I'm With Her: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

March 28, 2018 | Bob Boilen -- The three singers who perform together as I'm With Her sound like sisters. It's as if they've known each other all their lives and share common roots and musical memories.
Aoife O'Donovan, Sarah Jarosz and Sara Watkins are bound by a love for bluegrass, chamber music, jazz, storytelling and singing. Each of these three musicians, now united under the I'm With Her name, have performed at the Tiny Desk before. Sara Watkins was here with Nickel Creek (2014), Watkins Family Hour (2015) and The Decemberists (2011). Sarah Jarosz was here in 2013 and Aoife O'Donovan came along with Yo Yo Ma and Chris Thile as part of the Goat Rodeo project back in 2011.
All three are brilliant players with an ever-shifting array of stringed instruments, guitars, ukulele, fiddle, mandolin and banjo. As I'm With Her, they know how to gather round a microphone and sing directly from their heart to yours. Purity is the brilliance behind I'm With Her.
The three songs they perform here come from the trio's debut album, See You Around. It's a sound made for the intimacy of the Tiny Desk and they all feel right at home.
Set List
"See You Around"
"Game to Lose"
"Overland"
Musicians
Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O'Donovan
CREDITS
Producers: Bob Boilen, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Beck Harlan, Dani Lyman; Production Assistant: Joshua Bote; Photo: Eslah Attar/NPR.

[@sheilaray5235]

The voice. The harmonies. The emotion. The musicianship. Plucks the strings of my soul.

[@valeriesuttonpayne7413]

I wish they were still together. I’m bereft. 😢

[@TheVoxinator]

Came for Sara Watkins, Stayed for the wonderful harmonies.

[@hobey1]

I adore this trio.

[@frankcousins6479]

Faultless beautiful music - makes you believe again in human beings. So much war, destruction and pain caused, yet also capable of such wonderful things

[@matthirn7858]

These three women have really taken their individual talents as musicians and woven them together into something pretty special. The harmonies are just magical.

[@rhondawebb7985]

They are brilliant and oh so refreshing!

[@Tutone66]

For people who say they don't make music like they use to, just listen to these talented musicians. Oh yes, and there are many more out there. Good music will never die!

[@smarterthananyone]

All roads lead back to Thile.

[@theforeverpuddle8754]

True fact.

[@philtron1969]

This is THRILLING! Some of the best harmony singing I've ever heard. What a mountain range of talent.

[@flowersafeheart]

"mountain range of talent " = clever poetry :)

[@jimir68]

Saw, I’m with Her, a couple of weeks ago live in a Presbyterian Church in the middle of Belfast Northern Ireland, fantastic concert, three extremely talented musicians.

[@seamusdelahunty1615]

wot they were here in ireland?

[@jimir68]

@@seamusdelahunty1615 Yes, Belfast 3 years ago

[@seamusdelahunty1615]

@@jimir68 why didnt ye tell me?

[@williambrennan8197]

I love Aoife's eyes ... you can tell that she is listening very carefully by looking at her eyes. These three artists are fantastic.

[@cellofeldy]

Several years on, despite living in Australia, this version of Overland still makes me want to move to Chicago just so I can leave it for San Francisco. Stunning.

[@thebonebox488]

That is the biggest, most enthusiastic crowd I've ever heard at a Tiny Desk concert!

[@jacicrimmccrary]

This is my favorite band! They are the newest evolution of Sara Watkins' previous songwriting and performance skills with NickelCreek, and with the addition of Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O'Donovan, this trio is simply fabulous! Thank you, Ladies!

[@lukeclark9127]

The closest to perfection of any music I can think of.

[@GITSVermeer]

I think Sara only makes new bands just to get on Tiny Desk :P Glad she's here again!

[@paulkossak7761]

There's something both traditional and innovative about their sound.

[@artnouveau4332]

Their harmonies remind me of CSN. In many ways they are similar, individually they are talented, together they are a force to be reckoned with

[@luckymurphy5]

I feel like we've watched these three grow up. They were all prodigies but it's so good to see them transitioning to mature artists. Virtuosity and feeling.

