More Reasons Why Being Deaf Sucks/Rocks – Late Night Creep

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I love The Roots. I’ve been a fan since 1994 and I saw them live in Tucson in 1995. I remember when Scott Storch was part of the group and ?uestlove was Brother ?. I’m definitely not one of those “I love The Roots, but wasn’t really aware they existed before ‘You Got Me’ opened my eyes about how dope they are” fans.

So as a long-time fan, I want to be really happy that they scored the band gig for Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. It’s a chance for me to get my Roots fix on a nightly basis, and it’s a means of financial security for the band. But I’ve acquired some mixed feelings about the whole gig that I really feel the need to address.

I think that this all stems from when Howard Stern was on Jay Leno way back in the day. I’m talking Branford-Marsalis-as-the-bandleader back in the day. I vividly remember Stern being really disrespectful to Branford and making comments about how he was being a good sidekick by laughing at his boss’s jokes. And at some point he brought up race. It really rubbed me the wrong way and completely tainted Stern in my eyes.

But what he said really stuck with me. The bandleader is the sidekick and does just laugh at the jokes. When Kevin Eubanks replaced Branford Marsalis, he played the sidekick role even better, but to me he came off as sort of clownish. And I guess what I’m worried about is the possibility of that happening to The Roots.

Every time Jimmy mentions ?uest, I cringe because I’m worried about the band being trotted out as props for a bit. And while it’s dope to hear what they come up with to play for guests to the couch, to me late-night bands sort of lack credibility. Doc Severinsen was a snappy dresser, but I don’t think I ever respected his musical artistry, despite his rendition of “Georgia on My Mind” being the theme to Designing Women.

I guess I’m just scared that The Roots will be marginalized as artists because so many people will just regard them as Jimmy Fallon’s house band. I’m not in their shoes, but I don’t think that financial security is worth losing artistic credibility.

Plus, I think about how this will affect their touring. I’m lucky in that since I’m in Baltimore. and close to D.C., I probably won’t have a problem catching them if they do a series of East Coast concerts. That’s probably the most realistic prospect for touring, in that they’ll still be able to tape a show and then hit the road.

Like I said, I love The Roots and I wish them nothing but the best. I just hope that this late-night creep with mainstream exposure doesn’t do more harm than good.