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NPR Tiny Desk Concerts: Season 2014
January 4, 2014
85 Episodes
Overview
No overview available for this season.
Episodes
85
1
Van-Anh Vanessa Vo
Jan 4, 2014
The musician unpacks an array of traditional Vietnamese instruments — and 1,000 years of culture.
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2
Lily & Madeleine
Jan 7, 2014
The teenagers play a restrained, homespun mix of folk and pop with undeniably sweet harmonies.
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3
Afro Blue
Jan 13, 2014
The Howard University vocal jazz ensemble performs beautiful African-American spirituals.
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4
Robert Glasper Experiment
Jan 20, 2014
Members of the Grammy-winning, organic R&B Experiment band jam with singer Marsha Ambrosius.
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5
Angel Olsen
Jan 27, 2014
The expressive, powerful singer previews songs from her new album, Burn Your Fire for No Witness.
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6
Pixies
Feb 3, 2014
Hear the legendary band perform 1989's "Monkey Gone to Heaven" and two new songs — one unreleased.
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7
Fanfare Ciocarlia
Feb 8, 2014
The joyous Balkan brass band plays at a pace that would make the Ramones burst into a sweat.
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8
Suzanne Vega
Feb 10, 2014
The inventive folk-music veteran book-ends a four-song set with her hits "Luka" and "Tom's Diner."
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9
Cate Le Bon
Feb 18, 2014
The Welsh singer's set conveys loneliness and doubt with just two guitars and an inviting whisper.
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10
Sofia Rei
Feb 22, 2014
For about 20 minutes one sunny afternoon, Rei turned a desk into a small Latin American folk club.
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11
Brass Bed
Feb 24, 2014
See the band re-create some of its stellar studio effects with a pedal steel and some novelty mics.
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12
Asaf Avidan
Mar 2, 2014
Avidan has an album and no U.S. record label to put it out. But he's on a solo tour that's stunning.
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13
Lowland Hum
Mar 6, 2014
It's hard to convey the sound of two people in love, but Lowland Hum does that effortlessly.
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14
Jake Bugg
Mar 10, 2014
Watch the 20-year-old English singer-songwriter, who has worked with superproducer Rick Rubin.
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15
Diane Cluck
Mar 17, 2014
On record, Cluck's elastic voice and fingerpicking are impressive. Live, they jam the senses.
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16
Joseph Calleja
Mar 24, 2014
All the world's top opera houses want the young tenor with the old-school approach.
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17
The Haden Triplets
Mar 31, 2014
When the sisters cover classic country music together, the result is a treat and a trip in time.
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18
The Both
Apr 7, 2014
Singer-songwriters Aimee Mann and Ted Leo unite from opposite ends of the volume knob.
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19
Tom Brosseau
Apr 12, 2014
The North Dakota singer-songwriter possesses one of the most arresting voices in folk music today.
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20
Courtney Barnett
Apr 14, 2014
Barnett tells stories like your best friend, provided your best friend is a funny Australian poet.
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21
Usman Riaz
Apr 19, 2014
A young Pakistani musician treats the guitar as percussion — with surprisingly shimmering results.
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22
Federico Aubele
Apr 21, 2014
The Argentine singer uses his dark, husky voice to produce a specific effect in these three songs.
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23
Quilt
Apr 26, 2014
Interweaving harmonies and guitar lines set the tone for these soft, benevolent, dreamy songs.
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24
Johnnyswim
Apr 28, 2014
Impossibly telegenic and charming, the band mixes booming intensity with polish and sparkle.
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25
Cian Nugent
May 3, 2014
The Dublin guitarist runs through a ragtime jaunt, a basement-bar choogle and a sad-sack closer.
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26
Public Service Broadcasting
May 5, 2014
The duo's sample-laden instrumental music is entertainment as education for the head and feet alike.
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27
Timber Timbre
May 10, 2014
See the swamp-folk band play a characteristically eerie and mysterious set in the NPR Music offices.
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28
Chvrches
May 12, 2014
The Scottish synth-pop band turns up with a small arsenal of synthesizers to perform three songs.
