Ear on TV: Week of 12.15.08

Over the years, the stage show for Of Montreal has gotten more and more fanciful, growing to the amazing spectacle that it is today. On the current "Ninjas Prove it" tour, witness frontman Kevin Barnes riding on stage on a white horse, climbing out of a shaving cream-filled coffin and even singing while hanging from a noose, all while a team of friends do interpretive skits to each song. Touring in support of his latest ear bending thriller, Skeletal Lamping, Barnes and company have left more than a few mouths agape in the process. When they play on Letterman Thursday night, look for them to push the envelope as far as they can in the three minutes and limited stage size they have to work with. Folks are still talking about their appearance on Conan almost two years ago, which featured lobster arms, several wardrobe changes, a light saber fight and a lot more -- all within the time limit that talk shows impose on live performers (see video).

Meanwhile, former President Bill Clinton is this week's guest on Sundance's Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... (Wednesday,) an appearance that will no doubt give the series a ratings boost. While not as interesting a 'pure' music discussion, Clinton's contributions are still fascinating. Whether it's talking about his idol Sonny Rollins or the king, Elvis Presley, Clinton clearly has a love of music. Costello tries to keep him on the subject of music, but Clinton can't help but stray into the world of politics, and the moments where the two meet, are the highlights. Whether it's Richard Nixon's piano playing or the relationship between playing the saxaphone and giving a speech, the line between politics and art gets blurry. In the end, though, Clinton doesn't join in any of the music playing, even though is saxaphone is there. Since when is he content to just sit on the sidelines, anyway?



Elsewhere, the Toronto music collective Broken Social Scene plays Letterman on Wednesday night, and will be unknowingly testing the stage limits of the set prior to Of Montreal's appearance. Sometimes contributer Feist isn't currently on tour, so perhaps there's an outside chance she'll lend a hand singing "7/4 Shoreline"? Perhaps we should start a rumor?

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, December 15
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Lady Gaga (REPEAT - see video)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Matisyahu
Tuesday, December 16
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Cure
IFC: Music Blast/From the Basement: Sonic Youth, White Stripes
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Fleet Foxes
OVATION: Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser: Thelonious Monk
OVATION: Jazz Heroes: John Coltrane
OVATION: Jazz Heroes: Wes Montgomery
Wednesday, December 17
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Broken Social Scene
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Death Cab for Cutie
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Hives
SUNDANCE: Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...: Elvis Costello, President William Jefferson Clinton
Thursday, December 18
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Of Montreal
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Cure
OVATION: Montreux Jazz Festival 2005: Isaac Hayes, The Roots, Booker T. & the MG's, Solomon Burke, Billy Preston
Friday, December 19
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Flobots
OVATION: Jazz Heroes: Dizzy Gillespie
Saturday, December 20
PBS: Austin City Limits: Bloc Party, Ghostland Observatory