David Letterman > Stephen Colbert?

That is possibly the most provocative, click-baity title I've ever written.
But don't get me wrong - I love Stephen Colbert, and actually watch The Late Show religiously now, which I didn't while good ol' Dave was in charge.
But I've got to say that Dave may have Stephen covered when it comes to musical guests. I've been checking out some of them and...well...I think I'll just let the music videos speak for themselves. 
(Except to say that I think that, in many of these, the live versions are better than the originals!)
(Aaaand that you could do a lot worse than have these as a permanent playlist...)

1. Foo Fighters - Everlong
Apart from being a great song by a great band, Dave reckons this is his FAVOURITE song by his FAVOURITE band!



2. Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American
This is the song that got me started on this quest - it's amazing.

3. Beastie Boys - Sabotage
My favourite Beastie Boys song! The official music clip (directed by Spike Jonze) is one of my favourite clips of all time, too, but seeing them play this live is just mind-blowing (I actually did see them play this live at Summersault in 1995...but this is better!)



4. Beastie Boys - Ch-Check it Out
Speaking of the Beastie Boys, forget about best Late Show performances, this has got to be one of the best Broadway performances ever!



5. Weezer - Say It Ain't So
And speaking of favourites, this is my favourite Weezer song - and they look so young and cute!



6. TV on the Radio - Wolf Like Me
Awesome.



7. At the Drive In - One-Armed Scissor
Wow. Just....wow. 
It's at this point that I wonder whether Dave is trolling his audience (in a good way...)



8. Red Fang - Blood like Cream
Maybe not as good as the Fred Armisen-starring, zombie-apocalypse with beer-drinking  official clip (The Drinking Dead?), but still, this shows that Dave clearly didn't mind a bit of metal, stoner- or otherwise...



9. Screaming Trees - Nearly Lost You
I'm including this for two reasons: (a) Seattle Repre-ZENT (apart from the aforementioned Dave Grohl contingent), and (b) Mark Lanegan's voice. Also...my band used to play this song and I kind of love it...
 

10. Foo Fighters - Everlong
Yeah, I know I've already got them above, but, as I said, favourite band, favourite song, and Dave got them back on his last ever show. Love it.


Dishonourable (later Honourable) Mention - Bill Hicks
Famously, Dave refused to allow this stand-up bit by the infamous Bill Hicks to air at the time of filming, but, to his credit, he recanted and broadcasted it after Bill's very untimely death, when he had Bill's Mum on the show. Hats off, Dave.  



Plus one more: Eagles of Death Metal played out on Broadway in front of the Ed Sullivan Theater, which is cool and weird and interesting, but I'm including the official clip, because it's amazingly super-awesome.



But of course, given the title of this post, it's not fair if I don't at least give Stephen a fair hearing music-guest-wise. In fact, I'll allow him the right of rebuttal right here, with the insanely fantastic Babymetal:


I rest my case(s).