The Freewheelin' Yo La Tengo- Randy Bacon Art Gallery, Springfield, MO Jan. 19, 2008

So, based upon my enjoyment of the Yo La Tengo show last spring in Tulsa, I decided to drive 2 1/2 hours to Springfield to catch them last night at the Randy Bacon Art Gallery. I have never been to a show in an art gallery and must say that I was intrigued by the idea. It was in downtown Springfield, and I would say it was more a gallery of photography than paintings, and looked like a pretty cool place. There were pictures hanging all around, and I couldn't really tell if any of them were for sale or how the whole place operated, but it made for a pretty cool venue. It was no smoking obviously but they did have a bar and everything like a regular venue, with a few seats at the front but I chose to stand at the back, which was probably only 30 feet from the stage anyhow.
I walk in and immediately shell out $8 for a poster (a promo poster specific to the show tonight) because I am a sucker for posters like that, and I have paid plenty more than $8 for them in the past. Then, I fortuitously get it autographed by Ira and Georgia themselves at the merch table!!! This merits the alliteration: "Already Anti-Bears are abounding."
I didn't entirely love the opener, Kurt Wagner, but I give him credit for sounding original on his acoustic guitar. I was worried because this was a nearly acoustic show with Yo La Tengo, and I had my doubts about if it would be as great as a fully electric show. Such doubts quickly evaporated- this was one of the coolest shows I have ever been to. The Yo La's were sitting down for the entire show, Georgia was playing on a minimal drum kit primarily with brushes, and they came out, played three songs including "Bean Bag Chair" and then pronounced that they had exhausted their "Springfield material." They then opened it up to the audience and took requests and answered questions, back and forth after every song throughout the night- I was actually surprised at how well they handled questions; they seem like a real easy-going and funny band.
They didn't play every request, but nearly all. Someone asked for "Oklahoma, USA" which I would have liked hearing, but they didn't play it. It was the most personal concert environment I have experienced, so much so that in the middle of "Last Days of Disco" people entering in the back of the venue were almost a distraction; it was so quiet. They did crank up the volume on songs like "Little Honda" and "Sugarcube" (both requests), and the Yo La Tengo distortion came through all electric (perhaps my favorite Yo La Tengo moment is during a song that sounds really fragile and ethereal like it could fall apart any minute, yet Ira goes ahead and puts a real sloppy and wailing distorted solo into the mix and it still all hangs together).
I give James McNew credit for having the best head-bob for a bass player, he looks real serious but all jolly at the same time. Other highlights for me included "Stockholm Syndrome," "Mr. Tough," "Black Flowers," and "Upside Down." As always after concerts, I can never remember them distinctly, or exact setlists, or what everything sounded like. But here are the final gradings:
BEARS: 1.5 -for two drunk guys making too much noise, particularly during "Mr. Tough," and some bears for no heavy electric- I was looking forward to a blaring version of "Pass the Hatchet..."
ANTIBEARS: 5.0 -I know it's pretty lame to give maximum Antibears, but I can't imagine when I'll see another show quite like this one. All the songs translated really well to a stripped down version, and I didn't expect the question and answer/interactive aspects of the show. Not many bands can pull this off. I don't know when any other show could garner full Antibear credit from me, or what I would hold such acclaim back for. And in an art gallery at that, who would have thought?