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PEOPLE & ARTS Thursday 27 June 2019

Desus & Mero shake up the late night talk show universe

By GARY GERARD HAMIL- America works. But wow!
TON What’s going on?’” said
Associated Press Desus, the stage name of
NEW YORK (AP) — Daniel Baker.
Baker and Joel Martinez Part of the charm of Desus
may be hosts of a late night & Mero is that they don’t
TV talk show that attracts A- hide their New York-ness.
list celebrities but they don’t Most on-air talent elimi-
feel like they’re competing nates clothing, accents
with the likes of Jimmy Fal- or vernacular that could
lon or Stephen Colbert. alienate different parts of
The comedians, who go by the country. But Desus and
Desus Nice & The Kid Mero, Mero not only embrace it,
got their break in podcasts but turn the dial up.
and they fill their Show- “When the revolution
time slot with conversation, comes, we going to kill all
jokes, viral clips, celebrity the rich people and eat
slip-ups and offbeat local them,” Desus joked to an
news stories. They call it “a audience recently. “We’re
hodgepodge of the full not rich, though. We from
day’s topics.” It’s spontane- the Bronx. Being rich in the
ous and less gimmicky than Bronx is like, what, 40 thou?”
their higher-profile rivals. Although they might be
“Other guys_shout out to newcomers to late-night,
them_but they have a for- they haven’t shied from the
mula,” said Mero, the stage action. While they shoot
name of Martinez. “That’s the breeze with everyone
not what we wanted to do. from actors to directors to
We wanted to come and recording artists, they’ve hit
do something totally dif- a sweet spot with politics.
ferent. And even the term They’ve toasted Kirsten
‘late-night show’_it applies Gillibrand at a bar, drank
to our show because it malt liquor in the park from
comes on late at night, but This March 19, 2019 photo shows Daniel Baker, better known as Desus Nice, left, and Joel Martinez, bottles wrapped in brown
it’s not your typical late- also known as The Kid Mero, during a portrait session in New York. The pair host the late night series paper bags with Pete But-
night show.” “Desus & Mero,” on Showtime. tigieg and visited fellow
Fans will get a chance to Associated Press Bronx resident Alexandria
see them up close in per- sus. “At the beginning of the eyes of Complex Me- and Martinez host “Desus Ocasio-Cortez in her Wash-
son this summer when they the day, it started with our dia, which noticed their & Mero on Showtime ,” ington, D.C. office_she was
hit the road, visiting cities podcast and at the end of hysterical Twitter interac- the premium network’s first their first Showtime guest.
like Houston, Los Angeles, the day, it’s going to be our tion and paired them up late-night show. (To remind her of the Bronx,
Miami and more. Tickets podcast.” for a podcast that quickly “We’re not a bunch of pun- they presented her with a
are currently on sale . They’re doing what they turned to video. That led dits breaking stuff down. Puerto Rican flag, a Fat Joe
“The show is a live version want on their own terms, to their popular show on We’re just like, ‘This is weird. VHS tape and a Cardi B
of the podcast,” said De- the same traits that caught Viceland, and now Baker This is weird. This is not how Fathead.)q

The Raconteurs venture to new places on 3rd album

By RAGAN CLARK is White at his strongest, track starts with whirling,
Associated Press with songwriting help from distorted notes before har-
The Raconteurs, “Help Us Brendan Benson, who only monies pour in an almost
Stranger” (Third Man Re- propels White’s inventive, Queen-like manner. Ben-
cords) genre-bending style. They son’s voice smoothly inter-
Often a band is defined are backed by bassist Jack twines with White’s before
by its strongest member. A Lawrence and drummer fat piano chords clamor
lead vocalist pushes to the Patrick Keeler, two musi- over the track as he sings,
front while the rest of the cians who can’t be under- “When you’re searching
group fades behind. estimated. in the dark/It doesn’t mat-
For The Raconteurs, this is “Don’t Bother Me” is just the ter if you’re blind does it?/
not the case. Jack White kind of song you’d hope to Can’t you see?” Over-
may be the most popular hear from a band known all, the 12-track set never
band member (and the for pushing boundaries. Its disappoints. Each song is
most distinctive vocally), frantic musical composition unique and vital. From the
but each is essential on matches the chaos that angst of “Don’t Bother Me”
“Help Us Stranger,” the the lyrics sketch out: “Your to the weighty “Thoughts
foursome’s first album since hidden agenda/You ruth- and Prayers,” with its sear-
2008. While White is known less rule bender/Your sur- ing violin and Nashville soul
for his many projects — The face duplicity/It’s all noth- and blues influence, “Help
White Stripes, The Dead This April 1, 2019 file photo shows Jack White performing at ing new to me.” Us Stranger” is a rock ‘n’ roll
Weather and his solo ca- Loretta Lynn’s 87th Birthday Tribute in Nashville, Tenn. “Shine the Light on Me” is album that is not afraid to
reer — The Raconteurs Associated Press similarly experimental. The venture to new places.q