Music on TV - Week of 12.12.11: Wild Flag

Wild Flag performs on The Late Show with David Letterman (Tuesday).

It's tempting to look at Wild Flag as a sort of Sleater-Kinney 2.0, given it's got 2/3 of that illustrious band's members in Carrie Brownstein and drummer Janet Weiss, but more than that, it's a celebration of music in general -- both the listening and the playing. With Mary Timony (Helium) and Rebecca Cole (The Minders) rounding out the quartet, the band's sound is one of rollicking guitars, Brownstein leg kicks and smiles reaching from ear to ear.

When the ladies make the band's network television debut on The Late Show with David Letterman (Tuesday), one would assume they'd be playing "Romance," but of late, they've been putting forward the Mary Timony songs, as if to counterbalance the press calling this a Carrie Brownstein-led joint.

Picks for the week
Monday, December 12
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Kooks
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Foster the People
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Manchester Orchestra, Wiz Khalifa (REPEAT)
TBS: Conan: Noel Gallagher
Tuesday, December 13
ABC: Good Morning America: Alicia Keys
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Death Cab for Cutie
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Wild Flag
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Lenny Kravitz
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Manchester Orchestra (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Weezer, Cold War Kids (REPEAT)
Wednesday, December 14
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Young Jeezy
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Louis C.K., Common
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Beyonce (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Decemberists (REPEAT)
Thursday, December 15
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Lenny Kravitz
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Wild Flag
DOC: Innovators in Music: Steve Earle
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Robin Thicke
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Death Cab For Cutie, Girl in a Coma (REPEAT)
TBS: Conan: Dawes
Friday, December 16
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Gary Clark, Jr
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Chris Cornell
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Lupe Fiasco, Atmosphere (REPEAT)
TNT: Christmas in Washington: Cee Lo Green
VH1: Foo Fighters: Back and Forth: Foo Fighters
Saturday, December 17
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Alesha Dixon
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Michael Buble
PBS: Austin City Limits: Esperanza Spalding, Madeleine Peyroux (REPEAT)
Saturday, December 18
DOC: Musician: Ken Vandermark