The college radio rock scene of the mid-1980s yielded a goldmine of great music, but no other band has had the staying power of Yo La Tengo. Since 1984, the trio has roamed the United States, bringing their infectious, high-energy music to the masses. As remarkable as their longevity is, even more so is their prolific nature. While many artists have difficulty mustering the material for an album every three to five years, Yo La Tengo has managed an impressive 16 albums, 20 singles and EPs and countless compilation album appearances.
Yo La Tengo, which features Ira Kaplan (vocals, guitar), Georgia Hubley (drums) and James McNew (bass), is currently in the midst of a semi-acoustic tour which stops Nov. 4 at The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego’s La Jolla location, in Sherwood Auditorium. While a museum setting might seem unusual for an evening of rock ‘n’ roll, “the intimate setting makes this show an incredible chance for fans to see the band,” said Claire Caraska, communications coordinator for the museum. She’s been a fan of Yo La Tengo since her days spinning tunes on college radio, citing 2003’s “And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out” as a personal favorite. While the group will be playing mostly acoustic instruments, expect no other concessions from them due to the setting.
“We don’t expect that they will change anything about their show because it’s a museum hall,” she remarked.
The concert will be performed in an informal “storyteller unplugged” manner, with Yo La Tengo cherry-picking material from throughout the band’s career. It’s probable that a good chunk of the combo’s latest disc, “I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass,” will make it into the night’s set list, but the trio is infamous for never playing the same set list twice, so surprises will abound.
“As a photographer and music fan, I sometimes follow bands from show to show,” rock shutterbug Melanie Martinez said. “The way Yo La Tengo can shake things up night after night is something a lot of younger performers could take a lesson from. If you like the band, you never want to miss a show, because, literally, you never know what might happen next.”
While she considers Sherwood Auditorium a great place to see Yo La Tengo, “even at their regular club gigs, they make you feel like they are playing just for you,” Martinez stated.
For her, the reason for their longevity is obvious.
“Their songs can take any form or genre,” Martinez commented. “They can be loud, though that won’t be an issue at this show. But mostly, they are a lot of fun and unpretentious. When they are having a good time on stage, it’s a contagious feeling for everyone there.”
While Yo La Tengo retains cult band status, its media profile remains higher than ever. Despite their huge recorded output, they have yet to score a radio hit, but the general public has heard their music in less obvious places. In 1996 they appeared as ’60s legends The Velvet Underground in the movie “I Shot Andy Warhol” and have since provided the soundtracks to numerous films, including “Old Joy,” “Junebug,” “Game 6” and “Shortbus.” TV aficionados may know Yo La Tengo’s songs via their use in shows like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “The Uptight Citizen’s Brigade.” They also recorded a psychedelic version of the Simpsons theme, used in the episode “D-oh in the Wind.” The world of gaming hasn’t been immune to their charms, either, with their music showing up on the soundtrack to the Major League Baseball 2K6 game.
After 23 years, this tour shows that the group still wants to take music off the beaten path. Whether a longtime follower of the trio or just interested in seeing and hearing music in an acoustically perfect venue, it’s likely you won’t catch an evening of rock ‘n’ roll in a classier setting than Sherwood Auditorium or a show that’s more fun.
Yo La Tengo performs at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4 at MCASD La Jolla, Sherwood Auditorium, 700 Prospect St. Tickets are $23 for MCASD members, $25 general public.
For more information visit www.mcasd.com or call (858) 454-3541.