Fast-rising bassist and bandleader Karina Rykman will grace TV screens nationwide next week as the bassist for The 8G Band on NBC‘s Late Night with Seth Meyers. The Upper West Side NYC-native Rykman will fill in for regular 8G Band bassist Syd Butler from Tuesday, September 6th through Thursday, September 8th.
Karina told Live For Live Music that Butler put her name in as his substitute based on recommendations from their shared friends in the music world. “I’ve always been kind of obsessed with late night television,” said Rykman. “It’s an honor to step in and cover for Syd Butler on bass in The 8G Band.”
Although the three nights on Late Night will mark her first appearances on a traditional late-night talk show, Karina Rykman is no stranger to performing on national TV. In 2017, she played acoustic guitar in singer-songwriter Julia Michaels‘s backing band for a two-song appearance on NBC’s TODAY. Four years earlier, in 2013, Rykman played bass for America’s Got Talent metal kids Aaralyn & Izzy‘s inspired performance of “Dog Poop”—”with a flame-spewing helmet on my head, in front of Howard Stern,” Karina added.
Julia Michaels ft. Karina Rykman – “Uh Huh” (Live On The Today Show)
[Photo via Karina Rykman – Karina in hair and makeup for TODAY appearance]
Aralyn & Izzy ft. Karina Rykman – “Dog Poop” (Live on America’s Got Talent)
While a substitute bassist in The 8G Band is somewhat unusual, the band frequently rotates personnel behind the drum kit when drummer/bandleader Fred Armisen is away from the show working on other projects. Raghav Mehrotra will serve as the drummer during Rykman’s stint in the band next week. Past substitute drummers on Late Night with Seth Meyers have included Joe Russo (Joe Russo’s Almost Dead), Nikki Glaspie (The Nth Power, Maceo Parker), Nate Smith (The Fearless Flyers, Kinfolk), Elmo Lovano, Atom Willard (Against Me!), and more.
Before she hunkers down at 30 Rockefeller Plaza next week, Karina Rykman will head to Westport, CT’s Levitt Pavilion on Friday, September 2nd for a free performance with her namesake trio. Grab your free tickets to the Westport, CT show here. For a full list of her upcoming tour dates, head here.
Catch Karina Rykman in action with The 8G Band on Late Night with Seth Meyers next Tuesday (9/6), Wednesday (9/7), and Thursday (9/8) at 12:35 a.m. ET on NBC.
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