Elvis joins Yo La Tengo last night. Photo from Yo La Tengo.com

Yo La Tengo kicked off its run of Chanukah shows at Hoboken, NJ’s Maxwell’s last night. As is tradition, the intimate show featured a surprise guest opener (M. Ward), an unannounced comedian (Todd Barry), unique covers (Sparks’ “Angst In My Pants,” Neil Diamonds’s “Girl You’ll Be A Woman Soon”), surprise guests (Urge Overkill’s Nash Kato) and a special mix CD (featuring music selected by Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore). In addition to his own set, Ward sat in with Yo La Tengo for most of its performance, including versions of Elvis Presley’s “Ring Around Your Neck” and “Hunk Of Burning Love” that featured an Elvis impersonator. Barry also played drums on the above-mentioned Sparks cover. Yo La Tengo will return to Maxwell’s for the second night of Chanukah tonight.