Yo La Tengo returned to Hoboken, NJ’s Maxwell’s for the sixth night of their annual Hanukkah celebration. The show fell on Christmas night and the group responded by opening their set with a cover of Sven Swanson’s “Santa Claus Goes Modern.” The group brought back some of the guests featured earlier this run, including guitarist Tara Key, who joined the trio throughout their entire set. Dive Noise guitarist Gil Divine also sat in with Yo La Tengo for “Flying Lesson” while onetime Decemberists member—and M. Ward collaborator— Rachel Blumberg played drums on “Satellite” and “Nowhere Near.” Yo La Tengo nodded to their diverse interests during a three-song encore by covering the Carole King/Gerry Goffin Monkees ditty “Take A Giant Step,” Velvet Underground’s “She’s My Best Friend” and Sun Ra’s “Dreaming.”

The evening’s opening acts were comedian Kurt Braunhohler and Dump, the solo project of Yo La Tengo bassist James McNew. The rest of Yo La Tengo—Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley—sat in for the last two songs of the group’s set, “Daily Affirmation” and “Superpowerless.” Dump also marked the holiday with a cover of Prince’s “Another Lonely Christmas.”

As usual, longtime Jambands.com contributor Jesse Jarnow has the setlist on his blog. Be on the lookout for his Yo La Tengo book this June.

Yo La Tengo at Maxwell’s
25 December 2011
(Hanukkah, night 6)
Dump and Kurt Braunhohler opened.
benefit for Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
Mix discs by Tim and Eric.

Dump:
How Many Bells?
Dear Betty Baby (Mayo Thompson)

A Plea For Dump
It’s Not Alright
Another Lonely Christmas (Prince)

Daily Affirmation (with Georgia and Ira)

Superpowerless (with Georgia and Ira)

YLT:
Santa Claus Goes Modern (Sven Swanson) (with Tara Key on guitar)
Barnaby, Hardly Working (with TK)

Black Hole (The Urinals) (with TK)

Fog Over Frisco (with TK)

Sometimes I Don’t Get You
Flying Lesson (with TK and Gil Divine on guitars)
S
haker (with TK and GD)

Something To Do (with TK)

I’m Set Free (with TK)

Satellite (with Rachel Blumberg on drums and TK)

Nowhere Near (with RB and TK)

Outsmartener (with TK)

Moby Octopad (with TK)

Nothing To Hide (with TK)

Pass the Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind (with TK)


(encore)
Take A Giant Step (Carole King, Gerry Goffin) (with TK)

She’s My Best Friend (Velvet Underground)
Dreaming (Sun Ra)