Live Review: Yo La Tengo with Built to Spill - Summer 2025 Tour

7/15/2025

Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine
Edited by Fiza Javid

The Salt Shed Chicago
Sunday - July 13, 2025

Yo La Tengo out and about again, along with Built to Spill in town.
Both bands- headliner sets.
Yo La Tengo- 14 songs including encore.
Built to Spill- 13 songs total.
Talk about appreciative of each others talents, let alone friendship along with like minded singing/ songwriting.

Since Yo La Tengo quote / unquote "headlined"- let's start with them.
Lots of walk ins before they came on the stage.
Asked if the show was sold out with fellow security friends at The Shed- all said no.
But still, if you were to ask me, the main floor was packed.
Same with most of the Grandstands (back balcony), along with the Premium Seating.
Very gratifying to see this, the fandom for all things Yo La Tengo.
Same with Built to Spill- crowded main floor for their set as well, even for a Sunday Summer night, and opening the show.

Yo La Tengo- they open with "Ohm".
True to their "mixing things up" as they go on from city to city- a unique setlist.
And with "Ohm" in particular- what a start to the show. That song, from their album "Fade", from back in 2013- so gentle, so atmospheric, so convincing performed live, extended a bit to kick out the fuzzy and intoxicating jams.
Such was the night going forward, simple setup like a tried and true Yo La Tengo show- not much need for fancy LED backdrops, let alone display on the stage.
The music matters obviously, to the present day.
An added bonus- The Salt Shed and their exquisite lighting providing some luster to the proceedings.
Song number two- "Sinatra Drive Breakdown".

Another song that captivated and commands, from their latest release "This Stupid World" from 2020, a time when Yo La Tengo were re-invigorated yet again to experiment and jam along accordingly in their Hoboken studio, what with the Pandemic in plain view.
That album in particular, all songs, very lively, very satisfying in the Yo La Tengo world of compelling singing/ songwriting.
Two other songs will be performed as well from that album- "Fallout", along with "This Stupid World", both equal to the ideal of experimentation amplified by unique melody.
This is what sets Yo La Tengo apart from their contemporaries- not much fuss in looks and such, emphasis on the music.

That Ira and James and Georgia continue to churn out such emotionally satisfying songs after all these years...just goes to show yet again "age be damned"- playfulness and humor fully intact.
Case in point- song number three for the evening, "Mr.Tough", with Ira on his electric keyboard.
Ira likes to keep a beat obviously, what with his left knee in constant motion, to the point where towards the end of the song, he accidentally knocks over said keyboard.
No need to panic, James and Georgia included.

Take the necessary time to get things fixed and upright, including cables. And James was having fun with this slight mishap as well, what with referencing Keith Emerson of all things, that being his tendency back in the days of ELP by throwing around and dragging his Hammond B3 all over the place.
Don't know how many people caught the joke on particular, for me, I was laughing out loud, having been a huge ELP fan from way b ack when.
And to add even more light heartedness to the proceedings- they get back to finishing the song- all of ten seconds remaining.

Just goes to show yet again how much I adore these three, James, Ira and Georgia, knowing full well that they are music hounds as well, just normal folk with the unique ability to craft unique songs over and over and over, let alone the spirit of solid friendship and banter like you're sitting down at a coffee shop with deep rooted friends, along with the occasional razzing that's certain to follow.
Of course, heartfelt times ten- Song number thirteen for the evening- "Autumn Sweater".
Such magical vibes that song, live or recorded, a song that pervades the psyche, seeps into the soul, gorgeously performed, remaining gentle with purity at its heart.
The encore was cool as well, what with a fantastic cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams", along with Doug Martsch of Built to Spill, and then ending all things for the evening with "Yellow Sarong", a definitive Yo La Tengo staple.

Coming full circle with all things Yo La Tengo, on a gorgeous Sunday evening in Chicago, at a gorgeous listening venue such as The Salt Shed- a lovely evening immersed in sounds and moods, with a band that continues to mix things up musically speaking, and yet remain playful.

As for all things Built to Spill- that crowd on the main floor, their entire set, enthusiastic as all get out.
Doug Martsch certainly took notice, with sincere thank yous like over and over and over.
And like Yo La Tengo in regards to a trio format, besides Doug front and center providing his usual and captivating wall of sounds from his guitar and electronica, a mighty fine bass player in Melanie Radford, a constant energetic force throughout, wielding her bass like a staff, fleshing out the Built to Spill underbelly along with the human metronome on drums Teresa Esguerra, making it all worthwhile since she's not buried to the back of the stage- she's planted stage left, drum kit facing Doug and Melanie.

Their set as well, full of energetic playing from all three, let alone witty and immersive songwriting and lyric writing.

Compelling intellectually speaking, elevated with top shelf music making and playing.
Doug Martsch, like Ira in Yo La Tengo, not much need for fancy this or that, being clothes and costumes or made up hair styles, or even current trends of whatever- they speak the need of orderly conduct, appearance reflecting their age, sure, but with a heart of gold, a heart of creative output that compels you, reels you in to the present day.

Built to Spill's set- over in a flash, like Yo La Tengo's.
Both bands- Could've played all night into the wee hours.
No one would've left, their catalogs so full of nuggets and surprises.

Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago

Yo La Tengo, Built to Spill, Salt Shed, Chicago, Live Music, Summer 2025, JBTV Music Television, Bobby Talamine, Fiza Javid, Jerry Bryant

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Live Review: Yo La Tengo with Built to Spill - Summer 2025 Tour

Yo La Tengo, Built to Spill, Salt Shed, Chicago, Live Music, Summer 2025, JBTV Music Television, Bobby Talamine, Fiza Javid, Jerry Bryant

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