[TICKET GIVEAWAY] Yo La Tengo & Built to Spill | July 11 @ The Ryman

Two of the most beloved and essential indie acts of the ’90s, New Jersey’s Yo La Tengo and Idaho’s Built to Spill, are preparing to kick off a co-headlining tour, bringing them to Nashville this Friday, July 11 for a performance at The Ryman Auditorium. No strangers to Music City- YLT were last in town for a pair of dates at The Basement East in 2023, and BTS brought an anniversary run to Brooklyn Bowl last fall- this appears to be both groups’ first time performing at the Mother Church, which is an astounding fact considering they’ve both been active for decades, and have played Nashville a combined 20 or so times between them.

Formed in Hoboken, NJ in 1984 by husband and wife duo Ira Kaplan (guitar and vocals) and Georgia Hubley (drums), with bassist James McNew rounding out the trio since the early ’90s, Yo La Tengo are one of the most critically acclaimed bands in their scene, perfecting a genre-bending indie rock, noise pop, and shoegaze sound across an astonishing 17 albums and over 40 years. While ’80s and ’90s efforts attracted early buzz, it was 1993’s dreamy sixth LP Painful that really marked a shift to further greatness, with 1997’s I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One and 2000’s And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out cementing the group’s legacy as one of the great rock bands of all time. Known also for a diverse and often surprising array of covers in addition to their great original tunes, the latter half of YLT’s has been just as prolific, with lots of touring, a steady clip of new LPs, and anniversary re-releases of many of their classics.

Formed just a few years later, in 1992, in Boise, Idaho, Built to Spill are an equally iconic and seminal fixture of ’90s indie rock, boasting a sound more alt rock rooted than YLT’s more ambient and poppy bent. Though their lineup has been a bit more fluid over the decades, frontman Doug Martsch has remained the constant, with bassist Melanie Radford and drummer Teresa Esguerra rounding out the current incarnation since 2019. A little less prolific than their tour mates, BTS have none the less released a respectable nine studio albums over a 30 year span, generating positive critical buzz for their early efforts, which fit right in with the flourishing Pacific Northwest scene of the time, before breaking out to wider recognition with third album and major label debut Perfect from Now On in 1997, along with fantastic 1999 followup Keep It Like a Secret. Like YLT, Built to Spill have remained quite active over the years as they’ve settled into their reputation as one of the indie rock greats, continuing to craft new music while also honoring their best, like a 30th anniversary tour for last year for sophomore album There’s Nothing Wrong with Love.

Two of the best indie acts to ever exist, seeing them together, in a venue as magical as The Ryman is an incredible opportunity for both longtime fans and newcomers alike. Tickets are still available right here while they last, but we’re thrilled to announce that we’re also giving away a pair of tickets to one lucky fan! Preview the lineup and enter below.

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Yo La Tengo and Built to Spill will perform Friday, July 11 at The Ryman Auditorium. The show is all ages, begins at 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.), and tickets are available to purchase for $49.16-63.63.