quickly washed away by one of the most musically bombastic live experiences I've witnessed in the last few years.
The set opened fairly innocuously, with the light-hearted, smile-inducer "Mr. Tough" that bounced along into the eardrums of hundreds of attendees that had no idea what was about to ensue. It was during the third selection of "Pass The Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind" (also from their newest, fantastic 2006 release I Am Not Afraid Of You and I Will Beat Your Ass) when Hurricane Yo La Tengo finally rolled in. The band quickly showed why they are often claimed as one of the key players in the discretely reckless 90s indie rock movement.
It was mesmerizing to watch how well the trio is able to play off one another's talents. First there's frontman Ira Kaplan, who can easily be deemed as the true spirit of the band, often emanating his inner-Hendrix with every ferocious and incredibly authentic attack of his guitar. There's also bassist James McNew, who seems to the the gentle giant of the band until lending a killer bass line to the mix. Lastly, Georgia Hubley supports every song with incredibly confident percussion as well as heart-melting vocals on about half of the tracks.
But it wouldn't be right just to limit their roles this simply. The band essentially played musical chairs throughout the entire set, with each member showing off their incredible versatility with the common exchange of lead vocals, keyboards, lead guitar, and percussion. While Kaplan adds a healthy dose of rock ferocity to their stage presence, all three members certainly share the spotlight together.
Despite a much too short set (just under an hour and a half), Yo La Tengo certainly ended the Pool Parties of '08 with a tremendous tidal wave of sound that filled more than just the pool itself. The band is still just as bold and brilliant as they have ever been, and appropriately still cherished by rock enthusiasts and critics alike for their consistent ambition and unrelenting sonic experimentation. We can only hope that their allegiance to the true, youthful spirit of rock continues for another 20 years.
Yo La Tengo - "Pass The Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind"
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2 comments:
Where the heck did you get the name Stephen Wichnewski? His name is James McNew.
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