Daft Punk (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
It’s a tradition as old as The Tonight Show: Most nights, bands big and small play on the national stage of late night television. Sometimes good things happen, sometimes bad things happen, but the performances are always worth watching. They’re captivating mostly because they offer the raw sound of a live band and the professional video and audio recording of a late night television show.
This week (Aug. 5-9), Earl Sweatshirt, the most lyrically gifted member of the Odd Future camp, performs on Fallon; Joan Jett performs on Kimmel in support of her first album in seven years; and Daft Punk performs on American television after a long, long time away.
Also, in case you missed it, host Jimmy Fallon cemented his spot as the king of late night musical performances when he joined the Roots and Robin Thicke for another of his improvised toy instrument renditions, this time of “Blurred Lines.”
Late Show With David Letterman
This week, Letterman is pretty much all repeats, but check it out if you missed anything. Non-music related, his interview with Lohan (airing on Wednesday) is worth a watch.
Monday, August 5 – Fitz and the Tantrums
Tuesday, August 6 – Houndmouth
Wednesday, August 7 – Gary Clark Jr.
Thursday, August 8 – Wale
Friday, August 9 – Darius Rucker
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Monday, August 5 – Jamie N Commons
Tuesday, August 6 – Michael Kiwanuka
Wednesday, August 7 – Mayer Hawthorne
Thursday, August 8 – Joan Jett
Joan Jett has been going nonstop since the ‘70s, starting with her band the Runaways and then soon after on her own. She’s one of rock’s most enduring artists, and surely a torchbearer for women rock ’n’ rollers everywhere. Her new album, Unvarnished, will be released in October, and this is the first in what’s surely to be a long line of appearances by the killer performer.
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno
Monday, August 5– Amos Lee
Tuesday, August 6 – Patti LaBelle
Wednesday, August 7 – Parachute
Thursday, August 8 – Gavin DeGraw
Friday, August 9 – KT Tunstall
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
Monday, August 5 – 2 Chainz
Tuesday, August 6 – The Head and the Heart
Wednesday, August 7 – Brett Eldredge
Thursday, August 8 – Jake Owen
Friday, August 9 – Earl Sweatshirt
Get the full schedule on Radio.com
