Yo La Tengo’s Ira Kaplan & James McNew Perform In Drag In Nashville

The Tennessee state government recently passed a controversial bill that put restrictions on drag performances. Yo La Tengo’s tour in support of their excellent new album, This Stupid World, made a stop in Tennessee on Monday for a concert at Nashville’s Basement East.

The second set saw guitarist Ira Kaplan and multi-instrumentalist James McNew wearing makeup and women’s clothing, seemingly protesting the law that goes into effect on July 1. According to a report by The Tennessean, Yo La Tengo made no mention of the bill signed by Governor Bill Lee that targets “male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to a prurient interest” among other types of entertainment.

yo la tengo protesting anti-drag laws tonight in tennessee, courtesy @JohnQBoxler. pic.twitter.com/kB6IvqUeZX

— jesse jarnow (parody, i think?) (@bourgwick) March 14, 2023

Monday’s concert also saw Lambchop bassist Matt Swanson join Yo La Tengo at the start of the encore for a cover of “Point That Thing Somewhere Else” by The Clean. The encore continued with covers of “I’ll Be Your Mirror” by The Velvet Underground and “Yellow Sarong” by The Scene Is Now that appeared on YLT’s 1990 Fakebook album.

The setlist included six of the nine songs on This Stupid World, five of which came in the first set. The opening half also saw a cover of Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” Set two opened with the This Stupid World title track, which is the only title track in their catalog. The second set was filled in with favorites such as “Stockholm Syndrome,” “Nothing To Hide,” “Sugarcube,” “Ohm” and “The Story Of Yo La Tengo.”

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Setlist

Source: JamBase.com