okayplayer Presents: "Questlove's First Day at The Tonight Show" Mini-Doc (Parts 1-2)
The self-proclaimed "Greatest Band In Late Night," The Roots have really come a long way since busking for pocket change on South Philly street corners back in the late 1980's; now in their sixth year with Jimmy Fallon as his show changes hands from Late Night to The Tonight Show, the on-screen band has been augmented to include two horn players borrowed from The Dap-Kings. What initially started as a brief behind-the-scenes vignette, okayplayer in-house videographer Jake Remington ended up filming a 2-part mini-documentary. Part 1 effectively shadows ?uestlove, who'll soon appear as a crusty afro-corpse on Law & Order: SVU, as he goes through his pre-show rituals and morning routine before Fallon #970; Hashtag-savvy fans get an inside look into ?uestlove's New York high-rise apartment, his coveted sneaker and T-shirt collection, his breakfast-scented cologne cabinet, boxing with a personal trainer, and 20 minutes of electric relaxation on the way to Studio 6B. Part 2 on the other hand, focuses more on The Roots' final band rehearsals before their February 17-18th Tonight Show debut... we get to hear the story behind the show's newly-composed theme song, sit in on ?uestlove's annual shape-up, get The Roots' view of their stripped down in-studio performance of "Ordinary Love" with guest(s) U2, talking J Dilla, Michael Jackson & Prince's collective inspiration with bandleader Quest, etc. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon airs week nights at 11:30pm, while The Roots' next album (tentatively titled &TYSYC) is supposedly soon forthcoming; "There is also a release date for the next @TheRoots LP "and then you shoot your cousin," but not sure if we can share that yet (it's soon),)" @okayplayer Tweeted back on February 15th.