[@videoket]

Aoife O'Donovan's voice is my Patronus.

[@carlosm.devasconcelllos3939]

Have u seen her performing Joni Mitchel ?? Outstading...

[@cynthiahawkins819]

Here's a perfect example of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts, and in this case that's REALLY saying something.

[@VerMaarte]

Yep, the parts are already brilliant !

[@paulsommerfeld6026]

I think they are all great but if you look into it Sara is the most talented of the group. All her work is amazing.

[@carlosm.devasconcelllos3939]

This generation of talents has imposed itself since they were still just young promises. Today it's really cool to see them shining on individual projects and together. I didn't forget the fantastic Chris Thile, and the Punch Brothers ...

[@emtsnake84]

Saw them at the Atlanta Botanical Garden last year with Punch Brothers and Julian Lage as part of American Acoustic. Amazing show. They’re great live.

[@velvetunderpants44]

What's amazing about these people is that they don't seem to realise how amazing they are.

[@absolutjackal]

Well, given that SJ has won three Grammys I’m pretty sure she has an idea 😂

[@absolutjackal]

That being said, she took the time after a concert to let me record a video of her saying hello to my then 7 y.o. son who loves her but couldn’t come to the concert. So very kind and humble as well

[@-GuitarZero]

Not the first time I've watched this, but it still touches me deeply. Wonderfully written songs performed perfectly.

[@johnholton9909]

Magical harmonies... I could listen all day. Such talented women.

[@bobmoshe]

I love these three individually and together. I always love watching Aiofe enjoying her bandmates' playing and singing!

[@bil94134]

This is one of my favorites Tiny Desk Concerts - I play it often, and usually jump to other stuff by them when I do. The maturity of their music is astonishing, although they are all prodigies of sorts, so it shouldn’t be surprising; but it is still jaw-dropping every time I listen. Just fucking beautiful.

[@seanpatrick1211]

By far my favorite performance of their song Overland. Incredibly talented humble sweet humans.

[@MrRicardobach]

Sean Patrick that is a great song and makes me pine for SF

[@matthewroberts890]

I got chills as soon as Sara started singing. Absolutely incredible.

[@signed8bit]

This performance is still magic.

[@JoshFryer]

All bands linked to Nickel Creek are amazing. Without fail. I love all three of these women. Beautiful harmonies!

[@johnwrath3612]

Heck yeah. Chills every time they sing "so long chicago". Great lyrics and quite good on the banjo/mandolin too.

[@jaantorv4991]

When I shut my eyes I swear it's like listening to the soundtrack of a Joel and Ethan Coen movie. I love how they de-complicate reasonably complex pieces with clean elegant instrumental phrasing - not a wasted excessive note. And the vocals, they drop like pearls from their lips. Now I know that sounds like flowery praise but conventional critique language doesn't cut it. (for me anyway) They're quite extraordinary.

[@lmll7232]

I've seen them live and it's pure perfection.

[@sue9379]

Love you Ladies ❤so beautiful 💐

[@tom7530]

Such a singular demonstration of perfection.. my ears have never heard anything finer..🥰

[@chrisvorster5951]

Don't know how to express how much I love each of these lassies individually, but not near so much as I love what they have created together! The sum of the whole is greater........

[@coolguymcgee3243]

Congrats on the grammy!

[@jmarty1000]

This is special, even by NPR standards. The magic happens right away, I was quaking in my slippers. Best wishes for your tours.

[@DavidSSabb]

I'm a fan of Sarah Jarosz's solo music, I have absolutely no idea why I didn't know about this group, thank you NPR for bringing it to my attention.

[@seanryder855]

I'm in the same boat! I knew she did a collab project with other artists but never checked into it. Glad Tiny Desk reminded me.

[@theforeverpuddle8754]

Yeah, her solo stuff is really nice.

[@RenoHomeBlog]

heard them sometime late last year at public radio. Haunted me today and searched frantically for two hours. Found them. Im good now.

