LATER...with Jools Holland (01/02/08 - Show 1)

As the only music TV show outside of the dedicated music channels, I felt it an obligation to review LATER... and talk about some of the performances and artists on each show. So we start with the 200th (ish) edition. The set line-up is as-follows:

• Radiohead - Bodysnatchers
• Mary J. Blige - Just Fine
• Feist - My Moon, My Man
• Dionne Warwick (Chat with JH at the piano)
• Cat Power - New York
• Radiohead - Weird Fishes / Arpeggi
• Robyn Hitchcock - Sounds Great When You're Dead
• Mary J. Blige - Feel Like A Woman
• Feist - 1234
• Mary J. Blige (Chat with JH at the piano)
• Cat Power - Lost Someone
• Happy Birthday - Everyone
• Mary J. Blige - Work That
• Feist - Sealion
• Radiohead - 15 Step

In a show heavy with 'talented female artists' it was a shame that Cat Power only performed two songs. The first of these taken from her new Jukebox covers album was a rearranged version of New York. The second performance Lost Someone was, sadly, a bit lacking.

Feist, on the other hand was very good. A stately rendition of My Moon, My Moon, then a wonderful semi-acoustic 1234 complete with a varied and interesting orchestra of instruments from her talented band. The finale Sealion was very Radiohead-esque, oozing energy and control. Feist's voice is amazingly strong while remaining delicate and soft.

Speaking of Radiohead, the band started and closed the show. All three songs: Bodysnatchers, Weird Fishes / Arpeggi and 15 Step sounded lifted from In Rainbows, such is the perfectionism of the band. Only opener Bodysnatchers with Yorke's wavering slack vocals was a bit too 'live'. The rest was incredible, even seeing instrument changes mid-song and guitarist Greenwood playing, changing programs with his feet and fingertip mouse controlling on his laptop.

Mary J. Blige, albeit not exactly my cup-o-chi, showed why and how she is so successful with three slick performances complete with funk-filled band. Her set closed with Work That and proved she can rap with the best of them.

The odd-ball, in so many ways, was Robyn Hitchcock who only had one song but he really made the most of it. Looking like a young and insane Peter Cook, he played a dexterous guitar lick on Sounds Great When You're Dead accompanied by Terry Edwards on the piano. The effect was very strange but there was clear dynamics between the two musicians who seemed to be playing on completely different songs.

JH took time out to chat with legend Dionne Warwick, who didn't perform which was a shame, and Mary J. about her new found happiness and CD. And everyone sung Happy Birthday to the show. After the chaos of the last Hootenanny, pre-recorded or not (see here for a very funny blog entry), this was much more straightforward. And JH resisted the temptation to soak everything in his R&B sound or 'help out' on his piano. Don't get me wrong, he is brilliant but we want to hear the artists untainted.