The Staves: Tiny Desk Concert

Kara Frame | May 23, 2024
When we last heard from The Staves, its members were in the kitchen of their Watford, England childhood home. Sourdough was on the table and sunlight streamed through the curtains as the folk-pop group's sisterly harmonies and banter made their Tiny Desk (home) concert feel familiar and approachable. Three years later, The Staves finally made it to the NPR Music office.
What was founded as a sister trio is now a sister duo - Emily Stavely-Taylor, the eldest, is taking time away from the band to focus on her family. The Staves' new album, All Now, reflects that change; on record and in this performance, Jessica and Camilla Staveley-Taylor quiet any qualms that they would be able to carry on the harmonies for which the group is known. Instead, the Tiny Desk setting perfectly illuminates the power and talent of their voices.
SET LIST
"Fundamental Memory"
"All Now"
"I'll Never Leave You Alone"
"So Gracefully"
MUSICIANS
Jessica Staveley-Taylor: vocals, guitar
Camilla Staveley-Taylor: vocals, ukulele
Marcus Hamblett: guitar, bass
Rob Pemberton: piano, bass, vocals
Glyn Daniels: drums
TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Kara Frame
Director/Editor: Maia Stern
Audio Technical Director: Neil Tevault
Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Maia Stern, Kara Frame, Elizabeth Gillis
Audio Engineer: Carleigh Strange
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Tiny Desk Team: Hazel Cills, Joshua Bryant
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
#nprmusic #tinydesk #thestaves

[@taylornance00]

Their cover of I’m on fire is one of my favorite covers ever. So happy they’re on this corner of the internet

[@adrianwilliams6908]

The third one spontaneously combusted during an excessively perfect sisterly harmony

[@ronshina4022]

0:01 Fundamental Memory 4:40 All Now 9:51 I'll Never Leave You Alone 14:46 So Gracefully

[@RobertSlover]

mom folk rock!

[@gordanaparthur9267]

🎉 🎉 ❤ 🎉🎉

[@albertofigueroa7829]

Gosh, this is so good. When I first heard the new album it felt like they'd gone back to a more original sound. I've enjoyed their stuff in between, but this felt like it went back to their Dead & Born & Grown days. I have so much nostalgia listening to this performance taking me back to years ago when I'd first discovered them. Good times of my life that coincided with listening to them.

[@adams565]

Was introduced to the music of the Staves when they were touring with Nickel Creek. Their music and performances are wonderful, and their humor and familial affection for one another exude from the stage. I hope more will give them a chance, they are wonderful.

[@crabcoreable]

OMG, I've been listening to Staves for years

[@O_MontY]

What happened to her⁉️

[@guidoferri8683]

She became a mother

[@stec7515]

She sang with them at their recent London shows. It was lovely

[@bigtoelittlefinger6133]

Yess yeeha bring on glasto it's been a while❤❤ much love fae Scotland

[@nattyophelia7879]

Me too! They are my absolute favorite.

[@geminielectro]

I'm glad that this channel exists. The music that i use to ear on the radio is so flat, so formated, i often forget that it can be more harmonic and more deep. Thank you for let me discover some gems like this.

[@JuergenFastje]

That is great, I love the Voices, the Band, that sounds unbelievable to me! 👍🫶🖖🖖🌞🕊️🕊️🙏🙏

[@WhiteAntelope7]

Oh the harmonies. They still got it as a duo.

[@jkhpbrn]

Saw them live about 7 or 8 years ago. Still to this day one of the best performances I've ever seen live.

[@Stehako]

Yes, this is exciting! Great seeing The Staves behind the desk and loving their new album.

[@therattlesnakesnest]

Such a beautiful performance ❤. Thank you, The Staves. I love the sister harmony in their music 😊.

[@ekaterinamikhaylova5280]

I missed the sisters! I saw them in a beautiful movie 'From Austin to Boston' and fell in love 💟

[@JeanFrancoCaringi]

I LOVE The Staves!!!!! 💖💖💖💖💖

[@MrRonV]

First of all, thank you, The Staves and NPR, for putting together such a lovely concert. Secondly at first I was confused and doubted my memory, because I thought the Staves were a trio and not a duo. But the text in the info box explained just that question, so thanks, NPR, for providing useful info.

