Bartees Strange: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

Note: this performance contains explicit language.

As part of Black History Month celebrations, this NPR Tiny Desk concert features Bartees Stranger and his band from the basement of his studio in Falls Church, Virginia, performing four tracks from his debut album ‘Live Forever’ – one of NPR Music’s 50 Best Albums of 2020.

Just a cursory listen of ‘Live Forever’ reveals the artist to be a seeker with several musical destinations in mind: hip-hop strutting meeting sprawling indie-rock riffs and electronic beats.

“Sonically it doesn’t make sense,” Bartees Strange told NPR Music, “but it makes sense because it’s me and I think that’s like an important part of music – the person.”

For this Tiny Desk concert, the Washington, D.C.-based artist remains faithful to the bluesy rock and roll bravado of the album version of “Boomer” and loping smoothness of “Mustang”.

But later, when he moves to “In a Cab” and then “Flagey God”, he contrasts with the album versions, making the tracks laid-back jazz club jams, deceptive in their ease, but nonetheless beautifully ornate arrangements.

Set list:

• “Boomer”
• “Mustang”
• “In a Cab”
• “Flagey God”

Musicians:

• Bartees Strange: vocals, guitar
• Graham Richman: keys
• John Daise: bass
• Dan Kleederman: guitar
• Carter Zumtobel: drums

NPR Music’s Tiny Desk concert series bring netizens performances from across the world, in a stripped-down, intimate setting.

View the original video here.

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