Yo La Tengo will forego its annual Hanukkah shows this December. Traditionally, the New Jersey-bred trio performs at Hoboken’s Maxwell’s each night during the Jewish Holiday with a variety of guest openers and comedians. In public message, the trio said, “In answer to the most FA'd Q of the last few months, we have reluctantly decided not to play the eight nights of Hanukkah this year at Maxwell's.  We have concluded that our touring schedule is such we just wouldn't be able to put together a lineup as Hanukkahriffic as years past.  Was the refusal of the cast of "The Times They Are A-Changin'" to take part the last straw?  Really, is there anything to gain in assessing blame?” Yo La Tengo’s fall tour in support of I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass is scheduled to conclude December 3 in Lisbon, Portugal.

Relix was on hand this past weekend at Vegoose creating the two-day newspaper, The Golden Goose. The festival delivered a number of memorable moments, both on the grounds of the Sam Boyd Stadium and at the late night shows. One surprise performer was Prince, who made a guest appearance with his former bandmate Maceo Parker on Saturday night at the House of Blues. The artist formerly known as some weird symbol that doesn’t appear on a keyboard, took the stage for a few minutes before tossing his guitar into the crowd (it was returned). Prince was in town working on his new nightclub, which is rumored to replace Club Rio. Another bit of visual stimulation took place at the grounds on Sunday where Jim James was joined by his My Morning Jacket bandmate Carl Broemel for what had been billed as a solo set. The pair delivered a series of MMJ tunes after which they took axes to a number of Jackolanterns that had decorated the stage.

   Saturday’s Praxis set also had offered its own share of memorable sights as Bill Laswell enlisted Bucket, Brain and Bernie Worrell to join this incarnation of the group.  Toubab Krewe was another Saturday highlight as the band continued its tour with mentor Lamine Soumano (guitar, kora, ngoni), whom the band met in Mali five years ago. Other highlights over the two days included Saturday sets from The Killers and Tom Petty, as well as Sunday appearances by along with one-time Las Vegas native Jenny Lewis and Widespread Panic. Look for additional reports on Vegoose from our embedded reporters in the days to come.

ALO will celebrate Halloween with a two-set gig at Santa Barbara’s SOhO. Unlike many bands who are dressing up a few days early at Vegoose, the group’s Halloween performance will indeed take place on October 31 and will feature an opening set by Matthew McAvene. ALO recently sold out its first performance at San Francisco’s The Fillmore. During the quartet’s set, rising California star Brett Dennen, who will release his album <i>So Much More</i> on November 21, appeared on his own “She's Mine.” During the group’s second set, longtime friend and former classmate Jack Johnson appeared on a number of covers and songs from his catalogue, including “What's Gone Wrong,” “Better Together,” “Girl, I Wanna Lay You Down,” “Rodeo Clowns,” “Wasting Time,” “Mud Football,” and “I Shall Be Released.” Dennen then returned for a show-closing version of Journey’s “Lights.”