Ear on TV: Week of 08.09.10: Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire will appear on The Daily Show, Thursday

There's no exaggeration in saying it's been a big week for Montreal's Arcade Fire. They released their third album (The Suburbs, which is expected to debut at the top of the charts), they play two sold out shows at Madison Square Garden and then they closed out Lollapalooza last night in epic fashion. Continuing their "Best Week Ever," Arcade Fire do what few bands have ever done: make an appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Thursday).

In the six years since their debut release, it's been a magical rise for the band. I say "magical" as it's an apt description, fitting in with who they managed to pull in to direct a webcast for the second night at MSG: Terry Gilliam. Not that the director of films like Time Bandits and Brazil had any experience with directing a live concert, but the band and director seemed to hit it off in a way that showed up in the final product. Says Gilliam jokingly at one point during the pre-show, "I thought they were bringing me in the help a failing band, but it turns out they're the ones helping out a failing director." You can see most of the concert on Arcade Fire's YouTube site, including the funny pre-show bit, featuring Gilliam and future Spider-Man reboot actor Andrew Garfield attempting to 'boot up' the band:


Elsewhere, Portland's indietastic band Menomena makes their television debut on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Monday, freak folk goddess Joanna Newsom graces the Jimmy Kimmel Live stage on Wednesday, and The Walkmen preview a new song from their forthcoming release (Lisbon, due in stores September 14) on Jimmy Fallon Thursday.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, August 9
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Bettye LaVette (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Vampire Weekend
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Mike Posner
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Menomena
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Mishka (REPEAT)
TBS: Lopez Tonight: Har Mar Superstar
Tuesday, August 10
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Steve Winwood (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Midnight Juggernauts
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Meat Loaf
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Slayer
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Surfer Blood (REPEAT)
VH1: Purple Rain: Prince, The Time
Wednesday, August 11
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Joanna Newsom
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Eminem (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Here We Go Magic
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Los Lobos
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: JP, Chrissie and The Fairground Boys
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Living Sisters (REPEAT)
Thursday, August 12
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Dead Weather (REPEAT)
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Arcade Fire
FUEL: The Daily Habit: U-N-I
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: The Whigs
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: The Walkmen
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Never Shout Never (REPEAT)
Friday, August 13
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Dolly Parton (REPEAT)
NBC: The Today Show: Ke$ha
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Alejandro Escovedo
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: La Roux (REPEAT)
Saturday, August 14
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: 50 Cent
NBC: Saturday Night Live: MGMT (REPEAT)