This seems to have rattled a few cages. Who knew that Jools was so well liked?
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/apr/08/later-with-jools-holland-cockroach-schedules
“Later… With Jools Holland: a cockroach in the schedules”
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And what about those Guardian ponces who wouldn’t know good music if it came up and bit them on the arse?
However. Yes, Later is indeed a tired programme sorely in need of refreshing. The multi-stage format is actually still not a bad one. The real problems are Jools’ gormless interviews, which are just interruptions in the show’s momentum, and the cowardliness of the recent artist choices. If they are going to continue with an interview spot, it needs to be more pithy/sparky and less dumb.
The worst problem of all is that there are no alternative shows to give Later the kick up the arse it so richly deserves.
This writer thinks The Word was “brilliant”. Yes, Terry Christian and Amanda de Cadenet interviewing Jay Kay… it doesn’t get any better than that.
Never does one show cause such mixed views. For me it needs to change, or rather Jools need to go. Too long. Even worse is the Hootenany at new year. I would love to see some fresh acts introduced. It doesn’t seem to cater for all. Very safe. Too safe. Add a few new live music shows to replace it. Very, very staid.
But there are people who love it. Me? I sky plus it if there’s someone on i want to see and fast forward through Jools interviews. They are woeful.
Its a shame its back again. BBC please make a change. But of course, they won’t.
2017 was improvement on 2016 for me as soon as it started because I didn’t have to endure the f***ing Hootenanny. My Dad insists on having it on, so it’s ruined all but two of my last 20-odd New Years Eves. I’m a tolerant man but my ideal midnight moment would see the new year being rung in by Rowland Rivron being pulled up Big Ben by his gonads.
It’s just occurred to me that the problem with Later is that most acts only appear when they have an album to promote. In other words, the same reason why there wasn’t much punk or New Wave on the OGWT* until 1978.
(* or the official reason, anyway)
That’s rough on cockroaches. Jools is more like a cancerous growth
Bring back The Tube you groovy fuckers.
Its problem is that the acts are too obvious for the people who think of themselves as cognoscenti, but too beard strokey for the pop audience. It falls between two stools. (Or, if Rowland Rivron is there to do a “hilarious” gag from the audience, stalls between two fools.)
I’m sure that Later could do with a revamp. And I’m not too keen on Jules’s boogie woogie piano either.
But, as someone living in a country where there is not one single live TV music programme, I am rather jealous that the UK has a show that showcases interesting, new bands and also has performances by old favourites. With all its failings, you are very lucky to have it.
Be careful what you wish for…as much fun as looking at the occasional old clip on YouTube can be, I haven’t forgotten how absolutely dreadful those shows used to be back in the days when they did exist on Swedish TV!
And, actually it does exist today in a certain form: the “one artist interviewing and playing music with another artist” form of the SVT format led first by Niklas Strömstedt and then by Lars Winnerbäck.
Maybe – third time lucky – next time around they’ll choose a good artist to host and more interesting artists to showcase, but still, live TV music programs does exist (I’m not going to comment on “Allsång på Skansen”…)
It’s a fucker, really, as, as commented upon, it is the only show(case) in town, and has, undoubtedly given exposure to folk otherwise unlikely together a leg up.(Think Rag’n’Bone Man, even if the album is shite) I am not an overt hater of the Holland, having been an enthusiast of his live shows, 2012-4: he is a prat, but a talented one. What he needs is competition, an OGWT for now. I am available.
Perhaps we should create our own weekly virtual show.
The Laterword
Some randomly-chosen members of a specially-formed-for-the-purpose Secret Afterword Clique could nominate live clips of a few “hot” contemporary artistes and one Still-Living Legend Of The Past.
At about the half-way mark in the proceedings, in place of an awful interview, a nominated curmudgeon could briefly but amusingly slag off the Bill-Topper from that particular show’s lineup.
After the still-living legend finishes performing and (crucial, this) has left the studio – one of the Secret Afterword Clique presenting will don a comedy tin hat and spent 5 minutes revealing that they have don’t care much for the still-living legend and can’t see what the fuss is about.
Some of those “artist plays another artist’s songs “shows can be rather good, Locust. To my surprise, I really enjoyed that one that Thomas Andersson Wiij did with Peter Le Marc,
It reminded me what an excellent songwriter and performer LeMarc is.
Allsång på Skansen? I was there last weekend and it was nothing but Birdsong på Skansen.
Unfortunately the loudest birds were the peacocks and the geese. I was soon longing for Sanna Nielsen.
