Fleet Foxes on A Late Show with Stephen Colbert
After releasing one of the most memorable albums of 2020, indie-folk pioneers Fleet Foxes also delivered one of the most memorable late-night performances on Colbert last night. Not only did the band perform “Can I Believe You” from a gorgeous Brooklyn church, they were joined by the Resistance Revival Chorus, a collective of female protest singers formed in the wake of the 2017 Women’s March. Amplifying the beautiful, delicate harmonies the band is known for, it’s a fantastic debut of the new song, and one you simply need to see and hear.
Sturgill Simpson on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Shortly before dropping a second surprise bluegrass album at midnight last night titled Cuttin’ The Grass, Vol. 2: The Cowboy Arms Sessions, esteemed country songwriter Sturgill Simpson performed for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he performed the upbeat bluegrass version of “All The Pretty Colors.” Backed by a five-piece band including mandolin, fiddle, upright bass, acoustic guitar and a very limited drumset, Simpson rips through the track with a fierce energy, while still allowing the band to shine.
Chris Stapleton on A Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Soulful outlaw country icon Chris Stapleton recently released the excellent Starting Over, his fourth full-length release as a solo artist. Packed with hooks, powerful lyrics, a gritty country swagger and a voice that remains unparalleled in modern music, Stapleton has truly earned his spot at the top of the country scene. Listen to Stapleton rock his way through the bluesy “Devil Always Made Me Think Twice” with a four-piece backing band including his wife, Morgane.
My Morning Jacket on Late Night with Seth Myers
The pandemic of 2020 allowed My Morning Jacket to revisit and finish their unreleased material from the sessions that led to 2015’s The Waterfall, collected in the excellent The Waterfall II. Among the highlights of one of the best psych-rock records of the year is “Climbing The Ladder,” a song with a late-Beatles bounce, some serious guitar shredding from Carl Broemel and a powerful vocal performance from Jim James. The debut performance on Late Night with Seth Myers gives fans a lot to look forward to in the eventual return of live music.
Greta Van Fleet on A Late Show with Stephen Colbert
The much-criticized and much-beloved Michigan classic rock revivalists Greta Van Fleet return in 2021 with a new album, The Battle at Garden’s Gate, due in April. The young four-piece band brought their 70s vibes to A Late Show with Stephen Colbert this week, performing the hook-laden and hard-rocking “My Way, Soon” in a ridiculously theatrical setup and performance.
Phoebe Bridgers on Late Night with Jimmy FallonFrom collaborative bands boygenius and Better Oblivion Community Center to her two highly-acclaimed solo albums, Phoebe Bridgers has really won over the indie and music scene at large over the past few years, thanks to her dense, emotional songwriting and her beautiful arrangements and production. Quickly having proved herself amongst the best up-and-coming songwriters of our time with this year’s Punisher, Bridgers returned to late-night television with an incredibly moving performance of “Savior Complex” from a creepy, Christmas-decorated room of her home.