[@petokeys9600]

Unreal timing, great performance, and among the very best folk performances, in my opinion.

[@yukihh]

This three piece band is perfect. No hurry, no virtuoso picking (of course they're virtuoso already), no drums, no bass, no piano... But they can express all the things we need. Thanks for posting with nice sound.

[@vhollund]

Jarosz is one hell of a talent Blue grass/celt folk to the world

[@Unwit213]

There's something about the way Jarosz does all that AND makes it look effortless.

[@leahheim1923]

I’ve been waiting on a second album from them for so long 😭

[@here2inf]

Magic mix of talent and personalities. We are so fortunate to have them in our lives.

[@wendypatterson4337]

I’ve followed these young women’s career thru solos albums, Nickel Creek, Prairie Home, etc. They give me hope that the future of American music is secure from being co-opted by production & techno. It is here, shining in their voices, faces, hearts and hands.

[@mbsnyderc]

I like all this,but that last song is just the kind of thing that makes you think there is a story there that could have happened anytime in the last century or now it's timeless,and the way Sara sing's it makes me go wow.

[@KeelyBurnMusic]

10:02... "Sorry, I got a coke problem." :D Sara is adorable.

[@nannerlgrey]

I love Aoife’s facepalm at that.

[@kenster865]

Yes, Sara is indeed adorable. With her brother Sean, the Watkins Family Hour did regular appearances here in L.A. I never took one in but know folks that did. Comments were always very positive.

[@flamencoprof]

Thanks Tiny Desk for featuring these three who are all with each other. I like their group name for its signification of their solidarity as artists. How anyone can interpret it any other way is beyond me.

[@Munjibunga]

As fantastic as these women are, they owe their sound engineer a big thank you.

[@wendypatterson4337]

Phenomenal amount of musicianship in these three beautiful, talented, soulful women! Thank you! Love threes!

[@EnricMirl]

The performance of these girls live is a fabulous experience. (Barcelona, Catalonia). Come back.

[@loganlazatin7191]

They're all incredible but the lead in the opening song... Chills

[@anthonysalvati5868]

The ache and emotion in Sara Watkins voice during Overland, just wow,saw them last month in Connecticut and the show has stuck with me.

[@veritas9604]

The Dream Team of Angelic voices! It's all sweatness folks!

[@banjopete]

Veritas , Sweetness, surely?

[@archywiseman]

Tiny desk concerts are just the best.

[@ebd_]

This video loaded up on autoplay and within two minutes I had already bought the album on bandcamp

[@somecallmetim46]

The unison at 11:12 is incredibly balanced and powerful!

[@bil94134]

My "fever pitch" is at 12:20 in the climactic part of Overland.

[@jrrd997]

Still in love with all these songs and I can only hit the like button once.

[@reconeix]

Superb. Their performance at 2018 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass was uplifting and magical. Instant fan!!!

[@rkn25]

Overland - chills, man. Especially when they hit that chorus.

[@tofumar]

Sara Watkins is killin those glasses

[@jessemullen9083]

I think this is my favorite Tiny Desk Session ever.

[@martiquevedocalero8353]

Thanks to NPR I have discovered these 3 amazing musicians and they respective solo projects. Thank you Aoife O'Donovan, Sarah Jarosz and Sara Watkins for the constant wonderful music gifts you produce!

[@bengrams1027]

If you like Aoife O Donovan check out Crooked Still. She is the lead singer and it's a great band

[@martiquevedocalero8353]

Listening to it for first time right now (Some Strange Country). I can see that it will be another top favorite, thanks Benjamin!

[@rorybenson1]

and you get to have the fiddling prowess of brittany haas !!!!

[@austinmistretta8373]

This is actually Sara Watkins's third Tiny Desk show! She's also played there with Nickel Creek and The Decemberists, two amazing bands. She da man.

[@Guysm1l3y]

Fourth, she was also on with the Watkins Family Hour tour.

[@lisasilverman3456]

Such beautiful harmonies. Makes me think of the indigo girls. Such young women. May they go far.

[@gregjones3671]

Indigo Girls, yes, spot on.

