Yo La Tengo - London Kentish Town Forum - 11/11/06
4/5
By: Chris O'Toole
Yo La Tengo, as it transpires, is everybody's favourite cult band. After virtually twenty years touring the world they have earned a place in every self respecting music fans heart. Alright, perhaps Yo La Tengo is not the band everybody reaches for every day after work, when the first/best thing that comes to hand will suffice. No, Yo La Tengo is more than that. They are for the special occasions, the times you lure a new partner back, the fair wells and come down morning afters. Yo La Tengo are for those moments when nothing else will do, those "Oh, now I remember why I love them" episodes; for moments of sincerity that come only every few months.
The depth of their repertoire, as well as the length of their history, allows this eternally modest three piece to excel in any number of fields. Consequently they court fans from a wide range of backgrounds and are impossible to categorise. Indeed their versatility is one of their main facets; equally accomplished performing throw away cover versions (of which they recently released an album), cathartic punk-rock anthems, sprawling psychedelic freak-outs or their wispy, languid folk-rock mainstays. In each guise Yo La Tengo perform with equal aplomb, never losing sight of their finely tuned sense of humour or the most important reason for playing music in the first place; fun.
Whilst after such a long journey on the pot holed road of musical stardom some bands lose their sense of reality to a wall of self importance, Yo La Tengo maintain a close affability with their followers and continue to produce both live and recorded delights. Tonight's All Tomorrows Parties showcase is no exception, as the band displays all the characteristics that have earned them their fame, before a rabid, but equally polite crowd of believers. Make no mistake; this is verging on a cult of personality. A truly dedicated and well dressed crowd fills every corner of this surprisingly large venue, applauding every stroke of the guitar and crash of the drum.
On show tonight are all the corners of the versatile Yo La Tengo psyche. Heavier rock material, including the 'Pass the Hatchet, I think I'm Goodkind' from their latest album, 'I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass', sitting comfortably next to (this) fans favourite 'Sugarcube'. It is this seeming ability to shift tempo and mood at will that keeps the crowd interested through a lengthy set. They know they are being emotionally manipulated; but that's what we paid the price of admission for. This flexibility also extends to members of the band as they frequently swap around instruments and positions on the stage, allowing an equal share of the limelight.
At times during the extended instrumental introductions to their newer one is given the impression of floating on the sea bed; a mesmerising experience of weightless catharsis, but occasionally counterbalanced with feelings that you are drowning. But the fear that this is the end, that the band have finally disappeared into a world of squalling noise, never to return, is always lifted as the Yo La Tengo swoop seamlessly into a refrain, lifting the spirits of the building sky high and making the weight all the more poignant.
The extended rock epics are all the more surprising as the band now operates as a three piece; each member providing their respecting elements of swirling noise with relentless enthusiasm. Drummer Georgia Hubley is particularly adept in this department, maintaining a flurry of timpani explosions throughout the set. Her performance is one of the highlights tonight, demonstrating genuine talent and full expression; truly awe inspiring. She is supported by lead vocalist, Ira Kaplan, who bounds around the stage as though he were a puppet loosely supported by some precarious strings; either hanging from his microphone or thrashing around on the floor mutilating his guitar.
After running through material from a fair cross section and an explosive closing the band wander off stage, naturally to return for an encore. Enquiring what the crowd wants to hear one fan folds under the pressure and requests 'Autumn Sweater'. Twenty years of material to choose from and some shmuck in the front row demands their 'Teen Spirit'; a bit more imagination would receive a little more reward. However Yo La Tengo plays a note perfect version before sidling off, apparently to Paris. Superb.
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