LATER...with Jools Holland (Series 33, Show 2 - 23/09/2008 and 26/09/2008)

A more reflective show is week due to the death of Richard Wright. Fellow Pink Floyd singer and guitarist David Gilmore was due to perform, with Wright, to promote his new live album. Wright cancelled a few weeks ago due to ill health. So Gilmore talked about working with Wright and performed one of his songs from the early days. So this tribute overshadowed yet another amazing set from Elbow which easily overshadowed everything else on offer.



Tuesday show

• Elbow - Grounds For Divorce
• Katy Perry - I Kissed A Girl
• David Gilmore (Chat with JH)
• Roots Manuva - Again & Again
• David Gilmore - Remember A Day
• Imelda May - Johnny Got A Boom Boom
• Elbow - One Day Like This

Friday

• Elbow - Grounds For Divorce
• Katy Perry - I Kissed A Girl
• David Gilmore - Remember A Day
• Elbow (Chat with JH)
• Roots Manuva - Again & Again
• Imelda May - Johnny Got A Boom Boom
• Elbow - One Day Like This
• Hayes Carll - Beaumont
  
• David Gilmore (Chat with JH)
• Katy Perry - Waking Up In Vegas
• Imelda May - Falling In Love With You Again
• Roots Manuva - Let The Spirit
• Elbow - The Bones Of You
• David Gilmore - The Blue

Elbow owned both shows and took time to chat with Jools about winning the Mercury Music Prize. Guy and Pete talked about how they spent the money - Guy bought more radios and when asked which stations he listens to, plugged 6music and his own show. It was an annoyingly short interview in which Pete told Jools how the band dynamic relies on their friendship - they were all friends before they were any good, and that they make music they want to hear and follow no trends. The set was predictable: Grounds For Divorce (with Guy on chime bashing duties), One Day Like This (closing the Tuesday show and forming the centrepiece of Friday) and The Bones Of You. Flawless and accomplished as always.

David Gilmore, almost looking embarrased to be on the show given recent news, talked to Jools on Tuesday and then Friday about his friend, collegue and fellow musician Richard Wright. He is the ethereal jazz glue that held the Pink Floyd sound together, he said. You can't explain it, it is like soul and you miss it when it is gone. They showed some footage of Echoes and Gilmore said that it was a song they would probably never perform again - they simply wouldn't be able to play it without Wright. Musically Remember A Day was better on the Friday - it all looked a bit uncomfortable on Tuesday, and Gilmore closed the main show with The Blue, from his solo album.

Elsewhere, only Hayes Carll was impressive. For a few minutes during Beaumont hehas the entire audience in the palm of his hand - a great present with just one voice and one guitar. A very good surprise. Imelda May was also good but a bit too safe. The swing stomp of Johnny Got A Boom Boom was awkward and the more simple Falling In Love With You Again with Jools on piano is a decent ballad. Katy Price (who I don't get) rattled through attention grabbing I Kissed A Girl and then the much better rock of Waking Up In Vegas.

The only artist of no interest was Roots Manuva. It was noisy and shouty and pointless. He may be an institution but so is Herbie Hancock and I just don't get him either.

An interesting and more subdued show in which artists ultimately did not gel toegther.