The This Stupid World tour is a 2023 concert tour by American indie rock band Yo La Tengo in support of their studio album This Stupid World. The tour has received positive reviews from critics and has taken the band across the world, playing mostly domestic dates, but also several Asian and European gigs, particularly on the festival circuit. The five-song EP The Bunker Sessions was recorded live on this tour and released on November 8, 2023.[1]
| Promotional tour by Yo La Tengo | |
 Yo La Tengo at the Teragram Ballroom on February 26, 2023 | |
| Location |
|
|---|---|
| Associated album | This Stupid World |
| Start date | February 15, 2023 |
| End date | September 30, 2023 |
| Legs | 3 |
| No. of shows | 78 |
| Website | Official website  |
Announcement and structure
editYo La Tengo announced a tour of the United States and Europe from February to May 2023 to promote This Stupid World in January 2023.[2] In April, the band announced a second leg of dates,[3] followed by a third in June 2023.[4]
The tour included many songs from the album, alongside older Yo La Tengo songs and the band's signature mix of cover versions.[5] Setlists change every night and shows are broken up between quieter initial sets and louder rock sets,[6] with an intermission in between.[7] The tour has not featured opening acts, but the final Los Angeles date included a surprise appearance by Mike Belitsky and Travis Good of The Sadies,[8] a Chicago performance featured Wilco for four covers,[9] Alan Sparhawk joined on keyboards at a Minneapolis gig,[6] and Glenn Mercer guested to perform Tom Verlaine songs in Jersey City.[10] At the March 13, 2023 show, the band cross-dressed to protest Tennessee Senate Bill 3.[11] On February 8, 2204, the Sun Ra Arkestra joined the band to play a cover of "New Speedway Boogie".[12] They played an additional promotional performance for a Live On KEXP set at Seattle radio station KEXP.[13]
In August 2023, the band announced that dates for the following month would be rescheduled so drummer and vocalist Georgia Hubley could have knee surgery.[14]
Reception
editSeveral performances have been positively reviewed by critics. Paige Walter of WXPN called the two sets performed at Union Transfer in Philadelphia "breathtaking", leaving the crowd "breathless" due to the first setlist and noting that the second set was different enough to sound like a new band had come onstage.[15] In Variety, William Earl reviewed the band's Brooklyn Steel performance, noting that "their improvisational spark seems to burn brighter with each tour" and praising each performer's musicianship.[16] Piet Levy of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel called the band's Milwaukee show "one-of-a-kind" for the diverse sounds that the band manages onstage and for Kaplan surprising the audience by passing around his guitar for them to play,[7] and in the Shepherd Express, Blaine Schultz noted that "there was no shortage of deep cuts and nods to influences", calling attention to the band's deep roster of covers.[17] At Racket, Keith Harris gave an extensive review of the Minneapolis performance, noting that the band had retained their vitality for decades and that "each show now takes on the air of a special event".[6] The Pittsburgh performance was critiqued by Scott Tady for The Beaver County Times, calling it "a bob and sway and let the music wash over your experience" that had perfect sound.[18] In The Detroit News, Samin Hassan called the Majestic Theatre performance "timeless" and "an intimate experience".[19]
Dates
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| Date | City | Country | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 15, 2023 | Seattle, Washington | United States of America | Neptune Theatre |
| February 16, 2023 | Neptune Theatre | ||
| February 17, 2023 | Bellingham, Washington | Neptune Theatre | |
| February 19, 2023 | Portland, Oregon | Wonder Ballroom | |
| February 20, 2023 | Wonder Ballroom | ||
| February 22, 2023 | San Francisco, California | The Fillmore | |
| February 24, 2023 | |||
| February 25, 2023 | Los Angeles, California | Teragram Ballroom | |
| February 26, 2023 | |||
| February 27, 2023 | |||
| March 9, 2023 | Carrboro, North Carolina | Cat's Cradle | |
| March 10, 2023 | |||
| March 11, 2023 | Asheville, North Carolina | The Orange Peel | |
| March 13, 2023 | Nashville, Tennessee | The Basement East | |
| March 14, 2023 | |||
| March 16, 2023 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Jefferson Theater | |
| March 17, 2023 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Union Transfer | |
| March 18, 2023[20] | New York City, New York | Brooklyn Steel | |
| March 19, 2023 | Washington, D. C. | 9:30 Club | |
| March 21, 2023 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Mr Smalls | |
| March 22, 2023 | Cleveland, Ohio | Beachland Ballroom | |
| March 24, 2023 | Chicago, Illinois | Metro Chicago | |
| March 25, 2023 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Turner Hall Ballroom | |
| March 26, 2023[6] | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Mainroom | |
| April 10, 2023 | Dublin | Ireland | 3Olympia |
| April 12, 2023 | Manchester, England | United Kingdom | New Century Hall |
| April 13, 2023 | Bristol, England | SWX | |
| April 14, 2023 | London, England | London Palladium | |
| April 16, 2023 | Brussels | Belgium | Ancienne Belgique |
| April 18, 2023 | Amsterdam | The Netherlands | Paradiso |
| April 19, 2023 | Rotterdam | LantarenVenster | |
| April 20, 2023 | Hamburg | Germany | Uebel & Gefaehrlich |
| April 21, 2023 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Bremen Teater |
| April 23, 2023 | Cologne | Germany | Gloria Theatre |
| April 24, 2023 | Prague | Czechia | MeetFactory |
| April 25, 2023 | Berlin | Germany | Huxley's Neue Welt |
| April 26, 2023 | Paris | France | La Cigale |
| April 29, 2023 | Barcelona | Spain | Sala Apolo |
| April 30, 2023 | Murcia | Warm Up Festival | |
| May 2, 2023 | Madrid | Warner Music the Music Station Príncipe Pío | |
| May 3, 2023 | Bilbao | Santana 27 | |
| June 9, 2023 | Jersey City, New Jersey | United States | White Eagle Hall |
| June 10, 2023 | Washington, D. C. | The Atlantis | |
| June 13, 2023 | Portland, Maine | State Theatre | |
| June 14, 2023 | South Deerfield, Massachusetts | Tree House Brewing Company | |
| June 15, 2023 | Montreal, Quebec | Canada | Corona Theatre |
| June 16, 2023 | Toronto, Ontario | Phoenix Concert Theatre | |
| June 18, 2023 | Boston, Massachusetts | United States | Paradise Rock Club |
| June 19, 2023 | |||
| June 21, 2023 | Homer, New York | Center for the Arts | |
| June 22, 2023 | Detroit, Michigan | Majestic Theatre | |
| June 23, 2023 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Bell's Beer Garden | |
| June 24, 2023 | Chicago, Illinois | Metro | |
| June 26, 2023 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Bijou Theatre | |
| June 27, 2023 | Birmingham, Alabama | Saturn | |
| June 28, 2023 | Atlanta, Georgia | Variety Playhouse | |
| July 28, 2023 | Niigata | Japan | Fuji Rock Festival |
| August 11, 2023 | Gothenburg | Sweden | Way Out West Festival |
| August 12, 2023 | Oslo | Norway | Oya Festival |
| August 16, 2023 | Paredes de Coura | Portugal | Paredes de Coura Festival |
| August 18, 2023 | Saint-Malo | France | La Route du Rock |
| September 8, 2023 | Charleston, South Carolina | United States | Music Farm |
| September 9, 2023 | St. Augustine, Florida | The Backyard Stage | |
| September 11, 2023 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Tipitina‘s | |
| September 12, 2023 | |||
| September 14, 2023 | Houston, Texas | The Heights Theater | |
| September 15, 2023 | Austin, Texas | Mohawk | |
| September 16, 2023 | |||
| September 17, 2023 | Dallas, Texas | Longhorn | |
| September 19, 2023 | Wichita, Kansas | Wave | |
| September 20, 2023 | Omaha, Nebraska | The Waiting Room | |
| September 22, 2023 | Fort Collins, Colorado | Washington’s | |
| September 23, 2023 | Boulder, Colorado | Boulder Theater | |
| September 25, 2023 | Santa Fe, New Mexico | Meow Wolf | |
| September 27, 2023 | Tucson, Arizona | Rialto | |
| September 28, 2023 | Phoenix, Arizona | Crescent Ballroom | |
| September 29, 2023 | Los Angeles, California | Bellwether | |
| September 30, 2023 | Solana Beach, California | Belly Up |
The band were also added to the line-up of All Points East 2024, in August of that year.[21]
The Bunker Sessions
edit| The Bunker Sessions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live album EP by | ||||
| Released | November 8, 2023 | |||
| Recorded | 2023 | |||
| Studio | Bunker Studio, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, US[22] | |||
| Genre | Indie rock[22] | |||
| Length | 25:34 | |||
| Language | English | |||
| Yo La Tengo chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Bunker Sessions is a 2023 extended play recorded on this tour.[23]
