Quick Six: A Selection Of Our Favorite NPR Tiny Desk Concerts
–Written by Kevin Madert
Since Bob Boilen first began inviting musicians the world over to play stripped-down shows in his cramped NPR office back in 2008 (seriously guys, hasn’t he earned bigger digs?) over 400 acts have taken part in the Tiny Desk Concert series. Boilen – who’s been with NPR since the 1980s and created the online music program All Songs Considered in 2000 – has seen acts ranging from Andrew W.K. to Yo-Yo Ma take their places in the same tight crook of two bookshelves and perform abbreviated, intimate sets for a few dozen of his coworkers.
I recently spent a few hours perusing the Tiny Desk library. After watching a dozen or so videos and adding twice that number to my bookmarks tab for future viewing, I reached two conclusions. Conclusion the first: I’d really like Bob Boilen’s job. Conclusion the second: I enjoyed the following six Tiny Desk Concerts enough to warrant typing this up and sharing them with you.
Moon Hooch (7/7/14)
The saxy trio prove their organic brand of house (they call it “Cave Music”) works in literally any arena with a jagged & lo-fi performance that harkens back to their days of busking on New York City Subway platforms. The energy is palpable even through my computer monitor, and Boilen himself considers it one of his favorite editions of Tiny Desk. (Original post)
Setlist: “Tubes” “Number 9” “Bari 3”
The Front Bottoms (8/19/13)
Even when toned down instrumentally the shakey pop-punk of The Front Bottoms packs heavy in the emotion department. Light gleams off Brian Sella’s forehead (“I’m a sweater,” he comments laconically) as he half shouts, half warbles through the fifteen minute set, which also features slight percussion and the occasional trill of a trumpet. (Original post)
Setlist: “Au Revoir (Adios)” “Swear To God The Devil Made Me Do It” “The Feud” “Twin Size Mattress”
Trey Anastasio (1/5/2015)
The Phish lead singer looks like anything but the voice of one of the world’s biggest jam bands in this short and sweet performance. Besides his quiet delivery and amiable demeanor, this one’s worth a watch solely to see such a big-time act play in such intimate surroundings. (Original post)
Setlist: “Sleep Again” “Summer Of ’89” “Backwards Down The Number Line”
Andrew W.K. (11/30/09)
This was the easiest choice for my list by a wide margin. If you know anything about Andrew W.K., the idea of his music being unleashed upon an office full of semi-unsuspecting NPR employees conjures up a bevy of humorous mental scenarios. None of them could beat the actual performance though, as W.K. manages to pull off some lengthy improvisational piano, a toned-down arena rocker, an old standard, and even a bit of motivational speaking in his 20 minute solo set. (Original post)
You can watch this performance here.
Setlist: “Improvisation 1” “Improvisation 2” “I Get Wet” “The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress”
Conor Oberst (6/23/14)
Since the age of 13, Conor Oberst has been penning and performing highly personal music across a wide variety of genres. He’s perhaps best known for his work heading indie folk group Bright Eyes, and his Tiny Desk appearance leans towards this in style. With backup from roots rockers Dawes, Oberst plays a set full of contemplative, quiet tunes off his latest solo album Upside Down Mountain. (Original post)
Setlist: “Time Forgot” “Double Life” “Zigzagging Toward The Light” “Artifact #1”
Glenn Jones (1/23/12)
It doesn’t get much more stripped down than a single man plucking away on an acoustic guitar, and Glenn Jones’ turn behind the Tiny Desk is a beautiful showcase of all-instrumental American folk music. It’s telling of the subtle gravitas of the genre – and the skill of Jones – that of the six performances highlighted herein, this one feels most powerful. (Original post)
Setlist: “Tinka Marie” “The Great Pacific Northwest” “Of Its Own Kind”
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