A look at this year’s Hanukkah run via the band’s official blog

Two area legends shared the stage at Hoboken, NJ’s Maxwell’s last night when the Feelies opened for Yo La Tengo during the latter group’s annual Hanukkah celebration. Comedian John Mulaney also opened the show, which benefited the Food Bank of New Jersey.

Not only did the recently reactivated Feelies open for Yo La Tengo, but the members of the seminal New Jersey indie group joined Yo La Tengo throughout their headlining set. Just two songs into Yo La Tengo’s performance, the Feelies’ Glenn Mercer sat in on a cover of Neil Young’s “Time Fades Away,” and he remained onstage for “Barnaby, Hardly Working.” Later in their set, Yo La Tengo invited out the Feelies’ Dave Weckerman and Stan Demeski to play percussion on “Tired Hippo,” “The Room Got Heavy,” “False Alarm,” “The Story of Jazz” and “Double Dare.”

In addition to surprise openers and guest comedians, Yo La Tengo’s Hanukkah celebrations usually feature covers of Jewish musicians. Last night was no different and, during their encore, the members of Yo La Tengo brought out The Feelies’ Bill Million (guitar) and Brenda Sauter (vocals) for a cover of Bob Dylan’s
“You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere.” Then, Mercer and Million joined Yo La Tengo on a show-closing version of Velvet Underground’s “Sister Ray.”

Here’s a look at last night’s setlist via Jesse Jarnow’s Frank & Earthy blog

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

Paul Is Dead
Time Fades Away (Neil Young) (with Glenn Mercer of the Feelies on guitar)
Barnaby, Hardly Working (with GM)
Tears Are In Your Eyes
Something To Do
The Point of It
Tom Courtenay (Georgia version)
Tired Hippo (with Dave Weckerman and Stan Demeski of the Feelies on percussion)
The Room Got Heavy (with DW & SD)
False Alarm (with DW & SD)
The Story of Jazz (with DW & SD)
Double Dare (with DW & SD)
Little Honda (The Hondells)

E:
You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere (Bob Dylan) (with The Feelies’ Bill Million on guitar & Brenda Sauter on vocals)
Sister Ray (Velvet Underground) (with GM & BM)