10 Best Late-Night Performances of 2014: Ryan Adams, Bobby Shmurda and Kendrick Lamar Make the List [WATCH]

The late-night performance has become a rite of passage in recent years for up-and-coming bands. For more established acts, it is a chance to play some songs from a new record. There is no denying that the moves made in 2014 in the late-night realm affected the quality of the performances. David Letterman is retiring in May, so he has just been enjoying it all — he really dug Ryan Adams. Jimmy Fallon took over The Tonight Show, which meant The Roots adding their Philly funk to acts like Bobby Shmurda. And Stephen Colbert ended his tenure on The Colbert Report recently, wisely booking Kendrick Lamar for his final week.

The last year was filled with great performances that may have been on past your bedtime. Here are a few of our favorites.

10. Foo Fighters do week-long residency for Sonic Highways: Late Show with David Letterman

In advance of their eighth studio album, Sonic Highways, Dave Grohl and the boys held court for an entire week on Letterman. They teamed up with Zac Brown for Black Sabbath's "War Pigs," made the host a little emotional with their tune "Miracle" and welcomed Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen for the lead Sonic Highways track "Something from Nothing."

It was a loud week that wrapped with the Foos reading a signature Top 10 list.

9. Jimmy Fallon and The Roots step in for U2 with "Desire": The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

So when U2 has to cancel a week-long appearance on The Tonight Show because their iconic frontman Bono is laid up after a cycling accident, the most logical solution is to have Fallon do an impersonation while The Roots back him on "Desire," right?

Damn straight. That is exactly what happened, and the result is hilarious and impressive.

8. The Orwells debut on Late Night with "Who Needs You": Late Show with David Letterman

The Orwells made their late-night debut on Letterman to start the year. Letterman was pumped and the world went wild.

7. Bobby Shmurda teams up with The Roots for "Hot N---a": The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Shmurda is one of those artists to look out for in 2015. His EP, Shmurda She Wrote, hit No. 79 on the Billboard 200. Not too bad for a debut.

6. Letterman demands an encore of Ryan Adams's "Gimme Something Good": Late Show with David Letterman

Ryan Adams returned strong in 2014 with his superb, self-titled 14th album. He chose the lead single "Gimme Something Good" for his September appearance on Late Show, absolutely killing the performance. Dave took notice and asked for an encore — a modern-day Johnny Carson move.

5. Future Islands amaze with "Seasons (Waiting on You)": Late Show with David Letterman

The group's fourth studio effort made some major noise this year. "Seasons (Waiting on You)" had a strong showing on alternative and indie stations, but the crowning moment came in March when they performed the single for a national audience.

4. Prince plays eight-minute set from his new albums: Saturday Night Live

When you are Prince, you do not necessarily need eight minutes to blow everyone's minds. It does not hurt if SNL gives it to you anyway, though.

3. Kendrick Lamar performs new, untitled track: The Colbert Report

Lamar was on point during his visit to The Colbert Report. It was a win-win for both parties. Colbert went out with a bang and people are still talking about the rapper's performance. He also had a great set on Saturday Night Live.

2. Red Hot Chili Peppers cover Blue Öyster Cult with Will Ferrell: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

It is uncanny how much Will Ferrell and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers look alike. Someone pointed that out during a Reddit AMA, which eventually led to a drum battle on The Tonight Show. The pre-interview was hysterical; the drum battle was intense. The finale, which featured Smith's bandmates jamming on Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) the Reaper" — with Ferrell on cowbell — was epic.

1. The Replacements return to 30 Rock 30 years after being banned from Saturday Night Live: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

There were some amazing performances in 2014, but the Mats returning to 30 Rock a couple decades after being banned from the studio because of their destructive and boozy performance on Saturday Night Live takes the cake. Seeing Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson back in action is one of the biggest music stories of the year. Hopefully, we see more of them in 2015.

Tags

Jimmy Fallon, The Roots, Foo Fighters, Ryan Adams, Bobby Shmurda, Kendrick Lamar, David letterman, U2, Prince, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Replacements