[@heatherlucas272]

I'm glad you pointed out that it was answered there as I also remembered them as a trio and was curious.

[@Eljako-ls5cr]

You know it's going to be lovely when it's the staves :)

[@SaraStrg]

Yeaaaah ❤ Been a big fan for 10 year now, I saw them live 10 days ago in Paris and it was one of the best evenings of my life ! Go see The Staves live, you won’t regret it !

[@sallyhu8481]

sometimes I cry happy sad tears to their songs - there's a sense of wistfulness that's freeing and sweet. I teared up during the second song.

[@lumpyfishgravy]

Was lucky to see The Staves at a 2013 gig in Ashford Kent. An intimate venue - converted church with balcony and they shook EVERYONE'S hands on the way out! Needless to say they sounded incredible. Quite special.

[@sondraburnham177]

Love their opening track to their album.

[@Esther39233]

Saw them live recently and they were amazing! They seem like such genuinely lovely people and I love their music so much. Very happy to see them behind the tiny desk :)

[@owlbynight_js]

Been listening to The Staves since watching Austin to Boston (2014) and they're just getting better and better.

[@turqutopia]

Been a fan since facing west, absolutely gorgeous music as usual

[@leannearker]

I am a big fan of this band. Saw them in New Zealand in the tent venue at an arts festival.

[@SHUT-UP_MEG]

Like,with ur eyes? Like a witness? To a crime? ❤❤❤ Whew dawgiiiiiieee ❤❤❤

[@nancyhowie7319]

THIS WAS AN AMAZING GIG. I loved when the sound cut out, and they moved to the front of the stage and just went on with the show as an acoustic set. Magical.

[@leannearker]

@@nancyhowie7319 of course. I forgot about that! Thank you for reminding me. Memories can be fickle things.

[@ilenefrances]

FINALLY! I was wondering when this day would come! What beautiful music, as always, from The Staves and their talented musician friends💛

[@pomehanate]

Thank you so much for this, I ADORE these gals ❤

[@heatherlucas272]

I have been a fan since I saw them open for The Civil Wars in 2011. They are incredibly talented and have such beautiful harmonies.

[@a_awake]

So cool to see my girls on Tiny Desk. I've been a fan since I first saw them on Later With Jools Holland all those years ago. I love their new album and miss big sis Emily dearly. Congrats to her, motherhood is a beautiful experience. It's All Now, Stavely-Taylors. Isn't it exciting?

[@camilaluna6025]

Oh i love the staves so much, thanks for featuring them!

[@ezrafinkelstein2634]

Lovely blend of voices

[@greenbean8344]

I love going on npr cause it helps me find music i dont know how to explain in words

[@sondraburnham177]

Lovely harmonies.

[@cecortiz8481]

Sooo BeaUtiFull ❤

[@harryadipratama5766]

Love this Band 🎉🎉

[@yexilio]

one of the best Tiny Desks ever

[@DanteTaylor]

Awesome, love the Staves!

[@ciarakristos111]

Beautiful songs, beautiful voices and beautiful people! ❤❤❤

[@ashleyfullerton7948]

Love The Staves! First heard about them when they were featured in a documentary called “From Austin to Boston”. Nathaniel Rateliff is also featured heavily in it before he made it big

[@Robertio83]

Blood harmonies ❤️

[@AleksKiraMusic]

Thank you so much for introducing this group! Saw them for the first time and was very impressed!

[@thefactor910]

yes! perfect group for behind the desk

[@leahhalili]

been waiting for thissss i love you staves with all my heart

[@ashmcdaniel5503]

Beautiful. And the ringing "bells" of their voices on the second song. Sublime.

[@altigabi2986]

YEAAAAH SISTERHOOD!

[@rilles]

LOVE the staves. thank you for this npr

[@jorgehernandezdebenito8830]

absolutely love this one! thanks to The Staves!

[@saardanmaar]

This just made my day, my week and month 💙🌻

[@lxsford14]

AHHH I’ve loved The Staves for years! So lovely to see them here.

[@DipsetBabiizz]

Freshhh💕💕💕

[@SmallBlogV8]

Woo! What a joy that they got to be in the room. Their from-home was ace and so is this.

