LATER...with Jools Holland (25/04/2008 - Series 32, Show 4)

Another great and interesting week in the world of Jools…an eclectic mix of artists with everything from British guitar music to Japanese drummers to Eartha Kitt.

Tuesday live set

• The Charlatans - The Misbegotten
• Was (Not Was) - Semi-Interesting Week
• The Pigeon Detectives - This Is An Emergency
• Eartha Kitt (Chat with JH)
• Yamato - Yakura
• Eartha Kitt with Jools - Ain’t Misbehavin’
• Brandi Carlile - The Story
• Was (Not Was) - Walk The Dinosaur

Friday set

• The Charlatans - You Cross My Path
• Was (Not Was) - Your Luck Won’t Last
• The Pigeon Detectives - This is An Emergency
• Eartha Kitt (Chat with JH)
• Brandi Carlile - The Story
• Eartha Kitt with Jools - Ain’t Misbehavin’
• Was (Not Was) - Where Did Your Heart Go?
• Yamato - Rakuda
• The Charlatans - The Misbegotten
• Don and David Was (Chat with JH)
• Lykke Li - Little Bit
• The Pigeon Detectives - Say It Like You Mean It
• Yamato - Cymbals
• Brandi Carlile - Turpentine
• Was (Not Was) - Semi-Interesting Week
• The Charlatans - Oh! Vanity

This week sees a huge return from the legendary Charlatans who are promoting their new album, previously given away for free on the internet. The live performances capture them at their best, newly invigorated and dynamic, living up to the top billing. They performed You Cross My Path, the very New Order-esque The Misbegotten and probably the best song the band has produced in years Oh! Vanity to close the show. Unfortunately this pushed another promising new band The Pigeon Detectives who only got two songs, both showing the band’s energy and chemistry. This Is An Emergency is a bit shouty, the overall sound not to dissimilar to, say, Bloc Party. It is a tried and tested, if a little stale, formula. Say It Like You Mean It is a much better live song but there wasn’t enough of them for my liking.

Was (Not Was) has an new album out after decades away and performed two new tracks Semi Interesting Week and Your Luck Won’t Last. In between on the Friday show they gave a spirited rendition of Where Did Your Heart Go? The Tuesday live show closed with Walk The Dinosaur. They still have a lot to offer and even though the vocals are a bit shaky these days, their support musicians are excellent, particularly the guitarist and saxophone players. Another older musician, now 86, is Eartha Kitt. She had the honorary main interview, looking very guarded on the Tuesday but much more at ease on Friday when she knew what was going on. Friday was a bit more flirtatious. She performed the same song with Jools, the best version on the Tuesday which was much more spontaneous and fun as she tried to put JH off by sidling up to him on the piano stool. Very entertaining and a genuine transformation when she performs.

World music is represented this week by Yamato (The Drummers Of Japan) who are as much a visual experience as an audio one. One piece for each show, including the biggest drum ever to appear on the show, plus a wonderful little cymbal interlude (at the risk of being patronising). They looked like they were having a lot of fun, even when not performing as they bounced to The Pigeon Detectives and clapped along to Was (Not Was).

Another great surprise was Brandi Carlile, who I must confess I have never heard of. She was fantastic, like a one-woman Coldplay infused with the spirit of Kurt Cobain. She performed two songs: The Story and Turpentine, the former showing her incredible range and including a guitar change midway through. Also on the show - again contributing to only two songs from The Pigeon Detectives - was Sweden’s latest export Lykke Li. She was a beguiling figure without a visible microphone and armed with tambourine and finger cymbals. The performance of Little Bit was a bit striped down, even for her, and just about worked.

So, a good show (again!) with lots of variety and high points. More please!