St. Vincent, James Taylor, and Joe Walsh mark first-ever The Late Show With Stephen Colbert musical residencies
The new foray for the late-night classic will kick off on July 25
Aux News Unknown
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert has a song in its strange little beating heart, and it appears the late-night show is finally ready to sing it loud and proud. The Late Show is introducing its first-ever slate of musical residencies, and St. Vincent, James Taylor, and Joe Walsh are the inaugural artists who will join the show.
Each residency will see the musician-of-the-moment sit in for a week with The Late Show’s house band, Stay Human. The new foray for the late-night classic will begin on July 25 with St. Vincent, a.k.a. Annie Clark, joining the group for a series of shows. Next, James Taylor, who released his last (and whopping 20th) album American Standard in 2020, will take the reins on August 1. Closing out the first group of performers is The Eagles’ Joe Walsh, who will join the show August 8.
Although The Late Show certainly isn’t wanting for prestige—the show brought home five Emmy nominations this year including Outstanding Talk Variety Series—Colbert is following the example set by some of his newer, and more prone to starring in the 2019 abomination Cats, peers. James Corden’s The Late Late Show has long featured musical residencies, welcoming acts like Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran, and Coldplay.
Carpool Karaoke PTSD aside, bringing music to Colbert’s late-night playground actually feels more exciting than terrifying, especially with the high talent quotient between the three acts. Plus (per Deadline) each artist’s residency also marks the first time they’ve performed with a traditional group of late-night, in-house musicians like Stay Human. The skillful band is helmed by Oscar winner Jon Batiste and boasts the talents of Louis Cato, Nêgah Santos, Endea Owens, Louis Fouché, Jon Lampley and Joe Saylor.
To get a feel for how the residencies will run, it’s likely better to wait for July 25 to come around then turn to Corden’s example. At least we know we can expect some “Hotel California.”
7 Comments
I thought James Taylor was Waluigi
I went to a taping of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert several years ago. The guest list including the musical act was unfortunate. It was 100% people I had never heard of and/or didn’t care about.But…The show is taped in the afternoon. Some hype man explained to the audience that the show is filmed “live-to-tape”. What you see at home watching the show is just what happened in the studio. The commercial breaks however are much longer. A five minute commercial break watching at home could be 10-15 minutes or longer in the studio while furniture is rearranged or a comedy bit is set up. The house band plays music to fill this interlude.A lot of HUGE musicians were in town for a benefit concert for Bernie Worrell. The house band had some guests that day including Mr. Worrell, Bootsie Collins and George Clinton himself.The show that aired was instantly forgettable and the music during the commercials breaks was one of the best concerts of my life.
Back when Letterman was still doing the Late Show, a friend of mine went to a show when Peter Gabriel was the musical guest. She essentially gave the same story, but of course the bonus was that after Gabriel did his one song for the show, he went on to do an hour long set that wasn’t televised. I don’t know if that’s normal or what, but she said it was the best impromptu concert she’d ever been at.
It may not be an official residency, but they also had Rachael Price from Lake Street Dive (among other projects) join the band the other night. A slightly smaller name, but hardly a small one. (And someone on whom I definitely have a bit of a crush.)
Yes, I’d hesitate to attend a concert of theirs because I’d just stand there and unsettlingly…stare.
I feel it pertinent to point out that Jon Batiste is absent from Stay Human until I think some point in September, with Louis Cato standing in as band leader.
RIP Penny Marshall. I think of you every time I see a contemporary picture of Joe Walsh.