[@嘿嘿嘿-z1v]

fall in love with their songs :)

[@elbobcat]

This was surprisingly really nice to listen to. I like the uniqueness of the Staves' arrangements and their vocals are ultra pleasant to listen to. Now, how about keeping with the British Isles theme by inviting the Corrs? I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed.

[@jacobsidedown]

never heard of em but they're great 👍 😊

[@charlieduncan2007]

I met them when they were a threesome doing an in-store show at Truck Records in Oxford. They were utterly charming and put on a great performance, memorably including Facing West.❤❤❤

[@TheJewellian]

they are always brilliant

[@yesimyemenici7587]

ROB PEMBO ON PIANO AND BASS IS A GIFT FROM GOD

[@migueltescaro]

YEEEEEES!!!!

[@mrswalrusss]

My god I love The Staves

[@UT00BE]

Can we have SAULT next, please.

[@tctc2727]

Yes yes yes 🙌🏻 🙌🏻

[@Sarah-hc6kj]

Finally!!!!!

[@vitorialunaS2]

❤ the staves

[@parodoxicalconfucius703]

Stave it off, one two three, and now you can count to three 🎵

[@carolinewinchester2437]

I love you guys!!! And I love tiny desks!!

[@WhiteAntelope7]

The sisters are back!

[@chrisgibson5178]

I Love the vocals ❤

[@beagoodhuman44]

Soooo lovely

[@joakinggaming5272]

Nice! ❤

[@minervassss]

The staves

[@JakeStone-r6c]

harmonizing on point ❤️❤️❤️

[@nevinphil]

Yey!

[@d.w.whitlock5189]

What took so long for this to happen?!? Glad it finally did 😁

[@PachiTineo]

❤❤❤❤

[@ynotegg]

Wow sooo gooood 💯

[@SophSpace]

Love 'The Staves'!!.... It's a shame the drum kit is SO LOUD in the mix!!... especially on 'I'll Never leave you alone' - Even when it's a brush stick on the snair drum it's so distractingly loud!

[@mikespencer6271]

So unusual for tiny desk not to have the mix perfect…but way off here

[@chelseawinkler7502]

@@mikespencer6271 haha i can smell the sarcasm in the ...

[@Parimprimyay]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@hallohannah94]

OH MY GODDDD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD

[@KerryWhiteley-lu8gh]

Queen vibes

[@jonathanpbrown7717]

Yes

[@kibwe2092]

New fan here ❤

[@ziyadbagharib7803]

MY LOVES

[@holadestiny_]

Finally!

[@Mannymakesvibes]

yessssssssss

[@leahhalili]

YESSSSSSS

[@EmCat360]

They were just in Philly last week at Brookly Bowl (I believe) and I missed them! 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@Gustavoalessandrom]

ótimo!!

[@paulwhetstone0473]

I’m not a big fan of 5/4 and shifting meters in general but the first tune is not bad when I can feel the groove. The vocal harmony and melodic lines on the following song are effective but the groove still gets lost at times. The third song has a clear breezy accessible pulse, thank you. The last song has a gentle groovy groove and shows skillful song writing with its wonderful message of love without getting overly sentimental.

[@melneu7278]

❤

[@jarrettlesly7279]

I thought there were three of them?!

[@heatherlucas272]

There were. The description from NPR explains her departure (focus on her family). 😊

[@igokgr]

Camilla ate Emily.

[@vitorialunaS2]

listen their new album All Now 💛

[@yeahyeahnatnat]

First time Love your music

[@RobertSlover]

mom folk rock!

[@HippieWhit]

🔥🔥🔥

[@TheEazieE]

can we please get medium build on here? much love.

[@oh13579]

Please I need a James Arthur tiny desk concert

[@chelseawinkler7502]

The fourth one she sounds like Joni Mitchell :)

[@eugeneromanovski630]

🖤

[@BeforeThisNovember]

Would’ve subbed if you were honest

[@romanlakes]

I see Camilla is going for the ‘Victorian circus leader’ look 🎪 - nice to see them back!

[@jonolliexb]

dude just said hey, i’ve got this.