Yo La Tengo: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert From The Archives

We've been filming Tiny Desk concerts for more than 10 years. While revisiting our archives, we discovered that some of our earliest concerts never made it to KZbin!
Watch Yo La Tengo’s Tiny Desk concert from 2013: www.npr.org/20...
Otis Hart | July 15, 2013
It's not often that someone on the NPR Music team gets to see his or her favorite band perform a Tiny Desk Concert. After all, you can only have one favorite band, and NPR Music supports a staff of about 20; that means that, of the 250-plus Tiny Desk Concerts we've produced, fewer than 10 percent could possibly have qualified for favorite-band status.
All of which is to say that my favorite band, Yo La Tengo, actually played a Tiny Desk Concert. For those who aren't familiar with the Hoboken trio, Yo La Tengo's members - guitarist Ira Kaplan, drummer Georgia Hubley and bassist James McNew - have been doing their own thing (which, granted, can sometimes sound like The Velvet Underground) for more than 20 years. The band epitomizes, sheepishly, why so many were drawn to indie rock in the 1990s: the casual resolve to be yourself and let everything else sort itself out.
The Yo La Tengo sound has evolved quite a bit since Hubley and Kaplan first jammed together in 1984; the feedback has subsided as they've grown older, replaced by a more contemplative vibe. The release of the band's 13th album, Fade, earlier this year marked a natural time to invite Yo La Tengo behind Bob Boilen's desk for an acoustic set.
SET LIST
"Is That Enough"
"Tears Are In Your Eyes"
"Ohm"
CREDITS
Producer: Otis Hart; Editor: Denise DeBelius; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Lizzie Chen, Denise DeBelius, Gabriella Garcia-Pardo; photo by Marie McGrory/NPR

[@jiforeman]

I was an intern at this show- what a privilege to see them play this set live!

[@callumsmart9359]

Any behind the scenes cool story to add/interactions?

[@FilJR99]

Tell us all about it. We won’t tell anyone.😄

[@TheRedskins6969]

Georgia's voice is just so wonderful.

[@dpclerks09]

It's both comforting, and makes me cry every time, for me.

[@PennsylvaniaHistoryBuff]

Georgia’s voice, though always beautiful, has grown even more beautiful with age.

[@andreas3304]

This band is legendary. I am so grateful for their existence

[@bronson_007]

Me three! they killin everything !

[@stuartboyer9573]

Love Them !

[@sebastopprogre1979]

I agree.😊

[@dpclerks09]

They've been my Musical comfort blanket for almost half of my life now. They never fail. Live. Laugh. Yo La Tengo.

[@josebm6719]

My parents listened to YLT while i was growing up and i think i love them so much because of nostalgia.

[@franciscoriosrobalino3996]

And also they’re a vibe! , I don’t have any nostalgia connection to them, just found them and also I’m a child of the 2000s, but this is just hypnotic

[@amadormartinezsantiago946]

I saw Yo la Tengo many years ago in Barcelona and it was one of the best living performances I've ever seen.

[@jejesus]

Georgia, James y Ira han puesto color a mis emociones en los últimos 30 años. Qué privilegio es que sigan entre nosotros, haciendo música singular. Larga vida a YLT.

[@andyheggeman1424]

Entiendo casi todo sin traducción, y me encanta mucho!

[@heatherm8896]

My favorite band for going on two decades. So many happy memories of seeing them live, or listening to them at home.

[@austinag2375]

Ah man, I saw them at Pitchfork years ago. They happened to be on the same stage that R. Kelly was on next. So many great jokes. They also did an evening with a year or so after that. Just 4 hours of Yo La Tango. 2 hours slow jams, then 2 hours of fast jams. Perfect night.

[@livinghourband]

gorgeous as expected

[@duncansamways1363]

One of my favourite bands ever, can’t wait to see them tour eventually again.

[@secreticelandprod]

they have some shows coming up!! hopefully they aren't cancelled

[@mayarasantos2834]

At least, a good memory from past. It's so nice to grow old and see that some bands never lost its perfect essence.

[@Hachi.899]

Tears are in your eyes is probably my favourite song by them and this is a lovely rendition

[@jerleydamaskinos5756]

Her voice! 🤩 How have I never heard of them before? Thank you NPR !

[@Duplanmodular]

That's because you lived in a cave for 20 years haha ;)

[@kaite8371]

Best kept secret. Long time fan since 93.

[@Jimmybarth]

Electropura

[@hambone5547]

The important thing is that now you have.

[@maungarakei]

Pure art. Pure art. If you close your eyes and open your heart you can see it even more. Pure art

[@PentameronSV]

0:04 - *Is That Enough* (4:18) 4:36 - *Tears Are In Your Eyes* (8:33) 9:00 - *Ohm* (14:53)

[@IkariAin]

Ty

[@nunomedeiros7773]

Thank you NPR for this upload. Thank you Georgia, Ira and James for making songs that save lives. Cheers!

