Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Bruce Springsteen Talks E Street Band, New Album, and Favorite Bob Dylan Songs on Colbert: Watch
Bruce Springsteen is just one day away from releasing his new album, Letter to You. Ahead of its release, the Boss appeared on Wednesday night’s Late Show with Stephen Colbert to talk about the inspiration behind the record, putting it out during a pandemic, and his favorite Bob Dylan songs, among other topics. After joking about not being able to take Letter to You on the road (“I do a lot of work in front of my bedroom mirror with the tennis racket… I go for three hours, just like the show”), Springsteen spoke extensively about its creation. He said the album only took seven days to write and four to record, and was largely inspired by the loss of his old friend George Theiss, the last surviving member of Springsteen’s original band, The Castiles. “I guess being the last guy in...
Bon Iver Performs “22 (OVER S∞∞N)” on Colbert: Watch
Even with Bernie Sanders out of the presidential race, longtime supporter Justin Vernon is still very closely following the 2020 Election. In fact, earlier this week, the Bon Iver leader helped launch For Wisconsin, a “get-out-the-vote” initiative in his home state. “Free speech and freedom begin and end with voting,” read a statement. “If you don’t mark your ballot someone else will define your Wisconsin and your future.” In support of this new campaign, Vernon delivered a #PlayAtHome performance for the Late Show with Stephen Colbert this afternoon. With his equipment set up in front of a large window, the indie rocker unfurled “22 (OVER S∞∞N)”, from his 2016 Bon Iver album 22, A Million. Throughout the appearance, Vernon’s face was covered by a message imploring Wisconsin nati...
Justin Vernon of Bon Iver Performs ’22 (OVER S∞∞N)’ on Late Show
In the last week, Justin Vernon of Bon Iver has raised the stakes in helping get out the vote. His Eaux Claires Festival launched a voting initiative earlier this week where if Wisconsin natives sign up to vote, they’ll be entered into a contest where they can have a private meeting with him. Continuing his get out the vote drive, Vernon appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert as part of the program’s #PlayAtHome series. It’s tough to see his face, as you can see in the clip below, and with good reason. Across Vernon’s face is the message ‘Wisconsin/Register to Vote Online or By Mail/By/Wednesday/October 14/2020. Oh and he performed “22 (OVER S∞∞N).” The performance was (as you can guess) to help raise awareness for the voting initiative. The song, however, ...
The Killers Perform “Blowback” on Colbert: Watch
Today, August 21st, The Killers dropped their new album Imploding the Mirage. That made yesterday Album Release Eve, and the band celebrated with a Late Show performance of the recent single “Blowback”. The twin demands of social distancing and television lighting kept the performers rooted in place. But the Las Vegas rockers have an almost spiritual commitment to putting on a show, and they found plenty of ways to inject drama. The first was singer Brandon Flowers‘ shirt, which came covered in a whole Dollar Store’s worth of rhinestones. The Killers also placed a giant Marquee light shaped like a “K” center stage, rakishly tilted to the side and quietly winking at the cameras. And if the the flashing stage lights didn’t keep your attention, perhaps it’s because you were captured...
Perfume Genius Performs “Whole Life” on Colbert: Watch
On Thursday, Perfume Genius delivered a #PlayAtHome performance of “Whole Life” on The Late Show. Despite not actually broadcasting from a proper TV studio, the artist born Michael Hadreas still held viewers captive, thanks to some dramatic lighting and his magnetic body language. The whole thing was shot in a dimly lit room in Los Angeles with longtime collaborator Alan Wyffels. Hadreas can be seen performing in front of a projection screen rolling footage of collapsing water towers. Between that imagery, the song itself, and Hadreas’ body and shadow dancing in tandem with one another against the screen, it all felt somewhat poetic. You could almost say that the emotive potency of Perfume Genius is so powerful it transcends quarantine borders. Watch it for yourself below, and then revisit...
Jon Batiste and Nabil Ayers on Black Lives Matter, Protests, and Change Across the Music Industry
Kyle Meredith With… Jon Baptiste and Nabil Ayers Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | Stitcher | Radio Public | RSS Jon Batiste, band leader of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and Nabil Ayers, the US general manager for 4AD, both join Kyle Meredith to discuss how Black Lives Matter has affected their work and the entire music industry. Batiste talks about leading protests on the streets of New York and the importance of voting in the upcoming election. While Ayers discusses his recent New York Times article about Ed Eckstine, the first black person appointed president of a major U.S. record label, the industry’s approach to Blackout Tuesday, and the autobiography he’s working on about his own history in the bus...
