Bon Iver's Justin Vernon Performs At NPR Music's 10th Anniversary

Justin Vernon's career as Bon Iver has perfectly aligned with NPR Music's existence. It was 10 years ago this past summer that For Emma, Forever Ago began to write the project and the myth of its creation into indie-rock legend, making Vernon's own name nearly synonymous with it in the process. The idea of that cabin in the woods and Vernon's wounded, multi-tracked falsetto have since become iconic. That legacy has become something that Vernon and his bandmates have worked at times to escape - to beautiful effect on their latest record, the vocal processing- and sample-heavy 22, A Million (you can watch our full concert video featuring much of that album here).
At our 10th Anniversary Concert at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., Vernon performed alone, but as Bon Iver. He began with a rendition of his 2014 single "Heavenly Father," the earliest prominent use of the OP-1 synthesizer which came to define 22, A Million. He concluded his set with a cover of Leon Russell's 1970 ballad, "A Song For You." Vernon has an ear for covers that showcase his voice (see the jaw-dropping cover of "Satisfied Mind" by his early band DeYarmond Edison's or his incredibly popular "I Can't Make You Love Me" cover), and Russell's spare arrangement and strong melody are the perfect scaffolding for it. It is an instrument so distinctive that it brings an unmistakably singular sound to every performance, whether accompanied by acoustic guitar or OP-1, on an original song or somebody else's, no matter the project or era. -- Benjamin Naddaff-Hafrey
SET LIST
"Heavenly Father"
"A Song For You" by Leon Russell
CREDITS
Director: Colin Marshall; Producers: Colin Marshall, Benjamin Naddaff-Hafrey; Technical Director: Josh Rogosin; Live Mix Engineer: Shawn "Gus" Vitale; Supervising Producer: Mito Habe-Evans; Managing Producers: Bob Boilen, Jacob Ganz, Jessica Goldstein, Abby O'Neill; Creative Director and Producer: Peter Glantz; Concert Videographers: Bronson Arcuri, Kara Frame, Nickolai Hammar, Morgan Noelle Smith, Maia Stern, Niki Walker; Production Assistant: CJ Riculan; Editor: Annabel Edwards; Special Thanks: The 9:30 Club; Executive Producers: Anya Grundmann, Keith Jenkins.

[@jackwright4587]

Justin is quietly one of the most talented artists alive

[@capoeirastronaut]

When they they look back on our times, he will be one of the most defining musicians. A musicians musician, with some of the best lyric writing ever done, to boot.

[@richardday5015]

100% correct 🙏🏽

[@jakekremer218]

his concerts are truly a spiritual experience

[@alex45041]

Teared up when he played this in Prov

[@julianwilliams7364]

God I love everything this man does

[@troyrieder5927]

Julian Williams I’m in agreement. He’s just amazing.

[@GoDzDan]

We want a Tiny Desk with Justin Vernon

[@_Its_A_Mii_]

I'm just gonna scroll and like all the praise for this man, he is magnificent and wonderful and brings me hope and inspiration.

[@jordanberezin2621]

Lol that's exactly what I'm doing. Have you seen his one on one performance of this song?????????????

[@ellislaifer6748]

tiny desk please

[@outofcommission1428]

give the man a tiny desk

[@marialorusso8033]

Justin does not get the attention that he deserves, he is such a talent. He can sing the alphabet and I will be tearing up. Amazing.

[@kartoffelschweinehund9007]

kind of a backhanded compliment innit

[@WhatWeDigtoday]

He's a huge influencer of this era, would have loved to see him on the "for emma" tour. Keep putting the love into the world bruv!

[@MasterAppels]

Me too. That album is amazing! Sadly, I've only liked a few songs he's released after it.

[@inda_kota]

tiny desk tiny desk tiny desk tiny desk tiny desk tiny desk

[@rivieratheatre2011]

One of the best single performances I've seen in the recent past!

[@quintenalserda2444]

Check him at David Lynch's festival of destruction. That's truly something else

[@ChrisAyala78]

Long time ago there was a person called Justin Vernon that one day became music.

[@donnamaggard2604]

Get him on tiny desk plz give his moment he's on fire🔥💥🌞

[@HiLoMusic]

Gotta love the OP-1

[@landsend3417]

Andrew M yes! I want one 😩

[@evansaunders4028]

Justin was the reason I invested in one, he gets so much out of it

[@TunaCasseroleytp]

You can tell how nervous he is when he tells a story to the audience. Definitely get recluse/introvert vibes from him which I can relate to heavy.

[@nicolettebautista681]

Opening KZbin this morning has blessed me with this music. Bon Iver and Tank & the Bangas. UGH, thank you NPR!