[@wessensei]

7:30 Did anyone else notice that Georgia forgets the lyrics after the bridge (she was supposed to start at 7:24 and just hums the words) and that Ira whispers the line "Please tell me how" so she can remember the next verse which she correctly restarts at 7:34 ?

[@bronson_007]

Really? 😂clock watching on youtube? I'm not looking up your garbled mess.

[@chrissvitreoushumour]

@@bronson_007 chose violence on the most pretty NPR live show

[@Jack-ro8ev]

It's incredible and deeply reassuring how in their 50s and 60s they can still play and record songs that sound like they come from the tender heart of a sweet teen in love. That's a talent but it also speaks to their kindness

[@Sam_k721]

This band changed my life so glad they exist

[@rileyandrews9156]

georgia is so ethereal i love her so much

[@kaite8371]

Naturally cool.

[@DanielaHoran15]

Found their cds in a music shop and picked it up based on the album art . That was such a great buy that’s day!

[@bronson_007]

that's that

[@SofiaLeVines]

I love that they played Tears are in your Eyes. Beautiful sad under underground hit.

[@anononomous]

Tears Are In Your Eyes just made me cry.

[@dpclerks09]

Ohm always makes me cry.

[@bif3578]

My favorite version of “Ohm”, and one of my fave TDCs. This one seemed to have disappeared from KZbin for many years-glad to see it back.

[@bchobbs]

Have you seen the KEXP one from a while ago? That’s my definitive version of Ohm - Ira’s solo is KILLER

[@flyjarrett]

Yo La Tengo is awesome. Saw them several times in Chicago in the 90s.

[@canfraggleTA]

Simply amazing. Thank you NPR for doing these concerts, they're just wonderful.

[@aponcedeleonch]

Hearing Ohm in acoustic version is such a delight

[@lenavan9856]

i love georgias voice so much oh my god

[@willmarshall4685]

Love….a very honest human kind of music.

[@mikemoonrip6745]

Seen them twice live. Wish it had been 20. Two of the best gigs been to in nigh on 40 years.

[@paadoxal]

this is so very lovely, thank you💛 i get such a warm feeling listening to this and it's exactly what i needed right now

[@lameraviglia]

tears are in your eyes, one of my favorites ever, now i'm happy

[@ray2958]

ah they are so good, fade is such a good album and im glad they included tears are in your eyes in this performance what a beautiful song

[@ALEJANDRORAMIREZ-yc5tj]

Los amo, vengan a México, I need to see you guys 🥺

[@Tchururu_tchalala]

Br intha house!!! Great song how nostalgic ... i listen yo la tengo in my youth and continuous great tear are in your eyes ... reminds me of my 17 years r e s p e c t !!!

[@julotfire7186]

magnifique..merci les yo la tengo...

[@krazeevideoguy]

My hat's off to the musical geniuses that are Yo La Tengo...Georgia, Ira and James, you have colored my life and my child's musical past, present and future. BTW, your shows in Barcelona are perennial favorites. More Palau de la Música, less Primavera Sound. Love y'all.

[@johnmichaeljayme4387]

I saw this on your site years ago! Thank you for uploading this finally!

[@mhbackman]

For some reason, I prefer the live cuts from 'Fade' to the album versions. Lovely stuff. I forgot how much I love these songs.

[@GazeMeShoes]

i love love love you guys! thank you for everything.

[@TheAsbalait]

Georgia is wonderful

[@93.5friendshipstation]

Always happy to hear more live stuff from these 3

[@kimsmoltz1800]

i love them so much

[@sarova2000]

Came to this old video and I just have to point out how good it sounds with just one mic, just incredible

[@mainscourantes8361]

This group need to be more famous

[@happyindie7950]

Oh, me hubiera gustado escuchar Did I tell you ❤️ saludos a todos desde Monterrey México.

[@dpclerks09]

Yo La Tengo is Good, and Good is Good, Forever💗🌎

[@davidanwinters]

Beautiful and special

[@tilapia4444]

love these guys like no other, thank you tiny desk !

[@nathjcaldeira]

EU AMO ELES DEMAIS!!!!!!!!!!

[@AtacaPelly]

Me encanta esta página uhff todos estos miniconciertos son maravillosos Perdon que escriba en castellano no se inglés pero Palante y Ataca

[@aoldatabase]

Please have them again🙏

[@catchrick]

We've been born at the appropriate time.

[@sebastian3432]

Belleza en estado puro!

