First viewed : Uncertain
This long-running music show began in 1992 but I can't be sure I saw any of it before early 1995. After the demise of The Tube and Juke Box Jury, Jools Holland found a permanent niche as host of the live music programme featuring half a dozen different musical acts. The programme is produced by ex-Record Mirror journalist Mark Cooper.
I tuned in off and on during the nineties depending on who was on. I enjoyed the opening sequence where Holland introduces the acts in turn and they're all eyeing each other up. The most memorable show for me was when Chris Isaak was on and Holland showed him a clip of his idols The Shadows in action. Isaak had never seen any footage of the group and was visibly taken aback by that silly shoe shuffle - "I thought they were a lot cooler".
Like The Tube before it, Later ... gradually came to reflect Holland's own musical conservatism and it was always obvious which acts he favoured whether they let him join in on the old boogie-woogie piano or not. I understand he has cut down on that in recent series. I very occasionally dip into it nowadays.
I think "musical conservatism" sums it up and explains why I don't think I've watched more than a few seconds for maybe a decade. It became some predictable as to who would be on: indie flavour of the week (though always a "safe" band such as Kaiser Chiefs), classic rock act, folky type, maybe a soul or blues legend and a world music act.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it's doubly telling that my favourite Squeeze album is the one after he left for the first time...