color:black”>After missing out

Adelaide on their previous Australian tour Yo La Tengo finally make it
Adelaide. Hearing so many good things about this band I thought I better get
down to Fowlers Live (second night in a row after seeing the infamous
Bellrays the night before) to check them out after listening to the
critically acclaimed 2006 release I’m Not Afraid Of You And I Will Kick Your
Ass.



To be blatantly honest this show really didn’t cut the mustard for me. Clue
To Kalo were a good opening act but something with a more spark and a hell
of a lot more zip was required to get this show going. Yo La Tengo were bland,
boring, insipid and proved to be a real test of my resolve to stick it out to
the end.



The band chemistry at times looked incredibly shaky and more representative of a
disfunctional family. I don’t know if it had something to do with being in
Adelaide but it clearly looked like they didn’t want to be here with little
audience interaction until sometime well in to the performance. Ira Kaplan’s
first opening remark was to effect of, “Sorry it’s taken so long to get Adelaide
but we were trying to book The Cavern Club.” A pretty poor attempt at humour,
just admit the fact the band didn’t want to come here. 



The set kicked off with From A Motel 6 followed by the long winded and drawn out
Pass The Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind. For god sake someone poke
me in the eye with the fork. Nearly twenty minutes this song eventually finished
(it did feel a touch John Butler) and if this wasn’t the biggest case of
self-indulgence I don’t know what is. It was at this moment where I faced my
greatest challenge – either stick it out and stop whinging or go home.



Opting to push on in the hope that something good was to be salvaged didn’t
eventuate. Yo La Tengo are definitely an acquired taste but looking around the
room I wasn’t the only frustrated one. The songs couldn’t come fast enough as I
continue to look at my watch in anticipation that this would all be over.



The majority of the album featured tunes off the new album including the likes
of The Race Is On Again, Beanbag Chair, Mr Tough, I Feel Like Going Home,
Watchout For Me Ronnie and The Story Of Yo La Tengo. Some crowd
pleasers were thrown in with The Weakest Part, Deeper Into Movies, Detouring
American With Horns to pad out the set.



I’m not one for ever leaving a show early but enough was enough by the end of
the first encore. Not the greatest show but not quite the worst for me this
year…



Photo
Gallery