PSA: Jools back tonight - sadly Paul Weller returns !

Jalapeno

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bmk6d4

ArchtopDave

Watched Episode 1 - Marc Almond's voice unfortunately appeared to be a bit shot, and the IDLES were appalling IMO.

Moe_Zambeek

"Other artists set to perform during the series include Muse, Jungle, Laurel, Interpol, Sigrid, Joe Bonamassa, Neneh Cherry and Paul Weller. "

Quelle surprise!

Philly_Q

Is Dr. John still alive?

robinbowes

Moe_Zambeek said:

"Other artists set to perform during the series include Muse, Jungle, Laurel, Interpol, Sigrid, Joe Bonamassa, Neneh Cherry and Paul Weller. "

Quelle surprise!

Sounds like the same line up as "TOTP - 1986" on BBC4.

Philtre

No Seasick Steve? Is he sick of being on the show or something?

proggy

I like Later With Jools Holland, I just wish it was on earlier

...............and with a different presenter.

Philly_Q

proggy said:

I like Later With Jools Holland, I just wish it was on earlier

...............and with a different presenter.

And different guests.

Blueingreen

The show takes a lot of stick and frankly deserves much of it, too much of a vanity project for Jools. 

But I think people who imagine that once it's terminated (and I understand there's a serious threat of that) it will be replaced by something better are mistaken.  Other attempts at live music shows over its lifetime have failed to take off, and I suspect only brand loyalty is giving this one viewing figures that make its continuation just about defensible.

My guess is that as far as a live showcase for bands at the more "serious" end of the rock/pop spectrum the real choice is Jools or nothing.  And it's better than nothing.

rolls1392

I wish the sound was better
Last week it came across really quite grim.

Jalapeno

Blueingreen said:

The show takes a lot of stick and frankly deserves much of it, too much of a vanity project for Jools. 

But I think people who imagine that once it's terminated (and I understand there's a serious threat of that) it will be replaced by something better are mistaken.  Other attempts at live music shows over its lifetime have failed to take off, and I suspect only brand loyalty is giving this one viewing figures that make its continuation just about defensible.

My guess is that as far as a live showcase for bands at the more "serious" end of the rock/pop spectrum the real choice is Jools or nothing.  And it's better than nothing.

True, but I agree it feels tired.

joetele

Bring back the White Room, I say. 

Hattigol

Blueingreen said:

The show takes a lot of stick and frankly deserves much of it, too much of a vanity project for Jools. 

But I think people who imagine that once it's terminated (and I understand there's a serious threat of that) it will be replaced by something better are mistaken.  Other attempts at live music shows over its lifetime have failed to take off, and I suspect only brand loyalty is giving this one viewing figures that make its continuation just about defensible.

My guess is that as far as a live showcase for bands at the more "serious" end of the rock/pop spectrum the real choice is Jools or nothing.  And it's better than nothing.

The format is fine. Just really really REALLY needs a new presenter. And a producer who doesn't feel that the viewing public necessarily wants to watch the likes of a trombone quintet from Senegal.

not_the_dj

joetele said:

Bring back the White Room, I say. 

Pretty much the same format though wasn't it? (is it just Jools that's the problem for a lot of people?)

I loved the one with Shane McGowan and the Popes where he laid into one of the band members during a song, then Radcliffe's link was something along the lines of "kids, that's what you do when you see a banjo player"

Kitsune

Gave up on Jools Holland years ago. Lack of HEAVY did it for me. Plus his ALWAYS sitting in on boogie woogie piano all the bloody time!

joetele

not_the_dj said:

joetele said:

Bring back the White Room, I say. 

Pretty much the same format though wasn't it? (is it just Jools that's the problem for a lot of people?)

I loved the one with Shane McGowan and the Popes where he laid into one of the band members during a song, then Radcliffe's link was something along the lines of "kids, that's what you do when you see a banjo player"

While my suggestion wasn't 100% serious, I definitely preferred the range of bands they'd have on the White Room. I've never really had a problem with Jools apart from the somewhat awkward interviews, and I certainly appreciate that he's brought a lot of music you wouldn't normally hear to screens. I suppose for me the happy medium is having both Jools on BBC2 and something like The White Room on Channel 4. But live music shows are a bit of an oddity and we're lucky to have any these days. 

I remember one WR episode where Liam Gallagher turned up drunk so Noel sang the first couple of songs while Liam sat in an alcove looking up at the dancers. When he did get up to sing, it was basically what we now know as the sound of drunk people singing Oasis songs. 

My favourite JH moment is when they had At the Drive-In on. I think Simon from Biffy Clyro later picked up on it in a Kerrang interview - they were on the same show as Robbie Williams. Simon said something like "when they started playing, you could see the fat, talentless f**k-nugget sh*t himself because of his complete irrelevance". 

I'm sure Mr Williams doesn't mind really, though. The huge sales and popularity might help. 

Veganic

I think that even if you don't like it you should put it on iplayer when you are out to keep the viewing figures up.

The things I like:

1. It doesn't editorialise.
2. It is respectful.
3. It has a huge variety.
4.It is live music.
5. Jools doesn't play half as much piano as people think.


Where else are you going to get that in an hour or so these days?

Moe_Zambeek

Hattigol said:

Blueingreen said:

The show takes a lot of stick and frankly deserves much of it, too much of a vanity project for Jools. 

But I think people who imagine that once it's terminated (and I understand there's a serious threat of that) it will be replaced by something better are mistaken.  Other attempts at live music shows over its lifetime have failed to take off, and I suspect only brand loyalty is giving this one viewing figures that make its continuation just about defensible.

My guess is that as far as a live showcase for bands at the more "serious" end of the rock/pop spectrum the real choice is Jools or nothing.  And it's better than nothing.

The format is fine. Just really really REALLY needs a new presenter. And a producer who doesn't feel that the viewing public necessarily wants to watch the likes of a trombone quintet from Senegal.

To be fair, some of the best moments on the show for me have been the left-field acts you'd never see anywhere else. They've had some incredible, jaw-dropping acts on from places I've never heard of, playing music I've never heard before. 

It's just that recently they seem to have got in a bit of a rut and had some very average acts on from all over the world in between quite a few bands who seem to have become institutionalized on Later

AlexC

Perhaps people’s ideal show would be the acts that they really like playing live without any presenter and acts they don’t like nowhere to be seen? Oh, hang on... that’s called a Concert DVD. Available in all good shops now. 

BintyTwanger77

I'm grateful for Later,,, for introducing me to Savages, Arcade Fire and many others. Amy Winehouse's appearance when Back In Black was first launched was sublime.

Lodious

I think it's total shit that should have been axed years ago. We are going through a really good period in contemporary music, and having that smug cat faced twat fronting it with such a stale format is missing a major opportunity for the BBC. 

The Tube had an edge to it which made it interesting, Later has become the polar opposite of the Tube. Later has had had some great performers over the years, but the format does not allow decent bands to stretch out. The interviews are wooden and cliquey with too many of his celb mates and hangers on. I also fucking detest his shitty plicky plonk piano which he thinks is an appropriate accompaniment to artists which are on a totally different level to Jools. 

Kill it now and give the budget and airtime to someone with some ideas.