25 March 2011

Richard Ashcroft rocks out with The Roots on Jimmy Fallon


Last Tuesday, Richard Ashcroft was a guest on the Jimmy Fallon show. He appeared with Steve Wyreman, the guitarist featured on United Nations of Sound, and was backed by The Roots, who serve as the show's house band.

I was present in the audience and before recording began, the band played a warm up teaser. As The Roots were being introduced to the audience, the band's tuba player walks on stage playing a familiar bass line from a Verve gem on A Northern Soul. The other band members followed and when Richard Ashcroft appeared on stage, the band went straight into "Life's An Ocean." It was an interesting version, funky, well played, and definitely a surprise.

Below are two videos from Ashcroft's performance on the Jimmy Fallon show: