| Author | Message | ||
     86129squids |
Conan O'Brien has a worthy successor. Max Weinberg and the Weinberg 7 have a gen-U-inely WUPASS successor. With all respect to Max and the Band. Jimmy Fallon and the ROOTS are ON it. Missed a chance to see the Roots live at the Tennessee Theatre. Won't repeat that mistake. Fallon is as insane as Conan, with a good instinctive comic genius driving him. Late Nite is GUUUUDD. | ||
| Brinnutz |
Yes, it took a week or two to get used to him, but the other night had me laughing my ass off. I missed it tonight unfortunately... | ||
| 86129squids |
For me, the house band has a lot to do with the show. Increasingly, they blend in organically with whatever the host has going on. Conan and Max (and several of his band) always had a good back-and-forth. Letterman and Schaffer set the standard a long time ago. Although Leno is the dude, kewl in many ways (not the least being a motorhead), I never really turned on to Kevin Eubanks and his crew. (BTW, Eubanks' recorded work is pretty sharp- reference "Shadow Prophets".) (In the beginning, with Leno, he had Branford Marsalis and co. as the house band- too bad for Leno that he lost them, but OTOH I'd not expect Branford to hang around as a 2nd fiddle to anyone.) ?uestlove and the Roots are TITE! Every time I hear them come on, I want to turn up the volume- they've got GREAT bottom, great timing. I expect they'll have notable guest players, after seeing the lil girl bass prodigy a few nights ago. Hate that I forgot her name, but she's played with Clapton and other greats of the music world- she can't be more than 16YO and DAMM good. Fallon- last nite he did a skit stemming from news of Alaska's Mt. Redoubt volcano blowing up- suddenly a volcano appeared in the middle of the audience (complete with copious dry ice blows, lights) and the god of the volcano demanded 300 lbs of baked beans. Then "natives" appeared, set up what looked to be cement pouring troughs over the audience, and proceeded to deliver the beans, etc. Of course the god of the volcano wouldn't be appeased- he finally asked for a human sacrifice, the white guy in the Roots band. Then Fallon sacrificed himself. It was a riot! Before all that, opening the show, some Japanese dude opened instead of Fallon and delivered the monologue in Japanese with subtitles on the TV. Loony as hell. Like I said, Jimmy Fallon is a worthy successor to Conan O' Brien. | ||
| Froggy |
I have just the opposite view. I feel the band gets in the way more than anything. I like how on Leno/Conan, they occasionally pick on the band members or the band gives some kind of witty comment. Jimmy is involving the band in the skits; I personally feel it’s just over the top and taking away from the show. Another thing that bugs me about jimmy is that he is trying to copy some of Conan's bits and qwerkyness. He just can't pull it off like Conan does. And another thing about bands, I personally couldn't give a crap about them. I never heard of the Roots beforehand, and probably never would have otherwise. A few punk kids they grabbed off the street would be fine by me. | ||
| 86129squids |
"I have just the opposite view. I feel the band gets in the way more than anything. I like how on Leno/Conan, they occasionally pick on the band members or the band gives some kind of witty comment. Jimmy is involving the band in the skits; I personally feel it’s just over the top and taking away from the show." The house band has <always> played a crucial role in the way these shows operate, all the way back to Carson (the great Johnny Carson, not Daley). They allow transitions from stand-up at the beginning monologue to the host's desk, and keep the audience entertained between commercial breaks. Fallon is smart to use the band as a comic foil/accomplices, the more the better. A buddy of mine got to see Letterman live last year- said buddy is a musician AND a sound tech, basically Yoda behind a sound board- and his favorite part of being there was seeing Paul Schaffer and the band play. We don't get to experience that watching TV. Don't underestimate the importance of these talented folks! "And another thing about bands, I personally couldn't give a crap about them. I never heard of the Roots beforehand, and probably never would have otherwise. A few punk kids they grabbed off the street would be fine by me." Man, Frogs- first you miss Being John Malkovich and Soylent Green references, now this? What in the world do you listen to? We're talking about BANDS- all of these musicians are LEGENDS before they got the gig to play on these shows. Paul Shaffer has played with FRICKIN EVERYONE important, Max Weinberg drives the E street band, and it's just sad that you don't appreciate the Roots. In many ways they have broken the mold for rap/funk, truth be told I've been aware of them for years but not sought them out to listen. I'll be changing that next time I go to the record store. I agree that Jimmy is trying to match Conan with the wackiness- yes, he's following Conan's formula, but I believe he's succeeding in making it his own. Don't judge too quickly, bro. Seriously, are you experienced? What role does music play in your life? I feel it essential to living right. Gotta listen to all of it. I know you're a tech head, so surely you can get webcasts. Please go to www.wdvx.com and tune in for a while. You won't be disappointed. Love ya man, just trying to help. | ||
| Acav80 |
I didn't know Fallon was taking over Late Nite. I will have to check it out. I like him and I like the Roots. I wouldn't have guessed that the Roots would be interested in being a house band on network TV, but hey, I'm sure the paycheck is nice. Hey Squids if you listen to DVX much you are bound to hear my sisters on there. Cherohala is their duo band, local to Knoxville. They get played from time to time, even play the Blue Plate every now and then. This Friday night at the Catalyst (formerly Blue Cats) they are playing with some other friends in a few bands, calling it the "K-town Country Carnival". Good local grassroots music if you're into that sort of thing. | ||
| Froggy |
Squids I wasn't dissing the Roots, they clearly are an excellent band. I just think they are wasting their talent on being a late night show band. Sure the exposure is great, and hopefully they can use this like a slingshot and boost their careers. As for me, I don't really listen to music. I got the XM radio on my bike and almost never use it. I bought my car, it is a 2002 and has no CD player, and I don't give a crap. I had XM radio installed in it, but even that I don't use much either. Actually every since they merged with Sirius and ruined the current lineup and removed the Mercury show from the metal channel, I almost never turn it on. Some music I do like is Cradle of Filth, Pantera, Lamb of God, Dying Fetus, Emmure, etc. I will check out that link, but something tells me it’s not my cup of tea.  | ||
| 86129squids |
"I will check out that link, but something tells me it’s not my cup of tea." Yeah, no doubt- instead of tea, how bout some absinthe with a Red Bull chaser? I like good metal, but why do all those bands try to out-skank each other with the names? (Heck, once upon a time I thought the Butthole Surfers, The Cramps and the Circle Jerks were edgy.) WDVX would be the antidote to all that stuff, yeah. Email in sometime and ask them to play some Hayseed Dixie. Yeah, that's right. Just lookin out for your best interests...  | ||
| 86129squids |
Aca- yeah, I think I remember you mentioning them before. I know I've seen them play, probably at the Shed at Smoky Mtn. H-D/BUELL. Good stuff- glad they're keeping busy playing. "Good local grassroots music if you're into that sort of thing." I am a proud supporter of East Tennessee's Own WDVX! All youn's should be. They'll make yer life worth livin, music-wise. |