[@jearanio_19]

My favorite band in my favorite channel! 🧡🥺

[@mardinrecords]

넘 좋아요. 특히 "Tears Are In Your Eyes" 너무너무 아름답습니다.

[@DSouzaRude-sl5fj]

Desde muito tempo até hoje...Minha banda favorita ❤ tks

[@Peeeeeeee__]

YO los amo ♥

[@kcgilford518]

This acoustic version of Ohm is fantastic.

[@zla3031]

Yay haven't even watched yet and this has put a smile on my face

[@itsNinaStephanie]

thank u tiny desk for introducing me to new good music 💜

[@brocka.6479]

@Anna Gonzalez Nowhere Near gives me chills every time.

[@shardanette1]

@Anna Gonzalez That whole album is wonderful.

[@Steven-wm9vu]

This is nowhere near new. Theyve been around since the 80s.

[@RobertSlover]

senior citizens singing whiny teenager music?

[@bryseboynton9512]

@@RobertSlover we've got a Cool Guy over here, everyone!

[@ilhamsatria4921]

Long Live Yo La Tengo

[@theabonesu]

such a harmonic band

[@adandeabajo]

I really love them so much!!!

[@justinhousman7760]

God this is so so good.

[@tiagoferreira8014]

Fade, my favorite YLTs album. ❤

[@stephen_pfrimmer]

I love these.

[@oscarquinterogranadillo]

bella trinidad portadora de la canción más cálida y descomplicada

[@bisnieto]

a cuál canción te refieres?

[@oscarquinterogranadillo]

@@bisnieto a todas las canciones de yo la tengo!

[@elenakhlopovskikh4588]

So calm, warm, good)

[@yootoob2]

This is the type of music you drum up in your head when you find out your crush is married 😢 or when you find out the elementary school kid that lives with you drank the last of the milk therefore your Oreos are no longer dunkable....

[@rascalthecat666]

This comment makes me want to never listen to yo la tengo again

[@bronson_007]

no it's not. 😂not even close

[@joseignacio3122]

Siempre me sacan una sonrisa

[@jaredgentile5838]

bless u boilen. and ur desk

[@Encarta98]

So warm, so beautiful, so flu!

[@SatounoKumo]

Yo La Tengo: the original ASMR indie band.

[@shoWbitz]

The Velvet Underground did it first

[@bronson_007]

ASMR😂

[@dezfoley]

Just fab

[@Ludovic13]

Lovely🌷♥

[@lleiou0723]

A year without YLT Hanukkah nights is not a complete year 😭

[@07BSPtC]

Agreed. I have never been lucky enough to go but think the first year post covid I am buying tickets and booking a trip

[@lleiou0723]

Tomorrow is Hanukkah, in a parallel universe we should be going to Bowery Ballroom.

[@WillBrownepigenomics]

Love YLT so much :-)

[@PolicePubliCallBox]

The big guy was in a doc called “The Parking Lot Movie.” I highly recommend it.

[@polymathematics_]

holy smokes I never realized this is him

[@stainlesssteve25]

I just watched it for the second time...thanks for the recommendation, I really liked it. All the best from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@ciropellegrino]

magnifico

[@bia_silva93]

OMG PERFECTI

[@femto___]

that's how i was always imagining Ira,still with the striped shirt.

[@shanalima]

❤️ amo

[@bronson_007]

ammo 🦧🪓

[@user-lr3ug2fg3n]

i love you from japan!!!

[@mikemoonrip6745]

What a version of Ohm!

[@Bandstand]

!!!!

[@TOcheesehead]

Ohm with that breakdown at the end has strong Velvet Underground vibes

[@NOWtheband]

Understandable. I do have a sneaking suspicion that they might like The Velvet Underground a fair bit........ ;-)

[@shruggzdastr8-facedclown]

The first song reminds me of one of the songs from the Once movie!!

[@yuichikammoto4002]

嬉しい

[@darylcumming7119]

With advertisements now. Any how thanks for the upload.

[@barnosoirabarnosoira2002]

No tengo dinero tengo muchos amigos😄 family of life, gracias😊

[@alvinghibran036]

Very nice

[@shruggzdastr8-facedclown]

Videos from NPR and PBS ought not be interrupted by corporate ads

[@kurosawashun2983]

最高！

[@sylvielopez2686]

Tank you very much tiny desk muchísimas gracias warm music relax hopefully the good for all the citizens in America hopefully never again corruption tank you very much hope

[@fionagallagherapologist5968]

AHHHHH

[@janschneider1714]

ma boy James McNew had some serious flu symptoms: 4:19

[@bronson_007]

Uhh yeah, good catch. yuk yuk 🙄

[@superneko99]

Are they the best band? Yes they are

[@aciremod]

OMG OMG

[@bonniejamie]

That's PRESIDENT To La Tengo to you...