This showed up on some sort of recent DishTV rework of programming (channels in the upper stratosphere I never look for. I’m sure it with accompany some sort of increase…). I’d seen a few older episodes, years ago…
…But DAMN! I caught a few shows from the last couple years…
This is some quality programing, here!
I just watched Jason Isbell, Lake Street Dive and Paul Simon, then Sting and a few acts I’ve not hear of, but DAMN! They were GOOD!
I asked my wife, who has spent some time in England, *“How the hell does he get all these people together at once?”
*
She says, “They only have 3, maybe 4 channels over there. You get invited to a show to play with Sting, you show up.”
I dunno. I been drininkin’ since 4, so maybe (what do you mean ‘maybe’?) I’m just gushing. But, Man, those episodes of the show were some of the best TV I’ve seen in a while.
Who else digs this shit? I’m watching Beth Orton and Madness right now.
Musicians like the exposure and the concept, audiences like the variety and quality (from stars to world music to new acts). I absolutely recall the first time I heard - and of course saw - Radiohead, Porishead, Adele, and so many others.
It’s all 100% live music, of course.
Many touring acts feel they need to get two shows right Glastonbury and Jools, they’re like when you want to be at your peak - if you look at an outfit like Foo Fighters or Jay Z you can totally see they are super-hyped. Other artists just love the concept, people like Mavis Staples or Paul Weller, for example.
If you youtube 'Jool’s plus any artist you’re interested in it should come up.
There is always an ecletic mix on there and technically, aurally, it always sounds great. It tends to show a live band in the best possible light. Plus I suspect there is a “one-upmanship” thing going on seeing as all the artists are in there together.
Indeedly! Well, when Jools started there were only 4 terrestrial channels; by the time satellite and cable gained a real foothold (and eventually Freeview digital became the base-level), it was a revered institution.
There was The White Room too, briefly, in the 90s, which was Channel 4’s competitor to it. It was good while it lasted, and quite critically acclaimed: it won some sort of award, I seem to remember, which Jools had to present…
It was during my proper bangin years, can’t remember what happened between The Old Grey Whistle Test finishing in 1988 and Jools starting in 1992 - anyone?
It could have been four years of acid house and no one knew
Jools Holland’s show is the best musical descendant of David Sanborn’s “Night Music”, but better produced and more artists in a sitting (on the other hand, sometimes Sanborn dipped into some really weird and interesting stuff). It annoys me that my cable provider only queues up 4 back episodes of Jools at any time On Demand, but maybe that’s good because I would just watch them endlessly.
Nick Cave doing a smash-up job of one of my favorite of his songs, “Midnight Man”, on Jools. Warren Ellis is the boss with that little guitar of his.
And while I’m talking about “Night Music”, this clip of Stevie Ray Vaughan is just slightly over 2 minutes but he basically, in his very cool way, destroys the stage.
I have been catching *Later with Jools Holland *on some or the other German satellite channel for quite some years, and it was always top quality music TV in an intimate setting and always great bands, and some quality interviews to boot. I’ve been inspired by this thread to search for Paul Weller (there was a Paul Weller reference upthread somewhere, wasn’t it?) on Later, and found this duet with Amy Winehouse. Outstanding. Paul Weller is one of my heroes, though he seems to be basically unknown in the US (you don’t know what you miss!). Saw him last spring in Cologne and he was fantastic, maybe the best male British soul singer, and that’s saying something, and he’s no slouch on guitar, either. But what’s more fascinating is how Amy grows above her studio limitations and DELIVERS. Same here on this recording I was linked to from that. I don’t know if it was the production (which was ok in my book) or the songs on her few studio albums that lacked, but her true talent really shone through on those live covers. What a a talent, what a colossal waste. Sad story…
The best show on TV to see live music performed up close and personal. Almost always a great mix of different artists and styles. I don’t see it on my cable channel any more, boo hoo, but there is plenty available on the webz.
Okay, I just watched Seasick Steve. A crusty old hillbilly that stuck a broom handle into an old car’s aircleaner housing, put strings on it, and absolutely kicked ass!
