Already announced as special guests of the Perth International Arts Festival, Feel Presents are now proud to announce a full national tour for US indie-rock pioneers Yo La Tengo. Ira, Georgia and James will land in Australia mid-February performing in all major cities - including their first ever visit to Hobart - drawing on material from their latest album Popular Songs, as well as selections from one of indie-rock’s most critically lauded back catalogues.
It's the new album, though, that is creating all the recent interest and little wonder as Popular Songs finds Yo La Tengo in a particularly ebullient mood - playful, winsome — resulting is the most rewarding album the New Jersey trio have produced since their breakthrough effort And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out almost 10 years ago.
Popular Songs is as essential as anything Yo La Tengo have ever released, and perhaps even more so — an album that looks back at where they’ve been, smiles, and stares resolutely forward to what will come next. It also makes a pretty solid starting point for anyone who hasn’t yet been seduced by their considerable charms. - DROWNED IN SOUND.
Yo La Tengo are not afraid. they walk bravely forward, into the unknown, hand in hand. and 12 (or 14) albums in, they may just be hitting their stride. - NME
Recent live performances have seen Yo La Tengo in peak form too:
... over the course of two remarkable hours, Kaplan, McNew and Hubley owned it, killed it, burned it down, built it back up, then burned it down again. It was immediately recognizable as a momentous show, in every respect—one of those evenings that blows the curve for every other live performance you’re likely going to see. - MAGNET Sept 24th 2009
In addition to the full rock experience, fans in Sydney & Melbourne will have the opportunity to witness the 'Freewheelin' Yo La Tengo Show' - an intimate affair with the band play semi-acoustic, off the cuff, performing and discussing your requests. It's a first for Australian audiences but has toured in both Europe and the USA before. Read on...
The esteemed trio from Hoboken took their places, seated on the altar, and delivered a performance that turned out to be stripped-down, completely captivating and freewheeling indeed. The performance acquired the format of storytelling sessions and song requests interspersed with a smattering of songs from the band’s comprehensive collection. According to guitarist Ira Kaplan, the premise of this tour is to “do stuff one night and never do it again.” And while the no-two-shows-alike concept is certainly inventive, it’s the intimacy and personal narrative of Kaplan, Hubley and Mcnew that made The Freewheeling Yo La Tengo such a satisfying experience.
Get the picture?