Once again, we’re bringing you our roundup of the best live music on television for the week. The amount of great performances can be hard to keep track of, so every Monday I’ll recap the best and most interesting of what’s coming up. I’ll be sure to give you one essential pick for each night, as well as a runner up or two when a lot of great bands are playing. Also, lots of artists performing on TV have upcoming shows in Nashville, so I’ve added ticket links and dates below.
Here are the best performances I think you should set your DVR (or check Hulu the next day) for:
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MONDAY (2/25)
DON’T MISS: Japandroids on Conan [TBS; 11PM/10c]: It’s no secret that we love Japandroids! We named Celebration Rock one of the Best Records of 2012 and the band’s Exit/In show one of the Best Nashville Shows of 2012. We seriously can’t get enough of the Canadian indie rock duo, and we can’t wait to catch them again this summer at Bonnaoo! Their live energy can’t be perfectly captured on TV, but it’s still the next best thing!
Japandroids will be performing at Bonnaroo in June. You can find more info here. Check out the band performing “Fire’s Highway” at last year’s Pitchfork Music Festival:
Bonus: Titus Andronicus on Last Call with Carson Daly [NBC; 1:35AM/12:35c]: If you missed Titus Andronicus’s Local Business last year, it definitely warrants a revisit immediately! The indie/punk rockers play raw, powerful music for the thinking man and they’re one of the most fun groups around. They hit The High Watt back in November, but hopefully they’ll bring their energetic show back soon!
Bonus: Unknown Mortal Orchestra on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon [NBC; 12:35AM/11:35c]: Unknown Mortal Orchestra got a chance to take their psychedelic-leaning indie rock on the road with Grizzly Bear back in the fall. If you haven’t had a chance to catch their new release, II, it’s definitely worth a listen and one of my favorite records of 2013 so far!
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TUESDAY (2/26)
DON’T MISS: Tyler, the Creator on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon [NBC; 12:35AM/11:35c]: Tyler’s one of the freshest young rappers in the game right now. His skater-punk attitude, alternative approach to production and thematic structure, and the star-power of his Odd Future crew makes his upcoming new album, Wolf, one of my most-anticipated of 2013. He also has a knack for weird, edgy performances.
Here’s the official video for Tyler’s new single, “Domo 23:”
Bonus: Kendrick Lamar on Late Show with David Letterman [CBS; 11:35PM/10:35c]: If Tyler’s the freshest voice in the alt-hip hop scene, Kendrick would be the freshest in conventional hip hop. We named last year’s good kid, m.A.A.d city one of the Best Records of 2012 and we’re incredibly excited to catch Kendrick at Bonnaroo this summer!
Kendrick Lamar will be performing at the Louisville Palace in Louisville on 3/21/13. You can find more info here.
Bonus: Tenacious D on Conan [TBS; 11PM/10c]: Tenacious D’s latest release, Rize of the Fenix, was a surprisingly awesome return to form. Not only is the group funny and charismatic, but, at their core, they’re a pretty solid rock and roll band to boot. They’re always entertaining to watch, especially when they’re around their pal Conan.
Bonus: Family of the Year on Last Call with Carson Daly [NBC; 1:35AM/12:35c]: Family of the Year are really making their rounds. If you didn’t catch the group on Kimmel or Conan either of the past two weeks I’ve recommended, you’ve got another shot this week. Brush up on the California indie pop group before they hit Nashville next month!
Family of the Year will be performing at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville on 3/27/13. You can find more info here.
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WEDNESDAY (2/27)
DON’T MISS: Father John Misty on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno [NBC; 11:35PM/10:35c]: Not only is Father John Misty playing this year’s Bonnaroo, but he’s got a Nashville date coming up this spring as well! The singer-songwriter/former Fleet Foxes drummer dropped his solo album (the first under the FJM moniker), Fear Fun, almost a year ago, and I still can’t get enough of it!
Father John Misty will be performing at Marathon Music Works in Nashville on 5/10/13. You can find more info here. Check out FJM’s recent ‘Conan’ performance below:
http://youtu.be/n6ubw2XzxsM
Bonus: Gold Fields on Jimmy Kimmel Live! [ABC; 11:35PM/10:35c]: Australian indie pop group Gold Fields are releasing their debut album this week. Their new wave-inspired, ambient style is a ton of fun, and they’re definitely a new band to keep an eye on this year. This will be their American TV debut!
Bonus: Solange on Late Show with David Letterman [CBS; 11:35PM/10:35c]: Beyonce’s little sister Solange might share her sister’s vocal abilities, but her style is 100% her own. With her 2012 release True, Solange further experimented with the dancy, neo-soul sound she’s been perfecting for years, and it’s pretty fantastic.
Solange will be performing at The Masquerade in Atlanta on 2/28/13. You can find more info here.
Bonus: Tomahawk on Last Call with Carson Daly [NBC; 1:35AM/12:35c]: If you didn’t catch alt-metal supergroup Tomahawk’s sold out show at the Exit/In back in the fall, the next best thing is watching them play songs from the new record, Oddfellows, on national TV, right?
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THURSDAY (2/28)
DON’T MISS: Bob Mould on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon [NBC; 12:35AM/11:35c]: At 52, former Hüster Dü (and Sugar) frontman Bob Mould still kicks more ass than most rockers twice his age. He’s literally been releasing albums nonstop for three decades, and his latest solo release, Silver Age, is not only great, but a legitimately relevant display of modern alternative rock.
Bob Mould will be performing at Terminal West in Atlanta on 4/17/13. You can find more info here. Check out the singer’s recent ‘Letterman’ performance below:
http://youtu.be/MjUSG35ccAs
Bonus: Ceremony on Last Call with Carson Daly [NBC; 1:35AM/12:35c]: Over the past few years, Ceremony have moved away from their more hardcore punk tendencies and fully embraced their affinity for post-punk, and it suits them well. Their 2012 release Zoo was one of my favorites, and, perhaps, one of the most under-appreciated albums of the year!
Bonus: Shooter Jennings on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno [NBC; 11:35PM/10:35c]: The son of country legend Waylon Jennings, Shooter carries on much of his father’s outlaw spirit. Though he sometimes wavers into cheesy, mainstream country territory, it’s the moments he embraces his rock tendencies that really make him worth checking out.
Shooter Jennings will be performing at Marathon Music Works in Nashville on 4/25/13. You can find more info here.
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FRIDAY (3/1)
DON’T MISS: Prince on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon [NBC; 12:35AM/11:35c]: Prince is probably the most frequently wished-for and rumored (at least for the still sort of active artists) of the would-be Bonnaroo headliners. We thought this might be the year, but, once again, the artist formerly known as the artist formerly known as Prince has eluded our predictions. The singer has quietly been releasing singles recently, and is expected to drop a new album sometime this year. What he’ll play on Fallon is anyone’s guess.
Here’s the official video for a newer Prince track, “Rock and Roll Love Affair:”
http://youtu.be/DEne4AoX_RU
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SATURDAY (3/2)
DON’T MISS: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis on Saturday Night Live [NBC; 11:30PM/10:30c]: I still can’t say I’m completely on the Macklemore (& Ryan Lewis- what’s up with the producer’s name being so prominently featured, anyway?) train, but I can’t deny that his breakout/comeback single “Thrift Shop” is incredibly catchy. It’s a guilty pleasure, sure, but I’m definitely intrigued by just how quick the duo has exploded and curious to see how their debut SNL appearance goes.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis will be performing at Bonnaroo in June. You can find more info here. Check out Macklemore’s recent ‘Ellen’ performance below:
http://youtu.be/z4HbtTKsHL0
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