This whole Tiny Desk concert by Nile Rodgers + CHIC is great but this remains one of my favorite moments, as Nile Rodgers describing collab w/ Daft Punk gets derailed by the band. It pops back into my mind randomly and I have to give it another listen.
On the heels of Sleater-Kinney's 11th studio album, "Little Rope," Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein headed to NPR's Tiny Desk studio, where they performed two songs from the new record and two from 2005's "The Woods," accompanied by a string quartet. Have a listen here!
Puerto Rican music is a blend of salsa, reggaeton and the country's own bomba style. Here's a Tiny Desk concert from El Laberinto del Coco, a collective of 14 singers and musicians, led by Hector "Coco" Barez. "Barez's vision is to dig deep into the African roots of call-and-response with four vocalists and four horn players to remind us throughout its performance of the power of bomba to create community," writes producer Felix Contreras, who is the co-host of NPR's Alt.Latino.
NPR's Tiny Desk studio had never hosted a hardcore punk band ... until Soul Glo. Here's the four-piece's 15-minute set to send you into the weekend, described by NPR producer and fan Lars Gotrich thus: "Hardcore and punk are vital not only in how I understand the world but also challenge myself; it's music that feels first, then screams. Soul Glo crystalizes its anger and anxiety — about trauma, anti-Blackness, mortality, survival — with a pummeling prism of classic hardcore speed, psychedelic noise, sludgy riffs and a spitfire vocalist with exasperated-but-exhilarating run-ons, who finds moments to step back and bounce like an emcee would."
Butcher Brown call their style "solar music" (the name of their latest album) because the Richmond, Va. band's members are influenced by everything under the sun. They made their Tiny Desk debut on Feb. 28 with a five-song set that NPR describes as "psychedelic jazz funk with a hip-hop polish" — the perfect soundtrack to see you into the weekend.
NPR's Tiny Desk concerts began almost 15 years ago as a way of platforming rock and folk musicians. Now, they're a beloved institution and feature unknown and world-famous artists from around the globe, in every genre. Here's the Associated Press's story on how they became cool, the rules, and how they get taped. Tell us in the comments if you have an all-time favorite Tiny Desk concert.
The latest Tiny Desk concert goes back to the series' folk roots, with singer Cinder Well. She was born and raised in California but now lives in Co. Clare, Ireland. Her music is described by NPR as "reflect[ing] the Laurel Canyon's wandering spirit and the droning qualities of Irish folk music."
The first time I came across #JacobCollier was toward the beginning of the #pandemic, when I found that music videos helped me deal with the dark times of that first winter. #NPR shifted their #TinyDesk series to Home, and so many #artists gave fantastic performances from their living rooms, closets, kitchens, rooftops ❤️ I found it comforting and inspiring.
It took me til nearly the end of this video before I realized what Jacob had done ;o)
Here's a contemplative, atmospheric start to the weekend — today's Tiny Desk concert, featuring PJ Harvey. She performs five tracks; four from her latest album, "I Inside the Old Year Dying" and the title track from 2007's "White Chalk."
since our cousins in Africa and Europe are just waking up, here's a little offering i found from #TinyDesk, to make the rest of their day amazeballs: Nile Rodgers & CHIC with a set list that is anything short of legendary:
SET LIST
"Le Freak"
"I'm Coming Out"
"We Are Family"
"Get Lucky"
"Good Times"
"Let's Dance"
It's the weekend! We made it! Here's an NPR Tiny Desk concert from Nile Rodgers and CHIC to celebrate. Get up from your office chair and dance the week away with a setlist that includes "Le Freak," I'm Coming Out" and "Let's Dance."
A wonderful live set by an artist justly called a legend. I didn't know how much I needed this until it showed up in my feed and promptly hopped onto my Mental Soundtrack. 💖