2 Of Our Favorite NPR Tiny Desk Concerts

Lani Milton/NPR

In 2008, Bob Boilen initiated the Tiny Desk concert series, a collection of intimate performances that take place behind his desk at the NPR offices in Washington DC. While this concept initially started as a joke between Boilen and artist Laura Gibson, the idea quickly turned into reality and became one of the most viewed DIY concert series in the world. With hundreds of memorable performances already in the books, here are some of our favorites that we think stand out among the rest.

Will: Typhoon (October 2013)

If you’ve ever wondered how many people could possibly fit behind a desk, Typhoon might have an answer for you. While there were definitely not as many people here as with Mother Falcon’s Tiny Desk, Typhoon actually crammed all 11 members behind Bob Boilen’s office space. This includes two drummers, two violinists, a guitarist, ukulele, and even a horn section. While the scale here is impressive, what’s even more notable is the cohesiveness and wonder every composition conveys. So watch in awe and absorb as much as you can from this Portland group that never ceases to amaze. 

Victor: Son Lux (August 2015)

The compositionally brilliant trio Son Lux rose to the occasion during their Tiny Desk. Rather than using their usual tech to create their unique and dizzying sound, they brought in a horn section that simultaneously made their set louder but more intimate than just using a sound pad and MacBook. The combination of these more analog elements and the locale added a different dimension to their performance. Their music always encapsulates a calculated chaos, but in this set, they really showcase a raw emotion that doesn’t always come through post-production. In my opinion, that’s the purpose of a Tiny Desk show.