Well that concludes another Later... liveblog and certainly the first one I’ve ever done where Jools didn’t crowbar in an awkward interview. For that reason alone it will go down as one of my more enjoyable ones. Thank you and goodnight.
As I said earlier, Bono did seem like someone trying to make a point which I guess is what you should be doing if you’re in the self-appointed biggest band in the world.
I think Bono proved a point there. Not that he should have to really... #LaterJools
— William Boud (@notjamieoliver) October 21, 2014
Oh is that it? I was so intent on finding some amusing tweets that I didn’t realise it was finished. Well, that was a solid 7/10 wasn’t it. U2 were slightly better than expected, Sam Smith was solid, Interpol were a bit dull, Zola Jesus did some dancing, the Alvin brothers gave Jools something to do and Slaves were brilliantly unhinged. Not bad for half an hour’s worth of your license fee.
This wag:
This new U2 stuff sounds good. When's it out? #LaterJools
— Mark Morriss (@TheQuill) October 21, 2014
I see:
Have The Edge and Bono been listening to an Adele album? #LaterJools
— Smithy (@the_mathsmith) October 21, 2014
Oh:
Was that it? Now we get U2 doing Adele! #LaterJools
— TransmissionTwo (@TransmissionTwo) October 21, 2014
Regardless of what you may think of U2 and Bono and them plonking their new album onto your iTunes uninvited, his voice still sounds pretty amazing. This is actually quite nice.
Seriously though, he’s wearing Sam Smith’s hair. Can we get a picture of a bald Sam please.
U2 again
Erm, no one panic, but Edge is sat at a piano! No guitar riffs. I repeat, no echo-laden guitar riffs!
Exactly:
Loving the angry noise of SLAVES #LaterJools
— KeepTheFaith (@LeeFromLancs) October 21, 2014
Also love that the producers put them on straight after Sam Smith, just to wake everyone up a bit.
Shame he couldn’t get an adult’s drum kit but this is sort of amazing. No idea what he’s singing but the energy is pretty infectious (he says while sat on a sofa sipping a cup of tea).
Slaves
Right here we go! Here’s the party! Again, very smart. All TV shows need to up their tailoring after tonight.
I’ve heard this song so often that I can’t really be critical of it in any capacity. It sort of just exists like air or wallpaper or Katie Price.
There’s a version of this with Mary J Blige doing some singing on it and then Sam’s written some things for her new album too. Just so you know.
Sam Smith again
Blimey we’re really rattling through this aren’t we. Now doing his second UK number 1, Stay With Me, a song that simultaneously sounds like fifteen other songs.
Anyway, back to Dave and Phil. They’re showcasing some pretty amazing guitar playing ‘chops’ if that’s your thing. Plus, not everyone can pull off a hat like that, so kudos to Phil (or Dave).
Updated
Did you know that the only outside musician to ever play with The White Stripes was Jools Holland? Isn’t that mad. On Later..., during a performance of My Doorbell if memory serves me correctly.
Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin
Right, here we go. Here’s where the party really starts, right here with the Alvin brothers. Of course Jools is on the piano, bringing some unnecessary ‘vibes’.
This is literally okay, isn’t it. I mean, they’ve made this song about thirty times over but if it’s only partially broken then why try and fix it, right.
Interpol
All The Rage Back Home here from everyone’s fifth favourite New York-based band of the early naughties. Still, lovely suits aren’t they. Sorry, this liveblog is weirdly focused on jackets, which is all Sam Smith’s fault to be honest.
She’s dancing! My wish has come true! Thank you Zola Jesus for your slightly awkward robot moves. Still, there’s a whiff of ‘drunk at a wedding’ about it all, but beggars can’t be choosers.
Mick agrees with me re. Sam Smith:
Sam Smith never ever looks happy. Never ever. #LaterJools
— Mick Convey (@nalaknip) October 21, 2014
Zola Jesus
Dangerous Days is the highlight of Ms Jesus’ new album, Taiga. In a tweet earlier she promised there’s be a horn section and look, there they are. And a man with big drums.
I wish Sam looked like he was enjoying it all a bit more. But nice nonetheless.
No, but I do like this song. In fact my favourite Sam Smith songs are the ones that are upbeat, i.e. this one, the Disclosure one and the one with Naughty Boy. The rest sort of merge into one beige mass of lovelorn lyrics and sad puppy eyes.
“When I go home, I tend to close the door”. Amazing.
Sam Smith
A smart black blazer, probably designer. Relatively safe given his recent sartorial experiments.
Mildly diverting as ever.
Bono’s got Sam Smith’s hair on I see.
