Yo La Tengo

Yo La Tengo is an American rock band. Based in Hoboken, New Jersey, they have demonstrated unusual longevity for the indie-rock scene. A critical favorite with a devoted fan base, they have achieved only limited popular success.

Yo La Tengo is an American rock band. Based in Hoboken, New Jersey, they have demonstrated unusual longevity for the indie-rock scene. A critical favorite with a devoted fan base, they have achieved only limited popular success.

Their name comes from a baseball anecdote. The center fielder of the New York Mets in 1962, Richie Ashburn, was crashing again and again with Venezuelan Elio Chacon. Every time Ashburn went for a ball, he would scream, "I got it! I got it!" only to collide with the 160 pound (73 kg) Chacon, who spoke only Spanish. Finally, Ashburn learnt to yell, "Yo la tengo! Yo la tengo!" which is "I've got it" in Spanish. Ashburn happily saw Chacon backing off. He relaxed, positioned himself to catch the ball, and was run over by 200 pound (91 kg) left fielder Frank Thomas Sr. who understood no Spanish.