[@blindsided63]

well this is how singing is supposed to be like. raw and emotional, it’s about being in the moment, not about the notes. this is how true creativity sounds like. everyone who thinks this was not good and wants album versions, please go to iTunes and forget about lives in your life and please stick your whining where it hurts!

[@MattyGHerring]

This Heavenly Father ROCKS

[@damonficken3457]

Lol everyone whining that Heavenly Father was bad...his voice sounds somewhat strained and tired but it’s still fucking beautiful. Don’t compare it to Sydney Opera House performance just hear it as a different version. I loved it.

[@PotatoIsNotCute]

Walt Chambelain Who the fuck would hate that? Holy shit I devolved into some kind of fucking owl going "Hooo hoooo!" hearing him strain those lines out. So Goddamn good. I have a soft spot for Justin yelling at me.

[@minorbreakthrough]

Except that his vocals *were* strained, and he *didn't* sound good, not only in comparison to the studio or Sydney Opera House version, but as a stand alone performance. If you were able to enjoy it then I'm glad for you but there are clearly people who felt the vocals weren't up to par and I don't think simply pointing out that he had a rough performance is inherently whining. I'm not sure which comments you're referring to exactly so maybe they really were whining but that's the delivery method of the message, the message itself is that this was a disappointing performance, and while there are better ways of expressing it than whining, I think they're right. I also think you can be a fan and still point out shortcomings. In fact, I'd argue that a good friend is someone who tells you when you've messed up, especially if you're not aware, and does so from a loving place. I'd apply the same structure to people we're fans of.

[@notnotsyaj]

I WAS JUST WATCHING THE NPR FRONT ROW CONCERT AND HEAVENLY WAS STARTING, THEN REDDIT TOOK ME TO THIS AND IT WAS JUST LIKE BEING IN INCEPTION, BUT HEAVEN INCEPTION.

[@danilopfvr]

I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS DUDE

[@ohhimark8028]

2:30 when u check ur bank account and it says negative balance

[@emafrnk]

hahahahahaha

[@blechtrommel90]

i laughed hard, love you

[@olenilsen9667]

made my day, MADE MY DAY !!!

[@dontfreakoutwerejustclowns7023]

I replayed it 3 times with your comment in mind 🤣🤣🤣

[@brianw.g.2020]

Soulful, ambient, fresh, and honest is the music of Justin Vernon.

[@christinegood1395]

This is the greatest cover of a song I’ve ever heard. Justin is hands down the real deal. He’s is what a true artist is. It just pours out of him.

[@Woodchuck799]

So excited. It's a great feeling when you see a video that's just uploaded knowing that you will be one of the first of what will become like 100s of thousands

[@smeltnight2002]

All the people saying the synth ruined the song.... Have you heard the song? It's literally the same sample from the recorded version. KZbin really needs to cancel the comments section. It was bad while it lasted.

[@_bufs_1724]

smeltnight2002 but then you would miss all the positives and genuine help etc you get on here. I myself have been introduced to loada of new artists through the comments section!

[@pschultz3411]

Keep on spreading love, we’ll be together

[@ElEcosound]

I was so stocked to finally go to a concert of this man here in Monterrey México, sadly it was cancelled due to low sales (this town, even tho is big, is really uncultured), it hurted me a lot, but I'm glad I can watch him at least this was live

[@chloelee8147]

ElEcosound aw man that’s so sad:( I’m sorry about that

[@TisZaid]

Same here :( but gonna see him in March now :D

[@ishrendon6435]

Or they just dont like bon iver i mean ypu cant except your favorite groups to be liked by many around the world. As a african man many bands here i my coutnry that westerners love moat dont know here it doesnt mean we're not cultures but have different liking of music.

[@belectronix]

Rockin the op1!

[@zeckhariahbedhiafi8738]

merci pour vous mr vernon

[@magretaadenta783]

Thought his voice has changed not for the better, but in a song for you i realised, thats just how he wanted heavenly father to be sung, thats the feeling he was trying to convey.

[@tkjordan1376]

What a great musician

[@richardday5015]

GENIUS

[@codymills8410]

He CAN articulate his words! It's amazing!

[@IsaacsCOOLwhenitsHOT]

I think NPR is trying to adopt Justin

[@keystoneguardian7543]

Love this man..his music pulls all my emotions right out of my soul man. Beautiful ♥️👏

[@heatherlindow1372]

This man...

[@gabrielleflorentine2155]

Heartbreaking and incredible

[@AndrezzaEloy]

Que perfeição 😢❤👏

[@shiv062]

He’s using an op-1,I want one now

[@drfdwf392]

Damn. Would love to hear this with a little bit of reverb on Justin's microphone.

[@beflygelt]

This is the most fun I've ever seen Justin

[@PaulIsbell]

It is a life goal of mine to write a song with Mr. Vernon.

[@alexhonn277]

Came here for the 100+ time, this time from tiny desks hoping there may be a Justin/Bon Iver tiny desk out. For the entire human race can you PLS HAVE HIM/THEM ON TINY DESK :))

[@christiner.915]

@alexhonn2777 did you ever get a response about Tiny Desk?

[@AsBosas]

I really need a tiny desk of his in my life

[@cameronbogan9894]

There’s something about Bon Iver’s voice that draws me in. It’s similar to Post Malone’s. The vocal technique isn’t incredible, far from it really, but there’s so much power behind their vocals. Makes me feel something.

[@chloelee8147]

I love this man

[@gracepierstorff2950]

Always so amazing

[@julezvalles6769]

Incredible.

[@gwordly23]

I was thereee lol great performance

[@poyapie2020]

thank you so much for this!

[@christiner.915]

❤❤❤

[@therebellion96]

Say what you will about Vernon now, but give him some props for bringing out a soulful classic in the end!

[@rohanphilip665]

Heavenly

[@TwoWayAnalog]

Excellent!

[@ronshina4022]

0:01 Heavenly Father 4:51 A Song For You (Leon Russell)

[@christiner.915]

❤❤❤

[@christiner.915]

Leon Russell yes

[@christiner.915]

😊

[@wayneotten]

Please make some room on The Tiny Desk for them.

[@durhauz]

good man. good music.

[@timscott7151]

That’s what I sound like singing bon iver songs

[@flangelouder]

The OG of the OP

[@GarrettEstep]

this is heavenly

[@chlynn13b92]

If you've never heard Leon Russell do his own song, Song For You, go listen to it. There is a live version and studio on youtube. I think he does his own song better than anyone and many have done it.

[@nickrichter6123]

he is my heavenly father

[@cowsmore]

YES

[@betoleal747]

Simple and cool

[@mars1783]

I don't remember his music, but I APPRECIATE NPR TINY DESK N DASHES

[@queenlayug]

Bon Iver is the solution to my sadness.

[@scottycrayon]

Like the 2nd track.

[@Forensicfriendzy]

this made my day

[@wolfis09]

that second song! 7:15 ! :)

[@wesdew4265]

NPR FTW!

[@gmalherbe8086]

Damn bro be killed a song for you.

[@joml2466]

If I’m going to introduce someone to Bon Iver, this is the video I’m going to show to them.

[@TinyDolphinMusic]

Jeff buckley influence strong on that second one

[@beflygelt]

Live at Sin-e

[@jesseasch2996]

It’s a Leon Russel song, pre-Jeff Buckley actually!

[@TinyDolphinMusic]

Jesse Asch oh shit! Cool fact thanks

[@rivieratheatre2011]

Here's the blues!

[@dawnnicholson9675]

VERN!!

[@cel2808]

Dope

[@danielocchipinti4824]

Loved Skinny Love

[@georgefuller8434]

Yas Justin

[@juaricolas]

Why there is no tiny desk concert of this gem yet?

[@derrickv6440]

Homer Simpson @ 2:30

[@josephpatterson3475]

Poor guy’s worn out in this performance. He always gives so much.

[@foresttdog]

It's kinda nuts how much better his vocals on the Donny cover were than on heavenly father.

[@kristaselene]

♥️

[@Woodchuck799]

HOLY SHIT

[@bradsmith236]

He's obviously sick or recovering from being sick. You can hear it in his voice. Thing is... I like it. lol

[@kizhax]

You also sing with the blood.

[@dvoraisdancing]

To you...

[@brentpalucki9613]

My love for this guy is indefensible. But I guess love should be, anyway.

[@rod5377]

Last song channeling Jeff B

[@Nalinalinali]

look at the girl right in the middle of the screen at 1:02 i think we all feel like that

[@swiatowaradaregencyjna4809]

Z muzyką Soccer Mommy i Justin Vernon z Bon Iver.

[@teo8893]

PLEASE TINY DESK WE BEGGIN

[@gustavocesar2122]

tiny desk!!

[@wilhelmsrvoll2230]

4:48

[@MarianoGrandoli]

4:20 his “hero” was Eminem! Legally could not disclose this as the two had a song in the works

[@StereoChimps]

this guy is like a god to me ! and music is my religion

[@garrysamuelson7073]

Can someone transcribe the chords on a song for you plssss

[@lukewiese6684]

who knows the chords to the second song?

[@gabrielclaussen1181]

tiny desk!