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29
Iestyn Davies
May 17, 2014
See the countertenor and lutenist Thomas Dunford perform John Dowland's melancholy songs.
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30
Ages And Ages
May 20, 2014
The band makes the kind of music that can at least briefly restore your faith in humanity.
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31
Yasmine Hamdan
May 24, 2014
The Lebanese singer-songwriter is one of the most groundbreaking musicians in the Middle East.
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32
Hozier
May 27, 2014
15 min
Andrew Hozier-Byrne wraps his rich, vital, soulful voice around songs rooted in the blues.
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33
Juana Molina
May 31, 2014
Molina sounds as if she'd been raised by wolves and discovered the world of music on her own.
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34
Simone Dinnerstein
Jun 2, 2014
Watch the celebrated pianist make Bach's Two-part Inventions sing and zing.
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35
Marian McLaughlin
Jun 7, 2014
A quirky and wistful performer with a string section, McLaughlin makes music like few others.
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36
Eliot Fisk And Paco Peña
Jun 14, 2014
A classical virtuoso and an equally captivating flamenco player combine for a set of duets.
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37
Rodney Crowell
Jun 16, 2014
The country singer-songwriter performs with the ease and swagger of a man comfortable in his ways.
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38
Mali Music
Jun 21, 2014
The singer-songwriter and musician performs with unabashed positivity and an uplifting spirit.
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39
Conor Oberst
Jun 23, 2014
The Bright Eyes singer performs songs from Upside Down Mountain with help from members of Dawes.
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40
Tracy Silverman
Jun 28, 2014
See the innovative player create waves of sound with a six-string violin.
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41
Lydia Loveless
Jul 1, 2014
The 23-year-old singer-guitarist performs gritty, countrified blues-rock in the NPR Music offices.
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42
The Foreign Exchange
Jul 5, 2014
Watch the Tiny Desk turn into a church, comedy club and neo-soul spot.
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43
Moon Hooch
Jul 7, 2014
They call what they make "cave music" — but it's just as powerful at the Tiny Desk.
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44
John Grant
Jul 13, 2014
Grant's songs don't mess around, with lyrics that function as darts of retort and thought.
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45
Holly Williams
Jul 14, 2014
The singer has a magnificent way with phrasing, not to mention a remarkable country-music lineage.
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46
Marisa Anderson
Jul 19, 2014
The guitarist kicks up some dirt with a Rev. Gary Davis deconstruction and a Stratocaster hoedown.
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47
Hamilton Leithauser
Jul 21, 2014
In this three-song set, the Walkmen singer demonstrates that he's lost none of his vocal power.
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48
Highasakite
Jul 25, 2014
Watch an atmospheric Norwegian band with a yearning sound. Also: See a flugabone!
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49
Saintseneca
Jul 29, 2014
In the NPR offices, the Ohio band plays three alternately brooding and stomping songs from Dark Arc.
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50
Quetzal
Aug 2, 2014
The veteran East L.A. band's music penetrates the intellect even as it makes your hips sway.
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51
The Family Crest
Aug 4, 2014
The band's seven players are trained in classical and jazz, led by Liam McCormick's powerful voice.
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52
Irene Diaz
Aug 9, 2014
With Carolyn Cardoza, Diaz conjures a place where emotions run deep and beauty is unmistakable.
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53
Bob Mould
Aug 11, 2014
The former Hüsker Dü and Sugar frontman plugs in for a characteristically loud four-song set.
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54
Ernest Ranglin
Aug 16, 2014
Watch a talented, charming guitar legend make magic as his band Avila holds down the beat.
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55
Pacifica Quartet
Aug 18, 2014
Watch the group play selections from Shostakovich's cycle of introspective string quartets.
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56
Rodrigo Amarante
Aug 23, 2014
A veteran of Little Joy and Los Hermanos, Amarante makes warm, tender music as a solo artist.
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57
Nickel Creek
Aug 26, 2014
The band was made to sing and play around one microphone, so a Tiny Desk Concert seemed inevitable.
