Billy Bragg: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

OK Go helped us move the Tiny Desk from our old building to NPR's new headquarters, and The National performed the first full new-building Tiny Desk Concert we posted to the site, but Billy Bragg gave us the first full Tiny Desk Concert we actually recorded in our new office.
Bragg, one of the world's finest contemporary folksingers, appropriately sang "Handyman Blues" as his first tune — and was quickly met with lot of hammering on our rooftop by some real handymen as they put the finishing touches on NPR's new home... In "I Ain't Got No Home," Bragg follows in the folk tradition by altering the song to address the issue of universal health care. It's a rare talent to make it work, but Bragg, as always, finds a way to blend politics and music with grace, charm and a rough edge. --BOB BOILEN

Set List
"Handyman Blues"
"I Ain't Got No Home"
"Sexuality"
"No One Knows Nothing Anymore"

minimalist quotes

Bookshelf Porn - 2014

Everyone should have one... Bookshelf Porn

Motorama - She Is There - 2014

Home

Excellent single out of Russia... These guys play the sweetness sadness; 

Poncho Records - 2014

No Bodies - s/t - 2014

Bandcamp

No Bodies play shoegaze garage rock. Sounds to me like the Jam or the Byrds on a serious smoked up garage in Halifax, Canada.

Gnarwhalz - Goggy Gentlemen - 2014

Bandcamp

Listening to Gnarwhalz brings me back to my days of checking out bands in tiny little showbars in Montreal, where you would find many lo-fi bands pounding away at it in an attempt to entertain the masses. The harmonies are energetic, the musicality sweet - it will have you thinking, "I've heard this before"... but really you haven't!

Dharma - Sea Nothing - 2014

bandcamp / home

The clear pound of drums lay the perfect background for the clean guitar solos and gut renching vocals that permeate throughout this album. It's punk tendencies are tamed by an equal amount of structured lo-fi, if that is even possible. Lo-fi indie punk for your listening pleasure. Nice release. 

Thanks for submitting guys... Well done!

Stag - Difference - 2014

bandcamp / Home

The creative brainchild of Matt McGuire and Will Walden, StaG combines pop hooks with danceable electronic beats and subtle atmospherics that culminate in their live shows as a non-stop set of catchy, rhythmic indie-pop and finely tuned musical interludes, all building to an epic emotional climax. 

Matt and Will met in a tee-ball league when they were both 5 years old and have been best friends ever since. They went to high school and college together and both moved back to their native Los Angeles, California to pursue StaG full-time. StaG recorded its second full-length record, Difference, in the beginning of 2013, and with the addition of Matt Hampar on guitar and Casey Baird on drums, has taken the record out of the studio and onto the L.A. scene. 

Difference takes life’s emotional complexities and turns them into a beautifully uplifting piece of art that you can also dance to. At its heart is the deep bond of friendship between Matt and Will – a couple of kids who couldn’t be more excited about turning the sounds in their heads into the songs of the future.

Luvbugs & Cramapel singles

Both from Transfusão Noise Records

Magic Hands - Tone - 2014

bandcamp

Duo of dream pop, electronica essence on this ep... Nice little gem here people - pick it up for free over at BC!

Canadiana Band Reviews - March 2014

I posted a few releases from some Canadian bands that are making some outstanding noise as of late... Go check out the reviews and have a listen to the albums at my sister site

Musical Pearls

Against Me! - "Black Me Out" - 2014

official video... killer

Dark Mean - Samuel The Phoenix - 2014

Unassuming yet intricate acoustic sections with banjo riffs that will make you smile, driving drum patterns that don’t hide behind unnecessary flash, and well-crafted arrangements that are nearly impossible to fault—these are some of the treats you'll find in a Dark Mean record.

Apneu - Ununbreak My Heart EP - 2012

Horrible Houses - Master​=​Dik - 2014

bandcamp

Long Voyage - Vertical - 2014

bandcamp

Cabana - Cabana EP - 2014

bandcamp

Anthill for Kids

Looks like an anthill of fun... if you are looking for a fun time in the cold winter months, check out one of the climbing anthills.... The kids will love you for it!

Cold Country - Missing the Muse - 2013

bandcamp

Good melodies and good feelings make such good harmony. Great for road trips or just laying in bed pretending you are on one. 

The Winter Suns - Fires Of The North - 2014

bandcamp

When the The Winter Suns aren't playing on words and renaming themselves The Winter Puns, they like to play music together. They are an indie folk 5 piece hailing from the east of Melbourne that will at times have you saying 'ooh that's nice' and at other times have you enthralled in story. Featuring female and male lead vocals & Drawing comparisons from Of Monsters and Men, Mumford & Sons and Angus & Julia Stone, The Winter Suns will ensure you have a folk-ing good time!

Eef Barzelay - Eldorado Six - 2014

bandcamp

4 by Eef and one by Townes Van Zandt (No Place To Fall). Song for Belle has her father Noel adding some sweet sounds. 

"despite the long shadows of your endless despair"