[@piratemousey]

Listen to this in 24bit. Blow you away

[@leahheim1923]

I’ve listened to these songs dozens and dozens of times. Game to Lose still gives me goosebumps, and Overland still makes me cry.

[@Azamra18]

Love this music! Sara Watkins never disappoints. 2nd song is perfection.

[@pickinric]

AMAZIN, Who in the world could have possible give the thumbs down , you need your ears cleaned 🤣

[@palmquac]

I think I have watched this 15 times already

[@cbryantc0]

Damn, I wish I knew they were there, I would have been there. Their voices are like angels.

[@PeterJones1492]

these are by far my favorite musicians currently slugging it out. I love them, Jarosz the most, but together they are so great.

[@81jbear]

"Overland" was my favorite, although I must say that all of them are truly excellent.

[@sharonmickey4566]

Loved Sarah Jarosz since she was in High School.... they are great together! Wimberley loves you! xo

[@robhickford9169]

Are you allowed to have this much talent in one room? Oh... you are... carry on, then.

[@Azamra18]

I’ve watched this a dozen times...and it just keeps getting better. Sad I missed them when they came through LA.

[@BoneSesh]

Really would like to see Wood & Wire make an appearance on NPR Music!

[@leofonseca_]

women always teach us life. thank you!

[@flowersafeheart]

Wow, beautiful comment

[@alex0589]

The part where they tune their instruments is a better song than most people hope to write even once in their career. Also: that coke joke had excellent timing. Well done, Sara without an H, well done.

[@johnwrath3612]

I've written songs since I was in my teens, and I agree. I wish i had a quarter of these beautiful ladies' talent.

[@Gargaslicer]

Coming back to this one after a while...It's still magic. What talented ladies.

[@VIEW-ut3bu]

Nothing better than strings and a triple vocal

[@viaramos298]

the harmonies are outstanding !

[@alexmarine625]

The harmony at 12:50.... beautiful.

[@jondoe888i]

'I'm with her', to the micro-second! These 3 move as one.

[@pcmaclean]

Exquisite harmonies.... just beautiful. NPR/ Tiny Desk, you’re a national treasure.

[@strumbadstroller7350]

You tube can throw up wonders sometimes. So I'm watching 'Lau' & as I'm watching I notice a video of them with Aoife...an artist I wasn't familiar with. I then watch her & she's great & then this follows on after that & so I find myself with new artists to go & see whenever they play nearby. Fantastic!

[@silviofta]

It's so cool how they change their roles. Great shit.

[@59markr]

I swing by every now and then to partake again of these marvellous women and the generosity of their conspicuous talents. Always a joy.

[@rondo365]

What lovely, moving songs. More please.

[@gearboxobs419]

All of the good bit of Crooked Still and Nickel Creek.

[@on_certainty]

this is a smooth cocktail

[@TheGetFreshFlow]

Made my day to see this pop up in my feed. Angels.

[@folkertmeeuw]

These three musicians bring me to the howling. Really beautiful.

[@carlosm.devasconcelllos3939]

For those Bluegrass lovers who complain about the folk music, i say; they are atached in a forever embrace...! Just like the celtic music...! Same roots

[@shyvixenposts]

love these girls

[@bonnielove5760]

Their talent always astounds me!!! Thank you Tiny Desk for showcasing such incredible musicianship and vocal talent!

[@burny890]

YESSSS!!!...so funny I've been listening to their version of crossing muddy waters non-stop the last two days!

[@tomlampros7122]

Chris Burnett I was locked in the same loop about that time Chris. I took to singing it as I walked the dogs, which got some strange looks. It goes right to the heart.

[@ericb9426]

Great talent for sure but super respect for the pristine quality of the audio. I doubt most people listen on high quality systems these days but this one is well worth the effort.

[@zeedevil4409]

Love the sound

[@michaeldillon3576]

Sara Watkins really knows how to get herself out there. She also worked with Garrison Keillor on A Prairie Home Companion.

[@davidorrell764]

This is wonderful ❤