U2
There’s always been more than a whiff of desperation about Bono, obviously, but I quite like the fact they feel like they have more to prove now. Shame they haven’t put more effort into the music, but Bono’s rock star on overdrive persona is always quite amusing.
The first of many you imagine:
BBC offering a free download from U2. #LaterJools
— Duncan (@duncana_) October 21, 2014
Anyway, everyone settle down now, Bono’s about to do some very important singing. Brace yourselves.
A SNEAK PREVIEW
Here are Interpol “killing it” (looking a bit sleepy)
Interpol killing it in sound check #bbcmusic #live #music #tomorrow #bbctwo #10pm #interpol #amazing http://t.co/myi0QDBufr
— Later... on BBC Two (@BBCLater) October 20, 2014
SAM SMITH'S OBSESSION WITH COATS
Look we’re not saying that Sam Smith has an obsession with smart coats but, well, he’s got an obsession with smart coats.
Here he is sound checking in Maidstone yesterday in a nice floor-length navy ensemble (please note the fact that everyone else is in t-shirts):
The beautiful voice of Sam Smith #bbcmusic #bbclater #samsmith #live #music #bbctwo #tomorrow #10pm… http://t.co/wFQ84HZSaq
— Later... on BBC Two (@BBCLater) October 20, 2014
Here he is in the Money On My Mind video:
Here’s the Stay With Me video:
And finally a smart suit jacket in this one:
So what will we get tonight? Denim? Bomber jacket? Massive rain mac? Maybe, just maybe, he’ll be coat free? No, let’s not be silly.
WHO ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE?
U2!
Fresh from breaking into everyone’s iTunes accounts and leaving a small musical ‘gift’, Bono, Edge and the other two are trying to flog said album now that they have to pay for it.
Sam Smith!
Winter coat-loving sadface crooner with a nice voice and a lovely quiff. Back in the UK after selling about 48m copies of his album in America.
Interpol!
Yes Interpol are still together and yes they have a new album and yes they will be playing a song from that album this evening. Expect it to be along the same lines as all their other ones.
Zola Jesus!
Nika Roza Danilova, aka Zola Jesus, makes slightly gloomy electropop called things like Go (Blank Sea), Nail and Hollow. Probably not great company at a party to be honest.
Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin!
Dave and indeed Phil used to be a band called Blasters and recently released an album of songs by Big Billy Broonzy. But you knew that already.
Slaves!
Look they’re a new addition so I don’t know that much about them but apparently there’s two of them and they make garage punk apparently.
Here’s the trusty graphic stolen from the BBC Twitter with Slaves added on:
Spot the difference...@U2 @Interpol @ZOLAJESUS @Slaves @davealvin @samsmithworld tonight LIVE at 10pm on @BBCTwo pic.twitter.com/uvkiG2hHmA
— Later... on BBC Two (@BBCLater) October 21, 2014
AN UPDATE
We have a new addition to tonight’s lineup. I’ll give you three guesses...No actually, that would take too long, it’s the Slaves.
See:
This just in: Kent based garage punk duo Slaves are also playing LIVE tonight as well as on Friday's… http://t.co/dyK7NE8F6o
— Later... on BBC Two (@BBCLater) October 21, 2014
A BIT OF AN INTRO
Well hello there. Pull up a chair, grab and drink and settle down for what will more than likely be a mildly diverting evening of music, chat and, thanks to Sam Smith, some lovely smart tailoring.
Last week things got a bit weird due to The Apprentice but we’re back to our normal Tuesday night live slot and considering the pretty high calibre lineup (a bit more on all that shortly) I’m predicting there will be some opinions flying about on the old Twitter, which is what watching TV is all about these days really. Also, before I forget, I’ve still yet to see any proper dancing on the shows that I get to liveblog so fingers crossed this is the week I get to see someone pop and lock (Sam Smith, I’m looking at you).
As is now customary, let’s kick this whole shebang off properly with a graphic detailing who’s singing some songs in Maidstone this evening. As per, this has been taken from the Later... Twitter account and most definitely wasn’t created by my fair hands.
Offfft...
Offffft that's one hefty line-up! LIVE on @BBCTwo at 10pm! @U2 @samsmithworld @Interpol @ZOLAJESUS & @davealvin pic.twitter.com/6RE3tWixnD
— Later... on BBC Two (@BBCLater) October 21, 2014
Now then, it doesn’t actually say on there that there’s any awkward chat happening this week! Could it be that they’ve finally realised it’s a bit of a waste of time in a short live show to allow Jools anywhere near other people? Only time will tell.
