Yo La Tengo

[ljsawyer]

How disappointing were they?! I'm a massive fan but that wasn't really what I was hoping for at all. I kind of feared/expected that they'd play all the 10 minute guitar freakout songs, but most of the other songs we got were pretty obscure as well. Nuclear War to open?

We did get Sugarcube, From A Motel 6 and an average version of Autumn Sweater, but it didn't really make up for the lack of anything off of 'And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out'. I liked them, but hoped for more.

[Insomaniac]

Kind of relieved I sold my ticket this year as Yo La Tengo are one of my favourite bands, and one of the few I was keen to see in this year's lineup. Sounds like a pretty poor set and opening with Nuclear War really is a terrible start. So wish they wouldn't play that song, it's a bit shit, too long and not even one of theirs.

They were great in 2007 and generally are, but I have seen the odd show of theirs that has left me feeling rather uninspired.

[5co77ie]

I have to say i really enjoyed the first half of their set - then they went into freefall jam and it just went horribly wrong, the 20 minute repetitive bassline - tight as you like but not my cuppa.

[Navidanjum]

I have to say that I couldn't disagree more. Thought the set was magnificent from start to finish and the atmosphere down the front was beautiful. YLT should be first name on the bill every year as far as I'm concerned!

[Infinite Jest]

I liked the short songs, would have loved to have heard 'Beanbag Chair' or 'Our Way to Fall', but oh well. The long songs did not impress me - if they'd had a 4-minute limit on their entire set, it would not have been a bad thing. (Hint: if I can get bored of a song, walk back to my tent, and walk back to the festival and they're still playing the same riff, the song is too long. Especially as it wasn't even a very good riff).

[andy55]

I thought they were dreadful. Went in to the forest to play.

[Dibford and Son]

We only managed to last 2 songs. The opening collection of tracks, Nuclear War etc was enough to drive a non YLT officiando like me away very quickly. The bonus though was that we managed to catch Wintersleep in the Tipi, who were excellent.

[MattL80]

I've only heard one of their albums and wasn't massively keen on that. I saw Black Mountain instead, who were brilliant. Sounds like i made the right choice.

[The_Gruge]

I definitely saw some of it, I'll say that much.

[Elfy]

I saw Black Mountain instead, who were brilliant. Sounds like i made the right choice.

[ljsawyer]

Wish I'd seen Wintersleep now, could have rocked out to Archaeologists... seriously, Nuclear War was such a bag of balls

They were the only disappointing act of an otherwise incredible weekend though, and only 353 days or so till the next one!

Edited September 13, 2010 by ljsawyer

[seadragon]

I agree, I was very disappointed with Yo La Tengo too and they were one of the bands I was really looking forward to seeing. I like several of their albums so it wasn't that I wasn't familiar with their music.

I only managed the first couple of songs and then got bored and went in search of something better and stumbled upon Jonquil who were a lot of fun. Real shame because YLT could have been so much better.

[RedRockRick]

I thought they were terrific after a slow start. Enjoyed watching the guitar tech guy trying very hard to remove what appeared to be my tent peg mallet from where Ira had wedged it in his guitar strings.

[Henry41]

I don't know how much they have been playing recently, but I felt there was an element of going through the motions at times. I don't know how much flying in the day before helps (and how much this impacts on all the green initiatives at the festival), but I've certainly seen them livelier and more engaging. Oh well

[riverlodge]

I've only heard one of their albums and wasn't massively keen on that. I saw Black Mountain instead, who were brilliant. Sounds like i made the right choice.

[shoebox]

I tried to do all three of YLT, Black Mountain and Wintersleep. I just didn't get into YLT after 2 or 3 songs, Black Mountain I managed to hear my two favourites (Let Spirits Ride and Rollercoaster) and got sucked in for a while. Then I heard literally the last chord being strummed by Wintersleep.

[Donny Osmond]

I have to say i really enjoyed the first half of their set - then they went into freefall jam and it just went horribly wrong, the 20 minute repetitive bassline - tight as you like but not my cuppa.

[jonorangesky]

Love the band, love many of their albums, loathed the set - far too many guitar wig outs. The 4 minute song limit is an excellent idea!

[Donny Osmond]

Love the band, love many of their albums, loathed the set - far too many guitar wig outs. The 4 minute song limit is an excellent idea!

[wackojackohighcliffe]

wintersleep was fantastic - they were and the atmosphere was.

[Fat_Buddha]

Just came across this video of their final song. It's rather lovely.

[ElGanzo]

The wig outs are an integral part of YLT! I Heard You Looking is probably their finest moment imo.

[Olivedal 1904]

I agree with Donny Osmond. The longer guitar heavy songs are what you wanna hear from YLT. The set grew on me and it was great when they generated some really nice noise in the end. I would say YLT and Modest Mouse were the best gigs at this festival. However, given the profile of the festival I can understand that people here don't like really long shoegaze-songs.