Live from Abbey Road is a great series from the Sundance Channel, it features a collection of artists from across the musical spectrum. In tonights episode you’ll see the Subways rip the studio apart with three rousing performances. They talk about being a three piece band and the advantages and disadvantages that occur because of that. They also talk about how much they love to play high energy music no matter whether they are playing for 10,000 people or a handful of camera men, and they deliver on that promise.

There is an interesting story about how the lead singer (Josh Morgan) and bass player (Charlotte Cooper) used to be an item and how they broke up in the midst of making a new album. They explain how the creative process didn’t stop despite their personal struggles and how the music keeps them together as friends. Their second song is a bit of a love ballad that makes me wonder if it’s about the two of them. The drummer Billy Lunn has a lot of energy and you can feel it in the music and see it in the performance, this is definitely a three piece that you don’t want to miss.

Next up is Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse better known as Gnarls Barkley. Danger Mouse is a bit of a mystery to me so it was good to hear his take on music and how it’s made. They start off with an impromptu jam session that works its way into ‘Whatever’ off of their Odd Couple album, an interesting song that is a bit of a departure from their mega smash hit ‘Crazy’. Hearing them is a testament to how far Hip Hop has come in a way, considering their roots are in that scene.

Their next song is a slow, almost sad tune called ‘Who’s Gonna Save My Soul’. The song is sweet to say the least as Cee-Lo really shows off his abilities as a singer. The lyrics are thoughtful and poignant and make me wish I went out and bought their most recent album. The lead guitarist’s spazing out over a slow song was a bit distracting but that’s ok, the song was still great. The last song they play is a great tune called ‘Surprise’ which as Cee-Lo explains has a lot to do with the loneliness that comes with being an individual. Cee-Lo has one of the most unique vocal styles anywhere and he’s a great performer.

Lastly Herbie Hancock will take the sound stage by storm with some smooth cuts from his tribute album of Joni Mitchell covers. He talks about how he decided to make a tribute album, and how he wasn’t completely familiar with Joni Mitchell’s lyrics even though they were good friends. He also explains that his focus as a jazz instrumentalist can often lead to him to be dazzled by harmonies and negligent of the lyrics. This album was a challenge for him in that respect. The two songs they play are from the River: The Joni Letters album and are called ‘All I Want’ and ‘Court and Spark’.

I can’t say anything about Herbie Hancock that hasn’t been said one hundred times before, so I’ll leave you with this instead. Hancock is the reason you should watch this show, his work is phenomenal and the songs he plays are just so beautiful. Where else are you going to see him and his band perform live at Abbey Road without watching the show and seeing him stroke the piano keys firsthand?

Kudo’s to Sundance Channel for bringing together so many wonderful artists for this series that is almost near completion. If you’ve been watching the show then you know by now just how good it is, if not then get yourself in front of the tube tonight to see Herbie and company change the way you listen to music, possibly.