NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series has brought real, raw, intimate live performances by our old and new favorite artists into our computers for years now. In December NPR Music put out the call for musicians to record their own "tiny desk" performance for a chance to play at a Tiny Desk Concert, it's the Tiny Desk Concert Contest!
The winners will be announced on Feb 12 and All Songs Considered host and Tiny Desk judge Bob Boilen is doing a Reddit Ask Me Anything, here reddit.com/r/music on Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. PST. Boilen will take questions about the Tiny Desk, and beyond!
Here at CapRadio Music we wanted to share some of the entries from our region. NPR Music received 17 videos from Sacramento area musicians and here are our favorites:
Best desk and overall set
Joy & Madness, "Madness"
West Sacramento
These guys really brought the funk like it was their job, business attire and all. They really did the best job emulating the Tiny Desk Concert feel with the backdrop of an office. Joy and Madness really encapsulates their funky, joyful soul vibe in this video and it's a great representation of Sacramento's party-side.
The band's lead singer Hans Eberbach said they shot the video the day before it was due in only a couple hours. Eberbach said they were coming off a great show at Harlows the previous night and brought that to the shoot.
"The energy of the band and the music we're playing right now has a good shot [at winning]," Eberbach said. "It's been super infectious for us at the local level."
Best folk submission
Misner & Smith, "Lovers Like Us"
Davis
This folk duo's graced the Insight studio a couple times. Each time they wow us with their depth and harmonies. This video really captures this couple's soulful, dust-bowl-era crooning.
Best use of brown paper
Lisa Cantrell, "Said the Squirrel"
Davis
Whimsical lyrics and playful piano, which Regina Spektor style vocals, this is a really fun little video. We especially like the paper bag intro signs.
Best use of trans-national recording technology
Mertigage, "Graves"
Gold River
These students are working together from different places around the country. While the recording features quite a bit of echo, the girls vocals blend so nicely it's easy to imagine the distance between singers is all part of the aesthetic.
Best use of historical Old Sacramento
Bob Waller, "DMV Girl"
Sacramento
When putting your music on the global stage to be judged it's nice to highlight interesting parts of your city. That's what Bob Waller did for his love so to the lady at the Department Of Motor Vehicles, also a very Sacramento thing.
Waller also submitted a video with his wife, Linda Easton, entiteld "The Day After The Fourth Of July."
Best facial hair and best heart string tugging
Justin Farren, "The War"
Sacramento
Farren's heartfelt consideration of a marriage gone wrong and how best to reset, with simple instrumentation and tight camera angles is particularly powerful.
Best use of violin and rapping
Joe Kye, "Happy Song"
Sacramento
Kye's wife requested he write more happy songs, so he wrote this one. Kye said he wanted to do a contest submission because he really loves the concert series.
"From an artistic standpoint, I love the intimacy the stripped-down sound," Kye said. "Also, these performances are not only for free they exsist on NPR for the sake of public conciousness. Sure, it brings a lot of exposure, but you're contributing music to a group of listeners that already recognize the value of art as public record."
Best old-timey outfits
Earles of Newtown, "No Daisy"
Grass Valley
The song is "No Daisy," but they're all wearing daisies... woah! This video was live at Sierra Mountain Coffee Roasters/Tomes Bookstore in Grass Valley.
Best ironic hipster bassist
Le Kelton, "Modern Day Dandy"
Sacramento
Lead singer, Christopher K. Fairman lamments the hipster culture surrounding him. With the rise of the hipster in Sacramento, I'm sure this song will resonate with those of us who don't feel cool enough for the scene anymore.
Best use of office supplies as instruments
Be Brave Bold Robot, "Pretty Bright Light"
West Sacramento
Indie-folk-rockers Be Brave Bold Robot play it silly while banging on the desk and using the staple as a percussion instrument. Unfortunately the sound is lacking in this video, but it's still pretty fun.
Be Brave Bold Robot's new album, Press E to Continue, sounds great and can be streamed right here.
Best Sacramento-ex-pat performance
See How They Run, "Is There Anybody Out There Anymore"
Los Angeles, by way of Sacramento
Singer songwriters and friends, Ricky Berger and Adrian Bourgeois, left Sacramento last year to seek their fame and fortune in Los Angeles. They've started a new project and submitted this lovely pop video for consideration to the Tiny Desk Contest.
Other Sacramento-Area Submissions Include:
The Dogwood Blondies, "Ain't Love Grand," Gold River
Michael Hermiston, "Paper Lifeboat," Newcastle
Brian Maxwell, "Swisher Session 116," Davis
Tha Dirt Feelin, "Staring at Your Phone," Davis
YOLOCO, "Water," Davis
Be Calm Honcho, "Trouble," SF by way of Davis
