by Andrew Clayman
Published in The Metro Pulse, January 2007
A recent major university, double-blind study found it scientifically impossible for rock critics to describe New Jersey’s own Yo La Tengo without using the word “quintessential”—even if the word is mentioned merely in reference to its own unavoidable usage (see example above). What science cannot explain, however, is how a band this adventurous can go two decades without imploding, or worse yet, slowing down.
“I don’t have an answer for that either,” says longtime Yo La Tengo bassist James McNew, speaking from his home in Brooklyn, New York. “I think maybe my lack of an ability to explain it probably has something to do with whatever it is. There’s not exactly a rule as far as that stuff (longevity) is concerned, but I know that we never really had any specific goals of success for ourselves. We didn’t have a super achievement we were shooting for, so there was less of a chance of us ever being disappointed.”
McNew joined Yo La Tengo in 1992, making him the venerable third man alongside the band’s lawfully wedded co-founders, singer/guitarist Ira Kaplan and drummer/vocalist Georgia Hubley. By that point, YLT had already earned plenty of critical praise and Velvet Underground comparisons for standout LPs like President Yo La Tengo (1989) and Fakebook (1990). It was the addition of McNew as the permanent bass player, however—along with a well timed move to Matador Records—that transformed the genre-dodging trio into indie rock’s “quintessential” outfit.
The Yo La’s twelfth and most recent studio concoction, I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass, is every bit as spunky, melodic, and eclectic as 1993’s Painful or 1997’s I Hear the Heart Beating As One—albums that became pop study guides for every dorm formed indie band of the past decade. When it comes to schooling, though, it’s still on stage where YLT deliver their finest lessons.
“The set list changes every night,” McNew explains, merely hinting at YLT’s infamously encyclopedic catalog of tunes. “Literally, every show that we do is different. It’s like a puzzle, sort of, to put it together, depending on where you are. If it’s a place you’ve played before, you want to come up with something different than last time. And if it’s a place you’ve never been before, chances are the shows are going to be longer than usual and the songs are older than usual. It’s always fun putting that stuff together.”
There have even been a few special shows in which Kaplan, Hubley, and McNew played entire sets based on random requests, which begs the question: Why not forget the setlist idea all together?
“Actually, the only reason we don’t just call them spontaneously is for logistical reasons--” McNew replies, “guitar tunings and basic set-up issues. That’s why we don’t just go out and wing it for a while, which would be really fun. If we did wing it, though, we’d have to rely a lot more on on-stage comedy and banter to cover up the gaps between songs. And while we are very funny, I think we would rather rely on playing.”
Despite the demands of their high-energy shows and the toll of twenty years on a tour bus, McNew says life on the road hasn’t worn out its welcome just yet.
“Of course, there are going to be moments in every day when you’re on the road, where you just really wish you were somewhere else,” he admits. “But over all, it’s great. Playing is always great, and I love traveling and always look forward to it. I’m looking forward to it a lot now.”
Adding to McNew’s anticipation on the current leg of the Beat Your Ass tour will be a special, one night appearance by Lambchop, the veteran Nashville band that will serve as YLT’s opener in Knoxville.
“I’ve always loved Lambchop,” McNew gushes. “We’ve known those guys for about twelve or thirteen years, and there’s really nothing like them. Probably among any other band in the world, they are our closest friends-- so much so that we’ll stay in their houses if we’re in Nashville making records— which is easy, because there’s about eighteen of them, so you never really wear out your welcome. But yeah, tell Kurt (Wagner) I said hello.”
--STORY CONTINUED IN SIDEBAR-- Follow link to interview with Kurt Wagner of Lambchop
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