Michael Cragg 

Later…with Jools Holland: Jessie Ware, Manic Street Preachers, Ben Howard – as it happened

This week’s Later... features Jessie Ware and the Manic Street Preachers (plus some other people) having a singsong in a studio
  
  

Jessie Ware performing at St John-at-Hackney Church in London last week.
Jessie Ware performing at St John-at-Hackney Church in London last week. Photograph: Gus Stewart/Redferns via Getty Images

For some reason I’m watching a TV show about wedding dresses now, so I think it’s probably time to shut this thing down for another week. It’s been fun, right? RIGHT!

So what did we think of all that? Not the greatest half an hour of music I’ve ever witnessed - that was probably during the Michael Jackson concert I went to when I was 14 - but enjoyable nonetheless.

Some poetry if you please.

What does Zoe Ball think of it all though?

Let's have another look at Twitter

An overview.

It’s always fun when an established band gets to a point where it can just mess about with the formula a bit. Still, James could at least have tucked his shirt in, that’s all I’m saying.

That big synth noise is interesting. Drummer’s still got his gloves on. “European rugs?” Sorry, just listing some random thoughts which is what the Manics seem to be doing here. It’s enjoyable in a slightly bonkers way mind you.

Manic Street Preachers

Back again, fresh from an office party or a wedding reception.

I think Jools was talking about this

Blimey.

Oh that’s it. It just zips by doesn’t it?

I am enjoying Benjamin’s energy but I haven’t been able to make out a single word of it so far to be honest. But on enthusiasm alone, this is quite exciting.

I am a fan of anyone who finds it hard to extend a microphone stand and so constantly has to do a weird sort of tiptoe forward motion thing like they’re about to fall over.

Benjamin Booker

Jack White’s a fan of this young man apparently. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing in 2014 to be honest.

I could listen to Jools saying her name over and over.

Actually have they put a filter on it? She looks very grey. This is quite hypnotic actually. Sort of both lovely and quite sinister.

That lightbulb’s nice.

Melanie De Biasio

I am intrigued by this woman from the bits I’ve heard so far. I thought for a second they’d put a sort of black and white filter over this for that extra ‘jazz’ ‘vibe’.

A TWITTER ROUND UP OF THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS

THE DREADED CHAT BIT

They have an album out and a documentary thing apparently.

Could have done with a chorus, let’s be honest.

I don’t really get why he’s playing the guitar like that? Can someone explain it to me. Genuinely. Is it so he can see what he’s doing? Did he just learn it wrong?

This man won two (TWO) Brit Awards in 2013. I think it was the same year Laura Marling also won. Imagine the partying that went on afterwards. Just imagine.

Ben Howard

Oh hang about, Ben’s on! Is he still tuning his guitar? Amateur.

But what are they saying on Twitter?

Lovely. Thank you Jessie Ware.

This song was co-written by radio favourite Dev Hynes don’t you know. Fact.

Jessie Ware

Jools getting the title wrong there. Now then, this is such a great song. Probably the most upbeat one from her album, Tough Love, which, should you have any Our Price vouchers lying about, I would suggest buying.

This is pretty amazing isn’t it. I don’t think I’d listen to it through choice, but it sounds incredible.

Apparently Rolling Stone once listed Robert as one of the 100 best guitarists of all time, which is quite the accolade when you think that Niall from One Direction often whips out an acoustic during their shows and he was nowhere to be found.

Robert Randolph and the Family Band

Right, this should get the party started as Pink once said.

James Dean Bradfield looks as if he’s arrived in Maidstone straight from the office. Perhaps slightly worse for wear with his shirt unbuttoned and untucked. This song is alright though, isn’t it? Not quite the sky-scarping anthem I was expecting, but not without charm.

Manic Street Preachers

What I love about the Manics is how they seem to exist outside of what’s fashionable. Although, and maybe this is just me, the drummer’s leather drumming gloves are very Karl Lagerfeld are they not?

Right, everyone get your tea/beer/whiskey, it’s almost time for Jools and his random bunch of musicians to grace us with their presence.

A VIDEO FROM THE PAST

Here’s the Manic Street Preachers from Later... in 1996! How time flies.

A good song.

Okay who wants to see a picture of Benjamin Booker soundchecking? This is what the internet was invented for!

You’d think someone with that coat would be able to feel no fear and yet here’s what Jessie tweeted this morning about her imminent performance on national television.

WHAT A COAT!

Right, who wants to see a picture of Jessie Ware in an over-sized winter coat with a messy top bun holding a cup of something warm? Great. Click here please.

A CRUISE!

If, like me, you’re intrigued by this new fad of bands playing on cruise liners (everyone from Weezer to Paramore to the Backstreet Boys have done them) then why not have a little look here. Yes you could go to Florida, Honduras and Mexico with Robert Randolph and his musical family. Pretty amazing.

WHO ARE THE PEOPLE ENTERTAINING US TONIGHT?

Jessie Ware!
Sophisticated downbeat pop from south London’s best musical export since Adele, Florence Welch, Katy B etc. Expect to hear some songs from her excellent second album, Tough Love.

Manic Street Preachers!
Their twelfth album Futurology came out back in July but there’s always room in a Later... lineup for enduring Welsh librarians, Manic Street Preachers.

Ben Howard!
Remember at the 2013 Brit Awards when there was some sort of glitch in the matrix and Damien Rice’s more boring younger brother walked off with two awards? Well it happened.

Robert Randolph and the Family Band!
Lead by pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph, this funk band apparently play before every Friday-night New York Knicks basketball game, which is sort of interesting isn’t it.

Benjamin Booker!
According to the Chicago Tribune, 25-year-old Booker performs “a raw brand of blues/boogie/soul”, which you’d imagine would have set Jools’ musical antenna - not a euphemism - into overdrive.

Melanie De Biasio!
Known as “the Belgian Billie Holiday” in, er, Belgium, Mel makes atmospheric, jazz-influenced bruised ballads.

Evening!

Hello to you. Hope you’re well. Fingers crossed you’re all recovered from last week’s episode which was dominated by Future Islands’ Samuel Herring’s remarkable dance moves, one of which I like to call ‘putting your back out at the supermarket’. Given that episode one of this 45th series (!) featured FKA twig’s sort-of vogueing and episode three had this impressionistic free dance, I’m hoping I get to see some breakdancing from Ben Howard at the very least.

As is 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 was in no way created by my fair hands.

That’s a lot of names. If you’re thinking ‘oh good, there’s no chat stuff shoehorned in for no good reason’ then unfortunately I have bad news for you.

 

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