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58
Sturgill Simpson
Aug 30, 2014
15 min
The Kentucky native writes country songs about loneliness, failed dreams, drinking and drugs.
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59
Trampled By Turtles
Sep 3, 2014
Known for the speed of their playing, the Minnesotans are about more than just blistering bluegrass.
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60
Jessica Lea Mayfield
Sep 6, 2014
Mayfield's music has gotten more beguiling as she explores the many contrasts in her hypnotic sound.
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61
Justin Townes Earle
Sep 8, 2014
In advance of his new album Single Mothers, the singer performs two new songs and an old favorite.
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62
Luluc
Sep 15, 2014
Graceful singing and storytelling meet guitars and textures that help create an unforgettable aura.
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63
Tweedy
Sep 22, 2014
With his drummer son Spencer, Wilco's Jeff Tweedy performs songs from their new album, Sukierae.
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64
Bio Ritmo
Sep 29, 2014
The 10-piece salsa band built its career on dance floors, where it never fails to make people move.
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65
Ryan Keberle & Catharsis
Oct 4, 2014
The trombonist's working band established some nifty swing, assisted in absentia by Sufjan Stevens.
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66
Jackson Browne
Oct 6, 2014
Browne still writes songs with conviction, craftsmanship and careful attention to detail.
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67
Raquel Sofia
Oct 11, 2014
Sofia has spent most of her career 20 feet from stardom as a backup singer for Juanes and Shakira.
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68
The Bots
Oct 14, 2014
The band plays with a great rock-duo punch that recalls The White Stripes or JEFF The Brotherhood.
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69
Ásgeir
Oct 18, 2014
The Icelandic singer's voice is angelic and yearning, his songs simple and universal.
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70
Anthony D'Amato
Oct 20, 2014
D'Amato's music can feel Motown-y, garage-y and Springsteen-y, but he sounds sparer here.
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71
Danish String Quartet
Oct 25, 2014
Watch the young, versatile ensemble play folk music from around Denmark and beyond.
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72
T-Pain
Oct 29, 2014
We asked the King of Auto-Tune to grace the Tiny Desk without any embellishment or effects.
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73
Banks
Oct 30, 2014
Known for lavish electronic productions, Banks serves notice as a powerful singer in her own right.
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74
Sun Ra Arkestra
Oct 31, 2014
With costumes inspired by Egyptian symbolism and sci-fi, Ra's band plays a special Halloween set.
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75
Making Movies
Nov 8, 2014
A rousing band from Kansas City, Making Movies mixes languages and eras with infectious energy.
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76
Roomful Of Teeth
Nov 10, 2014
Watch the group sing new music with yelps, yodels and a few fine harmonies.
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77
Davíd Garza
Nov 15, 2014
The Austin singer-songwriter joins his stunning voice with that of touring partner Gaby Moreno.
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78
J Mascis
Nov 22, 2014
The Dinosaur Jr. frontman, one of the world's loudest musicians, performs unplugged and acoustic.
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79
Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo
Nov 24, 2014
Benatar and Giraldo play three classics: "We Live For Love," "We Belong" and "Promises In The Dark."
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80
Sam Amidon & Bill Frisell
Dec 1, 2014
Amidon weaves his compositions into traditional music, while Frisell adds atmospheric guitar.
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81
Dublin Guitar Quartet
Dec 4, 2014
Hear the Irish ensemble's fresh take on Philip Glass' propulsive yet intimate string quartets.
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82
St. Paul And The Broken Bones
Dec 6, 2014
The band's got heart and soul and flair, with a well-worn sound buoyed by strong, fresh songwriting.
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83
Yusuf/Cat Stevens
Dec 9, 2014
The singer performs two new songs, as well as "The First Cut Is the Deepest" and "Father and Son."
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84
Lucinda Williams
Dec 20, 2014
She came to the desk a little unsure, and left singing "West Memphis" with intensity and passion.
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85
HMSTR
Dec 24, 2014
Watch our favorite hamsters play their twee-as-all-get-out holiday pop-punk song, "Snow Day."
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