Writing for Uproxx, Grant Sharples included this among the best indie music of the week, writing that it "reifies Yo La Tengo’s live performances for the at-home listener" and "feels like a gift".[22]
- "Sinatra Drive Breakdown" – 8:55
- "Aselestine" – 3:42
- "Fallout" – 4:25
- "Apology Letter" – 5:39
- "Stockholm Syndrome" – 2:53
References
edit- ^ Minsker, Evan (November 8, 2023). "Yo La Tengo Share New EP The Bunker Sessions". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ a b Hussey, Allison (November 2, 2022). "Yo La Tengo Announce Tour and New Album This Stupid World, Share New Song "Fallout"". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ a b LaPierre, Megan (March 11, 2023). "Yo La Tengo Plot 2023 North American Tour". Exclaim!. ISSN 1207-6600. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
- ^ Bernstein, Scott (June 13, 2023). "Yo La Tengo Extends 2023 North American Tour Into September". JamBase. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
- ^ Bernstein, Scott (February 23, 2023). "San Francisco Treat: Watch Yo La Tengo Cover 'Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad' At The Fillmore". JamBase. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Harris, Keith (March 27, 2023). "Time Fades Away but Yo La Tengo Never Does". Racket. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- ^ a b Levy, Piet (March 26, 2023). "Yo La Tengo makes up for 10-year Milwaukee absence with one-of-a-kind concert at Turner Hall". The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Gannett. ISSN 1082-8850. OCLC 55506548. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- ^ Kahn, Andy (February 28, 2023). "Yo La Tengo Brings Out Members Of The Sadies In Los Angeles". JamBase. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- ^ Brodsky, Rachel (March 25, 2023). "Watch Wilco Join Yo La Tengo For Four Covers In Chicago". Stereogum. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- ^ Lustig, Jay (June 11, 2023). "Yo La Tengo, Glenn Mercer team up for Tom Verlaine tribute at White Eagle Hall". NJArts. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
- ^ Pearis, Bill (March 14, 2023). "Yo La Tengo played Nashville in drag in protest of new Tennessee law". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ "Watch: Sun Ra Arkestra Join Yo La Tengo for Grateful Dead's "New Speedway Boogie" in San Francisco". Relix. February 9, 2024. ISSN 0146-3489. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ^ Bernstein, Scott (March 24, 2023). "Watch Yo La Tengo Showcase 'This Stupid World' Tracks Live At KEXP". JamBase. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- ^ Beatty, Parker (August 4, 2023). "Yo La Tengo Delays September Tour with Georgia Hurley Undergoing Surgery". News. mxdwn. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ Walter, Paige (March 20, 2023). "Yo La Tengo performs two breathtaking sets at Union Transfer on St. Patrick's Day". WXPN. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
- ^ Earl, William (March 20, 2023). "Yo La Tengo Bring 'This Stupid World' to Brooklyn With Loud-Soft Set: Concert Review". Variety. ISSN 0042-2738. OCLC 8101334503. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
- ^ Schultz, Blaine (March 27, 2023). "Yo La Tengo's Not-So-Stupid Concert". The Shepherd Express. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- ^ Tady, Scott (April 4, 2023). "Scott Tady: Gatlin's a 'Gambler' with Kenny Rogers band gig in Beaver Falls". The Beaver County Times. OCLC 14348988. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ Hassan, Samin (June 23, 2023). "Yo La Tengo gives a timeless performance at Detroit show". Music. The Detroit News. Digital First Media. ISSN 1055-2715. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ McElroy, Steven; Barone, Joshua; Burke, Siobhan; Pareles, Jon; Seibert, Brian; Zoladz, Lindsay; Sulcas, Roslyn (February 22, 2023). "Live Performance in New York: Here's What to See This Spring". The New York Times. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ Dunworth, Liberty (January 31, 2024). "Full support line-up revealed for The Postal Service and Death Cab For Cutie at All Points East 2024". News > Music News. NME. ISSN 0028-6362. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ^ a b c Sharples, Grant (November 14, 2023). "All The Best New Indie Music From This Week". Indie Mixtape. Uproxx. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ Minsker, Evan (November 8, 2023). "Yo La Tengo Share New EP The Bunker Sessions". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