Ah – Tomas Andersson Wij – that’s the guy, not Winnerbäck. I’m getting my middle-aged rock poets mixed up… 🙂
Yes, his series wasn’t bad, but mostly the usual suspects…but I did enjoy LeMarc and also Veronica Maggio.
And the aftershow of “Allsång…” when they gave Laleh a full hour to do her thing was nice!
That Veronica Maggio clip was gorgeous. So much so, that I am going to post another song from her. This is from a Friday evening quiz show, På Spåret, which always has two musical questions and they always book excellent artists to do them.
From the same show: Frida Hyvönen covers Massive Attack’s Teardrop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk3fR1Tfe40
And Sofia Karlsson doing a Lars Winneback song
It’s a shame we don’t have more AWers in Norway ( any volunteers?)
Then we could hear about NRK’s output. This odd but rather enjoyable show has artists performing at someone’s office.
She’s done the same thing, except about American Drama.
Something something boring tired same journalistic tripe something something
Yep. Just tabloid “who/what’s this week’s target?” hackery in a broadsheet disguise.
I have mentioned this before in an Alan Partridge-inspired thread called Monkey Tennis but I really do think that a dad rock music show could get some Top Gear-type popularity. Let’s face it, most of us don’t care about cars but when Top Gear was good, it was very good.
I’m not particularly referring to an 80s-style Whistle Test type thing but that’s the closest to what I envisage. They sometimes set up some quite amusing situations. The difference would be that the presenters could be actual artists who may have had their time in the sun but still hold affection with viewers – Rick Wakeman, Jarvis Cocker, Suzi Quatro, Captain Sensible, Noddy Holder, bloke from The Darkness, Nick Heyward, Boy George, Alison Moyet, Lisa Stansfield, Betty Boo… Live music from act de nos jours could bookend the show and/or still-living legends could make an appearance too. In fact, some of them could attract guests that would be otherwise reluctant. The show would be played for laughs. Perhaps they are set up to perform an unlikely support slot for a currently massive boy band to a bemused teen audience – or they play to about 20 bored people in a pub basement.
I think one of the key things about Top Gear is that it’s on in the evening. Normals are likely to stumble across it and form an opinion.
Why are live music programmes mainly put out when most people are in bed?
I would guess that most Later…. viewers are time shifters which means they don’t great if as the only live music programme because, when you’re watching on demand, you have all sorts of other options such as the Paste studio sessions and the NPR tiny desk concerts to choose from as well as loads of the stuff recorded for BBC radio but also filmed and on the Web site or red button.
Oddly, the original article managed to skirt round any mention of the BBCs most recent new live music series, All Shook Up from 2015. Let’s face it, rock music is now even more of niche interest than its ever been and enthusiasts know where to look.
So when are Kiwi TV going to offer you a job to get this Dad Music show up and running, BC?
I think you are really onto something there.
Are there any live music shows in New Zealand and Australia? There must be something.
I just stumbled across this overview of the history of music TV in your neck of the woods:
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/tv-history/music
Here’s a bit of Kiwi nostalgia for you! Radio with Pictures, a pop show that was always broadcast “before the Sunday horrors”. (What does that mean?)
Thanks KFD. I listen to Karen Hay sometimes on the radio – more of a talkback host these days but callers sometimes refer to Radio With Pictures. Seemingly the only show at the time that showed music videos.
As far as I know, there is no music TV here in NZ on the main channels. I think people watch the specialist TV channels for music.
Anyone else remember a Channel 4 show from the early 80s (I think) where various musicians from various bands got together in various combinations to play live? I remember John Entwhistle being on one. I don’t think it lasted more than one series, and I can’t find anything on the web!?
Was that Gas Tank perhaps? Some involvement from Tony Ashton who I think was mate of a better known host
This may help jog your memory, Nigel.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:British_music_television_programmes
This BFI overview is rather useful too.
http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/561744/
Your comment reminded me of this show, Night Music, which had some excellent guests and ran for two seasons. Soony Rollins, Leonard Cohen and Was (not Was) are in this one.
I had forgotten though that Jools was also involved. You can’t get away from him, can you? Don’t let that put you off.
Here’s an interview with David Sanborn who was the brains behind it all.
http://www.nashvillescene.com/music/article/13048701/twentyfive-years-later-hostsaxophonist-david-sanborn-looks-back-on-nbcs-sunday-night
And here’s an episode guide. A kind of OGWT. Ameircan style.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_Night_(American_TV_program)
Ken Nordine??? Shit the bed! Now there’s a legend…
That David Sanbourn show I have only seen on you-tube clips, but put that in a mixer with Jools and what do you get? Elvis Costello’s Spectacle. Wouldn’t mind a revival of that, if only for the likes of this: