Martha Wainwright: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

by STEPHEN THOMPSON
Martha Wainwright's songs examine uncomfortable moments and life experiences gone wrong, but as she acknowledges in between songs at this Tiny Desk Concert, she often has to fudge her own life story to make the details more unsettling. ("Take everything with a grain of salt," she says, "except the good stuff.") What she does is the opposite of sugarcoating: She roughs up life's smooth spots, then digs her fingertips into the cracks that form.
Wainwright's new album, Come Home to Mama, addresses her place on the continuum between her late mother (singer Kate McGarrigle) and her young son - particularly in the wrenching and insightful "Everything Wrong," a ballad Wainwright calls "my first song about motherhood." That song closes both Come Home to Mama and this concert in the NPR Music offices, and it's tremendous: raw and almost painfully intimate, wonderfully humane and ultimately hopeful.
Martha Wainwright is the second member of her family to play the Tiny Desk in the last few months, following in the footsteps of her brother Rufus. Their father, Loudon Wainwright III, released a marvelous record near the beginning of this year, so is completing the family trifecta too much to ask? Consider this an invitation.
Set List
"Some People"
"Can You Believe It?"
"Everything Wrong"
Credits
Producer: Stephen Thompson; Editor: Denise DeBelius; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Denise DeBelius, Christopher Parks; photo by Ryan Smith/NPR

[@TheAlfakitty]

It's unfair that so much talent resides in one family.

[@lewis6180]

Seeing her face contorted with so much pain in that final song just kills me. I remember seeing this performance the first time and feeling the tears run down my face. It's sad that some dudes are so bogged down in technicalities that the power of Martha's music becomes lost on them.

[@elleisme8565]

Amen.

[@justadeathcorejourney]

I’ve been a big fan of Martha for a while, she got me through stuff I didn’t understand. Truly an icon for the music industry. Love ALL her music, I remember crying in the car watching the sunset listening to TV show trying to get in touch with all my emotions and letting them out without pretending everything is fine. I just remember that one moment at the sunset like it was yesterday and I never will take her music for granted!

[@karlabenson416]

Sensational! i love the raw energy that she brings to her music. I have had the good fortune to see her perform live twice and this is a sweet reminder of her intensity. She is a highly skilled musician from an mulit-generational musical family (Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Louden Wainwright III, Rufus Wainwright) and the magic happens when she breaks free of musical conventions to create something uninhibited, raw, emotional and wild.

[@quadroonlicious]

Can I marry her voice? Love her and all her amazing talented family

[@DuncanHewitt70]

A voice like no other - gets me every time.

[@lilaccilla]

A Performance artist . The real spontaneous in the moment deal . I loved her very real presence of mind

[@derpersona]

I love that you people are complaining about her guitar playing... she’s putting her feelings and flaws into the instrument that she’s playing and you guys can’t get it... sucks for you... so gratifying for her

[@ceylonmooney]

seems good to me

[@metaphyzikal1]

Gawd, that last tune was beautifully sung. I'm sure Martha does many things right, including singing.. What a tremendous voice! It brings a lump to my throat every time I hear her sing (and shivers).

[@corinaklies681]

Not sure how she doesn't lose it on that last song. I am weeping.

[@David-sr8nt]

Me encantan los músicos que sólo necesitan su presencia, su voz y una guitarra para llenar un escenario. Un diez.

[@rematrixed]

Just found Martha after watching Rufus with Sting, what a talented family,are you watching X factor contestants this is a real musician/singer guitar sounds spot on to me , voice is exceptional.

[@KServeux]

Powerful voice. Awesome runs.

[@arieswaters9862]

watch this from 8minutes wow .and such simple chords.Incredibly powerful ,quiet, sad,joyous Singing range way off the charts.Fuckin reaches in and tears my heart out!

[@timmapston]

This has to be one of my favourite performances!

[@batman_outoftown]

This woman is amazing

[@chook3307]

Martha at her best. Live and killing it on the guitar ❤️

[@matmarts]

Hits me in the feels...

[@WGBHMusic]

There's a Cohen brothers movie in her voice.

[@pcontiman]

Been listening to this for years on NPR Tiny Desk Concert page. Just found this youtube. Excellent musical performance. Not being a guitarist it would have never occurred to me that the playing doesn't make it with the critics....

[@djangotetteroo2804]

Thank you !

[@MinorKey135]

She's got her father's gift for lyrics

[@dinasoudre3440]

Just beautiful, touching, wow

[@MrMoonlightmile]

Beautiful beautiful beautiful

[@issamboughdad9235]

she gaves the smile to my face

[@jokerswaltz]

Wonderful! I love her and her lovely D35

[@Teona1212]

Very beautiful music, thanks !

[@kikitodopoderoso]

What’s a talented woman 💕

[@meltsintowonder]

SO MUCH LOVE! AHHH!!!

[@nancytobin4938]

Dear Martha, i love you!

[@gkbhai8962]

This is one of those moment when i really thank the internet for being able to come across stuff like this that is so authentic and beautiful and reminds me how incredible and rich humanity is.

[@todddavis240]

Where has Martha been! wow! Unbelievable! listen in surround sound. Peace

[@Juliabaker1]

Love you, Martha! Your mother and your aunt are my favorite musicians of all times. Angel music.

[@richardwilson1234]

The album of lullabies with her sister is beautiful.

[@evoo6]

Outstanding wonderful rare Artist.

[@NaoEW]

love her~

[@ukiemama]

What a poet...

[@DaisieJJ]

Magnifique !

[@sharondee333]

Man, she’s funny and beautiful I just love her. Forever. Goosebumps head to toe. Head to toe/

[@kuyzat]

da fukin NPR sound technicians, again and again and again. just wanna say thank you. you make us feel online music in a way that is rarely possible

[@wezlam]

The guitar isn't out of tune, you're just not in tune with her guitar.

[@SleepyBoBos]

insane talent!

[@AdamG319]

Great vibrato in this.

[@josephcoyle1114]

Im in love.

[@avefiggy2128]

yeeeee martha😍🙌🏻😍

[@khalidmehmood004]

very nice . Excellent . Bravo* * * * * *

[@greglillie7700]

Lovin you Martha

[@chekitos07]

Cant get enough of "This is "The Single", which is always funny"

[@tsopuaifa]

That was strong.

[@thewintersessions]

oh feck yeah! She makes my soul rattle

[@mokrani8]

your voice *____*

[@westy25uk]

That third song hits different

[@ruiningtheworstdays]

i tried to buy her new album at best buy in daytona but they did not have it and told me they couldn't order it. such a bummer.

[@nabifru6903]

Rock gyzzzzzz

[@richardwilson1234]

Even me, as a non musician can tell the guitar s not tuned..... but it doesn't seem to matter as the voice is lovely.

[@gianpaoloferrara]

The song "Proserpina" is my favorite :)

[@NatureEllaJ]

🌹✨💞

[@melliyaeger2990]

If ya dig her voice check out the be good tanyas.

[@kdj24370]

Martha is Rufus's sister!

[@MrRetrovertigo75]

I adore Martha, just love anything her but, please TUNE THAT GUITAR!

[@toneyrockstv]

and clip those damn strings smdh

[@Krabadaque]

perhaps the strings are new & thus not settled yet?

[@ThundersTheOak]

you forgot "the"

[@juliusgrisette]

Is that a martin hd-28v?

[@airbornwhale]

But what is it derivative of?

[@freddyfriis305]

ill agree to mary u if get spilt up and ill play my guitar for u you .love your voice

[@flemingcourt]

Her tunes and her lyrics are uncomfortable... of course the guitar is going to sound uncomfortable!

[@flylooper]

????

[@ddorricott]

That audience doesn't deserve this performance. Deplorables!👎🏼

[@sunriseXXfulify]

beautiful voice..such a shame the guitar is out of tune!

[@davidthedrummer01]

Great performance, and awesome artist, but DANG!!!! Please check your mic levels before you hit record!!! LOL This is a giant track of straight peaking!!!! It's a shame that such a great performance is sort of ruined by such a small problem of which could have been fixed in 2 seconds!!! :(

[@arieswaters9862]

+davidthedrummer01 Weird man.It sounds absolutely perfect on my system

[@marknorris3769]

+davidthedrummer01 well but the dissonance was part of it right, more to life than clarity, a little dirt never hurt anybody

[@BrianHardoin]

try integrating?

[@hay1707]

Try not having such a ridiculously blameable surname Brianmmm. Douch!

[@billyd4eva]

This one video had put me off Martha... Damn.

[@ChrisOtheBigC]

Snap out of it!

[@hay1707]

Billy. You have no mates. Boring.

[@gianpaoloferrara]

Your voice is the closest thing to an edenic idea.

[@robinspat]

Calling it some 'happening' event is a cop out. Put the hours in and become a way better guitar player than this.

[@shnootch]

put the hours in and try to approach her gifts as a singer and songwriter

[@TheClemcaster]

Ok, we get it, you don't dig her guitar playing. Music is a form of expression, and that doesn't necessarily have anything to do with precision; or in the case of many guitarists, twiddling.

[@robinspat]

Truly worth enduring for the superb third song (both a great vocal and tremendous writing lyrically) - but as a guitarist, pain, pain, you will cringe at her smashing the crap out of that Martin on the first song Bloody hell, not her greatest guitar playing moment as a musician. It would help if she really put sometime into becoming a better guitarist (a couple of hours a day developing on the guitar is not too much to ask) - you can't get away with that amateurish playing these days and she clearly has the basics but damn she needs some finesse beyond loud quiet dynamics - it detracts hideously from her lyrics, vocal performance and sound of her voice. I don't care who her relations are or her past album successes, hire a side player if you can't be bothered, but half the fun is being able to play it well yourself.

[@leopluradong]

I personally love the unpolished aspect of this performance (and many other NPR and/or Martha vids). Feels more real

[@robinspat]

charlie butthole As a guitarist, it's just sloppy and ill rehearsed. Clearly seems a case of she thought she could busk it as it wasn't too important a gig to her. Not cool or real.

[@shnootch]

fucking love that hard strum on the first tune, those chordings wonderful imperfect. immediately my favorite rendition. whole package kicked my butt.

[@Flammiedrum]

Have you ever seen her live? I have multiple times, she has more skills than you are aware of. Next time learn about the artists before you judge an artist you are ignorant of, makes your opinion worthless sir. Take care.

[@bobbybooby2191]

good singer, she just needs to learn how to fucking strum a guitar if shes gonna sing and play simultaneously.. it'll make it a helluva lot easier for her.. jus sayin

[@debvanz]

Boy, she and Rufus don’t look anything alike. I’ve tried but just don’t care for her voice.

[@Pancho-im7vv]

This is terrible… so out of tune.

[@tralexan]

I don't get it. Her actions seem a bit contrived and her voice is derivative at best. Rufus, absolutely. Martha, not so much.

[@shnootch]

she's completely consistent. that's just who she is, which is to say, not everyone's cup of tea. I imagine she's ok with that...