Yo La Tengo are considered to be one of the most creative and influential indie-rock forces in the past fifteen years. Singer/guitarist Ira Kaplan creates screams of feedback and monstrous guitar squalls at any given moment, only to completely break down the song and build it back up into a structured melody. Kaplan's not a screamer though, he lets his guitar do the work for him. He will, however, use his voice for a greater cause in support of New Jersey's WFMU radio starting today until Tuesday.

Kaplan hit the airwaves this morning, early this morning, from 6-9 AM EST for the web-only broadcast in order to raise money during the station's pledge drive. On Sunday from 5-8 PM EST, Yo La Tengo (Ira Kaplan, drummer Georgia Hubley, and bassist James McNew) is scheduled to perform a myriad of cover songs with Bruce Bennett of the A-Bones. The idea is that listeners will call-in and ask the band to perform a cover of their choice in exchange for a donation.

In other Yo La-news the trio will hit SXSW on March 13 with a gig at the Austin Music Hall. During the SXSW Film Festival, they'll also get to check out the premiere of The Toe Tactic, for which they created the musical score. The film was directed by Hubley's sister Emily, and stars the hilarious David Cross, Mary Kay Place, Lily Rabe, and Kevin Corrigan. The dates below were confirmed via Pitchfork.

Here are the Yo La Texas dates:

3/10 Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theatre
3/13 Austin, TX - Austin Music Hall (SXSW)
3/15 Dallas, TX - Dallas Museum of Art