Artists Take Refuge In Late Night

Lucas Jensen | February 12, 2009 1:30 am

On occasion, my dad will ask me if I’ve ever heard of “this Cat Power person” or the “Feel Foxes,” and I know that he heard about those artists from one place: Late Show With David Letterman. Because even in the blog-crazed era, a lot of people still get exposed to music mainly though late-night TV, and perhaps morning shows like Today. U2 is keenly aware of that, which is why the band is going to play five nights (March 2-6) at Letterman’s home, the Ed Sullivan Theater, to promote No Line On The Horizon. (Which I, as the admitted U2 fan here, am so, so, so, so worried about) Whether the Ed Sullivan can contain U2’s outsized (egos) performances is another matter altogether.

Not to be outdone, the White Stripes will be the musical guests on the Conan O’Brien‘s final installments of his 12:35 a.m. show, which will also be his farewell to his New York studio, on Feb. 20. The band did a residency there way back in 2003, so it’s fitting that they should help Conan say goodbye to the late late slot and the Big Apple. (Can I mention that I am so glad Jay Leno will no longer dominate this timeslot? Can I also mention that I am so unhappy that his chinny nighttime career will trundle on at an earlier time?)

U2 takes a week on David Letterman’s `Late Show’ [AP] White Stripes to Play Conan’s Last “Late Night” [Pitchfork]