Monday, November 09, 2009

Ear on TV: Huey Lewis & the News

What's old is new; what was once out is now in... it's too hard to keep track anymore. Are Huey Lewis & the News really making a cultural comeback?

Like many bands from their era (I'm looking at you, Journey), the News are benefiting from a resurgance, due in part from television and film exposure. Last year, they were tapped by Judd Apatow to write the theme to Pineapple Express and then Chuck used several of their hits to great effect during their second season. They'll likely be playing one of those hits (let's guess "Power of Love") when they appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Friday.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the experience scale, buzz-y up-and-comers The Xx have already lost a member due to exhaustion. Following a grueling tour schedule which culminated in a series of shows during CMJ, guitarist/keyboardist Baria Qureshi recently left the group, too exhausted to go on. The West London band makes an appearance on MTV's It's On Alexa Chung Wednesday, likely as a trio, still on a neverending tour promoting their self-titled debut. It's so hard to be young and fabulous these days.

Finally, Johnny Marr has truly become an indie gun for hire. The highly influential ex-Smiths guitarist famously joined Modest Mouse on their previous release (Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, but has since moved on to UK's The Cribs, lending his craft to their latest release Ignore the Ignorant. The album is getting rave reviews in the UK, giving Marr a Midas Touch rep he hasn't enjoyed since his days in The Smiths (well, maybe The The). Let's hope the brothers Jarman (twins Gary and Ryan, plus younger brother Ross Jarman) enjoy it before Marr finds an even younger band to briefly join.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, November 9
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Matisyahu
MTV: It's On With Alexa Chung: Rihanna
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: David Gray
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Yo La Tengo (REPEAT)
PBS: How the Beatles Rocked the Kremlin: The Beatles
Tuesday, November 10
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Shakira
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: John Fogerty
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Wale
Wednesday, November 11
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Antlers
Thursday, November 12
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Cribs with Johnny Marr
MTV: It's On With Alexa Chung: The Xx
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Goodie Mob
Friday, November 13
ABC: The View: Kool & the Gang
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Huey Lewis & the News
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Kid Sister
SUNDANCE: You're Gonna Miss me: Roky Erickson
Saturday, November 14
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Alison Moyet
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Black Eyed Peas
PBS: Austin City Limits: Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel

1 comment:

Shawn Anderson said...

Picks for the week of 11.09.09
1. One Day - Matisyahu
2. Russian Roulette - Rihanna
3. Fugitive - David Gray
4. Nothing To Hide - Yo La Tengo
5. She Wolf - Shakira
6. Back Home Again - John Fogerty
7. Pretty Girls featuring Gucci Mane, Weensey Of Backyard Band - Wale
8. Kettering - The Antlers
9. Cheat On Me - The Cribs
10. Heart Skipped A Beat - The xx
11. Cell Therapy - Goodie Mob
12. Jungle Boogie - Kool & the Gang
13. The Power Of Love - Huey Lewis and the News
14. Pro Nails - Kid Sister
15. I Walked With A Zombie - Roky Erickson
16. Love Resurrection - Alison Moyet
17. I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
18. Sweet Jennie Lee - Willie Nelson