Later...

Just watched this week's Later.. With Jools Holland.

Wasn't a bad one, nothing that really jumped out at the me though like I've come to expect from the show (eg. Gnarls Barkley's performance of Crazy, Franz Ferdinand's performance with 10 drummers), but still a good one.

The highlights were Gogol Bordello (an Eastern Europe gypsy-folk-punk band (!)), might have to get their album if I can find it, and The Dresden Dolls (Just a piano and drums, so naturally a little different).

The lows were The Automatic - ok, fair enough they were good but there keyboardist came across as though his ego alone was forcing the band to keep him in.. a modern-day Bez, but with some talent. Also a low were Dixie Chicks. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but disapointed to find an American version of the Corrs.

Still, next week's show sounds great. Not only The Flaming Lips (that would be more than enough), but The Strokes (ok, wasn't a huge fan until I saw them live, but they are a cool act) and Cat Power.

Some reviews on a couple of the bands mentioned above:

Gogol Bordello: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A10426907
The Dresden Dolls: http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2006/05/11/dresden_dolls_feature.shtml