Tove Lo Performs “sadder badder cooler” on Colbert: Watch
It’s a tired line at this point, but coronavirus really does suck for artists like Tove Lo who make music that’s designed for dancing in close quarters. The Swedish pop star released a deluxe “Paw Prints” edition of her 2019 record Sunshine Kitty back in May, and like most Tove Lo songs, the eight bonus tracks were meant to soundtrack crazy club nights that don’t (or at least shouldn’t… looking at you, Florida) exist right now. She’s being a good sport about it, though, doing what she can to keep the party going from lockdown. Earlier today, she submitted a #PlayAtHome performance to of “sadder badder cooler” for the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The single is a self-empowerment anthem that’s just bleeding Tove Lo’s signature swagger, and in this video she gets really into the part:...
Ben Folds Serenades a Sucky Year with “2020” Performance on Colbert: Watch
At this point in 2020, it’s hard to even glance at any information source without deepening this sustained sense of despair. Imagine what it’s like for someone like Stephen Colbert, who has to actually put a smile on and joke about this dumpster fire of a year every night. Yet power to him, the late-night host continues on cheerily, even when a musical guest like Ben Folds comes on to remind him of how crappy everything is with a performance of “2020”. Folds delivered a #PlayAtHome performance of his new single on Thursday night’s Late Show. Colbert introduced the waltz by saying it “really captures the spirit of the moment” before the piano pop master took over from his (shockingly white) office. Sitting behind his keyboard, Folds asked, “How many years will we cram into one?” while ...
The Chicks Perform “March March”, Talk Dropping “Dixie” on Colbert: Watch
When the pandemic hit and lockdown was initiated, Stephen Colbert was forced to abandon the iconic Ed Sullivan Theater. His last guests scheduled to appear at the New York City landmark were the then-named Dixie Chicks, but they were understandably bumped in favor of CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta. On Thursday night, the group now called just The Chicks were finally able to make up that missed appearance on The Late Show with a remote performance of “March March” and a discussion about their new moniker. Asked why they’d chosen now to drop “Dixie” from their name, lead singer Natalie Maines said a change was always in the works. “Well, it’s because of everything that’s going on in the world. It was about time; we’ve wanted to change it for a long time, actually,” she explaine...
Tom Hanks Questions Patriotism of Americans Who Don’t Wear Masks
As one of the first American celebrities who contracted COVID-19 and recovered safely, Tom Hanks doesn’t have time for people who don’t wear masks. The beloved actor has been urging people to practice safety guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic, even going so far as to say, “Don’t be a pussy.” Now, he’s doubling down on that sentiment by questioning the patriotism of Americans who choose not to wear masks. During an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday, Hanks was asked by Stephen Colbert what it’s like to be a coronavirus survivor. The two discussed a range of topics, including whether or not Hanks would donate his plasma to help scientists find a cure (Hanks confirmed he already has and he hopes it will result in the “Hank-ccine” vaccine). Out of all the quest...
Bright Eyes Play “Mariana Trench” on Colbert: Watch
On Monday night, Bright Eyes delivered their first performance together in nearly a decade. The Conor Oberst-led group appeared on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert to perform their new song “Mariana Trench”. The beloved indie outfit went on hiatus after 2011’s The People’s Key, with Oberst embarking on a solo career and eventually launching Better Oblivion Community Center with Phoebe Bridgers. Now, Bright Eyes are back, and it’s great to see Oberst, Mike Mogis, and Nate Walcott all in one place — even with the corona-conscious social distancing. For their performance of “Mariana Trench”, Bright Eyes eschewed split-screen and other quarantine camera tricks, keeping the presentation simple. The band members were dressed down, joined by backup singers Lucius in their bright ...
Grace Potter Performs “Eachother” with Jackson Browne, Marcus King, and Lucius on Colbert: Watch
Last month, Grace Potter released “Eachother”, featuring soaring vocals from Jackson Browne, Marcus King, and the gals of Lucius. On Friday, Potter re-assembled that superstar ensemble for a social-distance performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. “Eachother” is an uplifting ballad for the time of coronavirus, with imagery of empty streets, bare shelves, and neighbors who talk, “but we don’t get too close.” The first time that all the voices join together in bewitching harmony, it’s like a streak of sunlight bursting through the clouds. Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Lucius blend their tones unselfishly, while Marcus King steals the show with his smoky, searing tenor. Jackson Browne, fully recovered from COVID-19, grounds the proceedings with his bluesy lower register. Grace Pot...
