Going Live with Jools Holland again

I usually find that if you do something once in life and love it, you should never do it again
Things never seem to be quite as good the second time around.
But last week I was proved wrong.
Ninesh and I got tickets to see " Later with Jools Holland," again and it was AMAZING.
Even better than the first time, though I'm not sure why.  
Maybe it was the chemistry between the eclectic mix of talented musicians- all under the same roof for just one night. 
Maybe it was the fact that we "knew the score," and were less in awe of the whole "going live," process.
Maybe it was that we didn't have to queue outside for an hour first but got to mingle with  the other guests in the bar waiting area.

Waiting

Maybe the atmosphere was more relaxed because  this time it wasn't the first night of filming in a new studio. .
Maybe it was the infectiously mischievous twinkle always hovering in Jools Holland's eye.
Or maybe it was just that everyone, singers and audience, were out to make it a night to remember.
Whatever the reason, we had the best time and heard some incredible music.
The studio is much smaller than it looks on TV so you are very close to the artists.
It 's like a friendly, intimate jazz club without the elitism. 
There are so many different people singing, so many different styles of music, so much tangible talent that you can't help but be swept up in the buzz of excitement that comes with live music.
And then there is the added interest of famous artists being interviewed live in front of you. 
It feels almost as though you are chatting to them in your living room.
We learnt that Neil Finn's wife is the bass player in his band, that once when he was playing on Later he stopped singing too early because he misunderstood a cue from Jools Holland and that Zara McFarlane comes from Dagenham.
Feeding my love of trivia and funny anecdotes. 
And because the tickets are free,-just register online, apply and keep your fingers crossed- the audience is a complete mixture of ages, cultures and styles
The line-up.was amazing last week: 

Paolo Nutini

Neil Finn

Royal Blood

Lucius

Joan as a Policewoman

Zara McFarlane

From the thrashing, unknown duet Royal Blood to the famous, smouldering Paolo Nutini, there was something for everyone, whatever your musical taste.
I am a fickle music fan.
I often like one or two songs from a band and then nothing else they ever sing. 
So even though I love live music, I'm often bored in live concerts
" Later," is the perfect solution for people like me. 
Just a few songs from everyone and usually their best and most popular because they have a whole nation of watchers to impress.
For the first hour the singers were recorded and interviewed for the hour long Friday show. 
The most awe-inspiring display of musical talent was the improvised duet with Zara McFarlane and Jools Holland as she let her velvet-wrapped voice take the lead from his piano-playing fingers.
It was like listening to a spontaneous walk through constantly changing scenery.
But the song that will remain with me because, for the first time in a long time, it sent shivers down my spine, was " Go Home," by the "not-yet-famous-but-watch-this-space  Lucius."
http://youtu.be/ACBwXIzQou8
It was so entrancingly beautiful that when it had finished, I felt as though I was waking up from a dream.
But there was no time for dreaming because at 1 minute to 10 the countdown began, the excitement rose and as the title music died away, we cheered and cheered while the camera followed Jools Holland round the room as he introduced the acts. 

It was raw and real and over too quickly.
Before we knew it, we were clapping to a goodbye led by Paolo Nutini while Jools thanked his guests.
And that was it.
All over for the second time.
There was a moment's silence before the famous words:

" And that's a wrap. Thank you for coming," from the producer. 
Except that, as we were leaving, they announced there had been a problem with the recording of one of the songs for the Friday show.
I closed my eyes and wished.
And sometimes wishes do come true because the song they had to re-record was... 
" Go Home."
And so, before we went home, I got to hear my new favourite song, live, again.
Maybe, Lucius will be the group that make me a less fickle music fan!
Or maybe we'll just carry on applying for " Later," tickets and I will let Jools Holland guide my musical whims.