The Best in Late-Night Music: Week of Aug. 31
(photo courtesy of PBS)
This week was the calm before the storm.
With Colbert putting the finishing touches on his Sept. 8 debut and nearly everyone else on holiday, the two Jimmys had the late-night airwaves all to themselves. They will probably never see the midnight air so still again. They had admirable bookings and the music was sweet. Still, an underdog took the week.
This week’s late-night winner: Tavis Smiley
While the music was blaring on Fallon and Kimmel, PBS talk show host Tavis Smiley quietlynabbed D’Angelo for his first talk show appearance in over 10 years. No grooves, but a seriously deep conversation over two nights that covered Prince, Curtis Mayfield, the Pentecostal church, and mixing politics with music. Required watching, though as of this writing, the video not yet available online. Read the entire transcript here.
MONDAY
Gary Clark Jr. on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Clark has a tough act to follow: himself. His follow-up to his lauded major-label debut is filled with the kid of hype that would crush a lesser man. But Clark is not one of those musical weaklings. He hit the stage with a guitar-slinger swagger (and two super-sexy soulful singers) reserved for the rock elite. Welcome back for round two, Mista Clark Jr.
TUESDAY
Atlas Genius on Jimmy Kimmel Live
Australia is starting to rival England as the land that produces the perfect pop band. Adelaide’s Atlas Genius brought more ‘80s throwback love and the kind of musical intuition that only family can produce (brothers Keith Jeffery and Michael Jeffery handle guitar/vocals and drums, respectively). More reasons to love the land Down Under.
WEDNESDAY
Justin Bieber on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
You can keep the new single. In fact, you keep Bieber on most days. But his drumming…? The Biebs has got mad rhythm. Even Questlove had to bow down.
It was a drum-off for the ages, but it still didn’t rival the epic showdown between Chad Smith and Will Ferrell.
THURSDAY
Faith No More on Jimmy Kimmel Live
The Bay Area funk-metal freaks (I say that with love) came back from an extended hiatus in 2009, but now they’re touring behind their first new album since 1997. It’s not quite the heights of late ‘80s heyday, but when a band plays while decked out in tuxedos accompanied by a bondage-laden mannequin (or a very still dude) on an entirely white stage, how can you bitch?
Follow The Reverend Shawn Amos on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+
Listen to the Reverend Shawn Amos on iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud
