Our Favorite Tiny Desk Concerts
With hundreds of Tiny Desk Concerts out there, we’re sharing 5 of our favorites that you need to hear.
By: 20 Watts Staff
Denzel Curry
Denzel Curry’s Tiny Desk Concert does everything a Tiny Desk Concert should: showcase the artist’s adaptability across different musical mediums. Denzel Curry is known for his “hard” rap. On many of his tracks, his powerful voice booms over a bellowing, vibrant beat. However, in his Tiny Desk, we hear something a little different. His voice maintains its trademark power and volume, but the live band brings a whole new feel to his music. “Clout Cobain” with a live band was hard for me to imagine at first, but upon hearing it, it sounded so natural and left me with a whole new appreciation for the song. I’ve always been a fan of live band accompaniment, but Denzel’s Tiny Desk was one of the few that made me wish he would always perform with it. -Grace
IDLES
The energy is off the charts in IDLES’ 2019 Tiny Desk Concert, but for them, it’s just another day at the office. The performance begins with the hair-raising synthesized lead line of their most popular track, “Never Fight a Man with a Perm,” immediately setting the tone. The band goes on to play their then most recent single, “Mercedes Marxist,” and “I’m Scum,” which appears on their then most recent album, Joy as an Act of Resistance. Lead singer Joe Talbot stands center stage, arms swinging, feet moving, and vocal chords howling. In fact, other than the drummer, there isn’t a member of the band who isn’t jumping around. Both instruments and humans alike scream with infectious fervor. Guitarist Mark Bowen even invites members of the NPR office audience to join in on the act towards the end to round off the performance. IDLES remains one of the quintessential post-punk bands of the 2010s, and their Tiny Desk Concert reflects that perfectly. -John
Kirk Franklin
While Kirk Franklin’s genre is gospel, his music has always transcended religious differences. His songs may be full of praise, but they’re also full of influence from soul, R&B, jazz, hip-hop, and more. The combination of this with his small but mighty presence makes his Tiny Desk Concert one of my favorites of all time. Performing classics like “Melodies From Heaven” and “I Smile,” church is brought to you with everyone’s contagious energy and Franklin’s preacher-like joke delivery. The performance didn’t take place behind NPR’s iconic desk setup, but it still felt intimate. What hits your ears first is the perfect harmonies from the singers, sounding like they’re straight out of the studio recording. However, the real magic lies within the band supporting everyone. The keys and percussion fill the room, and the bass is simply exceptional. If you need a pick-me-up, look no further. -Elise
T-Pain
One of my favorite Tiny Desk Concert performances of all time has to be T-Pain. T-Pain, the auto-tune god of the 2000s, completely threw that out the window for his performance. You may think I'm lying, but T-Pain has the voice of an angel. The first time watching this performance, my jaw dropped. I had no clue that T-Pain was so talented with his vocals — and he even plays the keyboard while performing. T-Pain may be the most talented performer in the world and I think that T-Pain’s music might actually sound better without the auto-tune; it almost reminds me of the opera. T-Pain may be the most talented performer in the world, and I highly suggest checking out this performance and prepare to be shocked. -Harrison
Khruangbin
Khruangbin’s iconic groove soars in this installment of NPR’S Tiny Desk Concerts. Laura Lee’s skill in laying down a soul-filled bassline allows for rhythmic guitarist Mark Speer to entrance the listener with atmospheric guitar licks, and crisp reverberations. The soundscape is rounded out by Donald “DJ” Johnson’s drums that give Khruangbin their notorious lo-fi soul aura. The band’s sound was inspired by 60s and 70s funk and soul from cultures around the globe, like Thailand, Ethiopia, and the Middle East. Despite hailing from Houston, Texas, the trio brings global music to an American audience in a contemporary and instrumental jazz fusion. Their set ended with “White Gloves”, a hypnotic exploration of a more lyrical style, and somehow still manages to be just as ambient as their other pieces. On the set of Tiny Desk, Khruangbin’s already intimate music became more deep-seated. The audience can see into each deliberate guitar strum and bass-pluck making the performance that much more enriching. -Evan