Seth Meyers will no longer feature a live band on Late Night in the upcoming season. This sudden change has brought a wave of emotions from the band’s members.
There’s a lot of strong emotions. No one is happy about it
, said 8G Band keyboardist and associate musical director Eli Janney during a recent interview with Vulture.
The live band has been an integral part of Late Night with Seth Meyers since 2014, right after The Roots departed with The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The 8G Band, originally fronted by Fred Armisen, featured Janney, guitarist Seth Jabour, bassist Syd Butler, and drummer Kimberly Thompson.
I have nothing but positive things to say. Ten and a half years is a very long time on TV. Every TV show ends; that’s just the reality of any creative endeavor
, added Janney.
The decision comes as the show undergoes significant changes following the end of the Writers Guild of America strike. After 148 days on the picket lines, late-night shows like Late Night With Seth Meyers, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and others announced their return.
However, due to budget constraints and evolving industry dynamics driven by streaming services and YouTube, NBC decided to lay off the live band and revamp the show for Season 12.
Though the live performances are ending, Janney clarified that the band will still produce music for the show. They will no longer play live but will continue to record some of the walk-on tracks and update them periodically.
The 8G Band’s final week will feature Fred Armisen drumming one last time as part of what Janney describes as a little bit of a celebration
, while also recognizing this as a sad day for Late Night
.
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