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John Cameron Mitchell Sings Manilow, Sonic Youth Duo Joins Yo La Tengo on Hanukkah

The third night of Yo La Tengo’s annual Hanukkah run took place at Maxwell’s in Hoboken on Thursday. The Lee Ranaldo Band opened and later both Renaldo and fellow Sonic Youth member Steve Shelley appeared for numerous songs including “The Last Days of Disco” and Sonic Youth’s “Mote.” Writer and musician Alan Licht also joined for a few songs, such as “Pass the Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind” and Bob Dylan’s “Fourth Time Around,” both of which also featured Ranaldo and Shelley. The evening later closed in a striking manner as writer and director John Cameron Mitchell ( Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Shortbus ) took over on vocals for a cover of Barry Manilow’s “Mandy.”

Here’s the setlist as it appears on Jesse Jarnow’s Frank & Earthy blog.

Yo La Tengo at Maxwell’s
22 December 2011
(Hanukkah, night 3)
Lee Ranaldo Band and Ted Alexandro opened.
benefit for Clean Ocean Action.

Mix disc by Kid Koala.

Nutricia
Sugarcube (alt. arrangement)
Madeleine
Lewis
Mr. Tough
Season of the Shark
Periodically Double or Triple
Doesn’t Anybody Love the Dark (Run On) (with Alan Licht on guitar and vocals)
The Last Days of Disco (with AL, Lee Ranaldo on guitar, and Steve Shelley on drums)
Fourth Time Around (Bob Dylan) (with AL, LR, SS)
Decora (alt. arrangement) (with AL, LR, SS)
Double Dare (with SS)
Mote (Sonic Youth) > (with LR & SS)
Pass the Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind (with LR, AL, & SS)

(encore)
Andalucia (John Cale)
Mandy (Barry Manilow) (with John Cameron Mitchell on vocals)