The next stop on my July trip to the US was Milwaukee, a city I had never visited before. I was excited to visit the city and I enjoyed its history, food and beer. But the main reason for visiting was to see two legendary American bands. Yo La Tengo and Built To Spill are icons of the Indie Rock scene and they joined forces to do a co-headlining tour where they would swap who goes last each night. In Milwaukee Yo La Tengo had the last spot. The show was in the impossibly beautiful Pabst Theater. It was built by the Milwaukee beer baron in 1895 and word can't describe its stunning inner beauty. Yo La Yengo as expected put on a stellar show. They have existed for nearly fourty years and show no signs of slowing down. They are as inventive as ever and the New Jersey trio dug deep into their catalogue for a brilliant show. A highlight was Doug Martsch from Built To Spill joining them for an epic rendition of 'I Heard You Looking'. Their encore was beautiful too with them covering a local musician, before paying tribute to the late great Michael Hurley. A wonderful end to a great show.

Set List
Apology Letter
Sinatra Drive Breakdown
Madeline
Stockholm Syndrome
One PM Again
Alyda
Nowhere Near
Tome Courtenay
We're an American Band
Fallout
This Stupid World
I Heard You Looking

Griselda (The Holy Modal Rounders cover)
The End of the Road (Michael Hurley cover)     

 

Built to Spill opened the night and it was perfection in sound. If they are not my favourite band of all time, they are certainly in my top two. They managed to pack 13 brilliant songs into their hour long set. I have seen them several times now and they never disappoint. It was a brilliant display of why they are just so great. I loved every minute but I was especially gratified to hear 'Twin Falls' and 'Randy Described Eternity'. They were just stratospheric. Happily they closed with the blissful 'Carry the Zero', which had everyone standing and dancing to this supreme band.

Set List
Goin' Against Your Mind
Reasons 
Never Be the Same
Bad Light
Hindsight
So
Gonna Lose
Get a Life
I Would Hurt a Fly
Twin Falls
Some
Randy Described Eternity
Carry the Zero