With just three months left to go at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the show has a new band. Or rather, a new band name.
The group formerly known as “Louis Cato and The Late Show Band” is now “Louis Cato and the Great Big Joy Machine.” Bandleader Louis Cato announced the new name on Monday night’s broadcast, with help from host Stephen Colbert. The rebrand also doubles as the title of the group’s upcoming album, set for release April 16.
During the show’s return from its first commercial Monday night, Colbert framed the news as something bigger than a simple rename. “This is a whole new band tonight,” he told the audience.
Pointing to a new graphic emblazoned on the set behind him, Cato revealed the updated moniker.
Colbert added that the band’s self-titled album, The Great Big Joy Machine, will benefit the Recording Academy’s charitable arm. “All album proceeds are going to MusicCares,” Colbert said. “So go get this album.”
The album’s first single, “Gratitude,” is now available on streaming platforms. Viewers were also directed to scan a QR code linking to the group’s newly launched social media pages and album pre-save options.
The Late Show is set to end its run on May 21, bringing Colbert’s decade-long tenure on CBS to a close. With that milestone approaching, Monday’s announcement felt less like a cosmetic tweak and more like a transition plan.
The band was originally formed by musician Jon Batiste under the name Stay Human before becoming the house band for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in September 2015. After Batiste departed in August 2022, Louis Cato took over as bandleader, and the group was subsequently rebranded as Louis Cato and The Late Show Band.
As Colbert put it on air: “You are a great big joy machine.” With the clock ticking toward May, it appears that the band intends to keep generating that joy after the studio lights go down.