Photo by Liz Clayton via Yo La Tengo’s blog

Yo La Tengo’s annual eight-night Hanukkah run at Hoboken, NJ’s Maxwell’s kicked off on Saturday night. In accordance with the usual surprise acts and last minute openers, the first night’s show featured recently reunited musical act The Raybeats and comedian Emo Philips. The evening benefited the Fund to Rebuild Hoboken in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Variations on Yo La Tengo songs came in the form of “Eight Day Weekend” instead of “Seven Day Weekend,” an acoustic version of “Big Day Coming” and “Pass the Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind” played with the Raybeats’ guitarist Jody Harris. Harris also joined in on Richard Hell’s “The Kid With the Replaceable Head.” The encore included Carole King and Gerry Goffin’s “Take A Giant Step.” The mix disc for the night was created by Tom Scharpling.

On Sunday, December 9, the second show fell into full swing with the influential Sun Ra Arkestra with saxophonists Sabir Mateen and Darius Jones, as well as comedian/former Trenchmouth member Fred Armisen. This time the show benefited the Carl Bini Foundation For Staten Island Victims of Hurricane Sandy. Armisen pulled double duty throughout the night, both opening the show with a comedy set and sitting in on drums throughout Yo La Tengo’s set (he also watched himself on The Simpsons on a TV at Maxwell’s). The set included a cover of the Velvet Underground’s “Who Loves the Sun,” a sped up “Today Is The Day” and guest performances by Mateen and Jones on sax for the last five songs of the night. The encore featured The Ramones’ “Can’t Make It On Time” and Sun Ra’s “Dreaming.” Despite opening the show, the members of Sun Ra’s group has to leave before Yo La Tengo played the tune.

The evening’s mix disc was arranged by Kurt Wagner. Relix contributing editor Jesse Jarnow will be posting the setlists from all eight shows on his Frank & Earthy blog. Yo La Tengo’s own forthcoming album Fade will be released on January 15, 2013.

Here’s a look at this weekend’s setlists via Jesse Jarnow’s Frank & Earthy blog

Saturday, December 8, Maxwell’s, Hoboken, NJ

Night Falls on Hoboken
Seven Day Weekend (Doc Pomus) (sung as “Eight Day Weekend”)
The Evil That Men Do (Craig’s version)
Stockholm Syndrome
Paddle Forward
Before We Run
Beanbag Chair
Big Day Coming (acoustic)
Satellite
Tom Courtenay
Artificial Heart
The Kid With the Replaceable Head (Richard Hell) (with Jody Harris of the Raybeats/Contortions on guitar)
Pass the Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind (with JH)

E:
Drug Test
Take A Giant Step (Carole King and Gerry Goffin)

Sunday, December 10, Maxwell’s, Hoboken, NJ

Autumn Sweater
Sudden Organ
Who Loves the Sun (Velvet Underground)
Today Is The Day (fast)
As the Hour Grows Late
Stupid Things
Shadows
Black Flowers
Walking Away From You (with Sabir Mateen and Darius Jones on saxophones)
Shaker (with SM & DJ)
Nuclear War (Sun Ra) (with SM & DJ)
And The Glitter Is Gone > (with SM & DJ)
Our Way To Fall (with SM & DJ)

E:
Can’t Make It On Time (The Ramones)
Dreaming (Sun Ra)