Girlpool: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

[@Spiderboyish]

It is tradition to revisit this once every few months. Certified hood classic!!!

[@SnotOner]

When live was better

[@user-xk2st7fd1f]

There is an innocence in their voice but their words are angry and I just love them

[@OsolocoAZ]

Please give whoever is booking the appearances for Tiny Desk Concerts a big raise. Thank you.

[@jamesmorris911]

Bob boilen...maybe?

[@esdrasmanrique6457]

It's me sir I can give you my venmo if you wish you to donate.

[@Peace.Beyond.All.Understanding]

These ladies are very talented in my opinion. Less is not always more, but it definitely is in this case. I enjoyed how in sync they were, and how much they achieved through simple harmonies and chord progressions. No over the top, grand sweeping metaphors, just straight forward lyrics and nostalgic nods to the past.

[@Nintendo_fanboy87]

One of them is no longer a lady.

[@wiggelzz11]

​@@Nintendo_fanboy87And no longer a band!

[@merganwort1706]

watching this in 2018 and just... really happy/proud for cleo and his transition :’-)

[@chopsachusetts8505]

romina its Avery now

[@nataliacruz6218]

@Eric Maclennan I believe that Avery uses he/him pronouns at least according to an essay he did for them

[@alicemadness999]

which ones avery/cleo?

[@brutaka86]

@@alicemadness999 the redhead

[@m_milos]

​@@alicemadness999not avery/cleo, just avery

[@mckennacunningham7163]

One of the biggest things about them that's appealing to me is that they genuinely do not care what others think of their music or of them in general. They write, play, and sing with such honesty and people just aren't used to that which really sucks. If they're not your type, fine, but don't go around mindlessly insulting what you don't understand. Get a life! Let these girls live and do what they love!

[@heitorvasconcelos1706]

+McKenna Lee Hmmmmm, maybe they care a bit. Maybe they dream of being the next big thing, the next Beyoncé, who knows... But what matters is their music. It´s great. Period.

[@ascendead]

lol

[@billymayshere.o]

How could they

[@maxgowan4978]

I've always been amazed by people who hear a new sound and don't even bother trying to understand why people like it. The melodies are good and I enjoy the fact that the vocals have an edge to them; it's more interesting. If you want them to sing like Norah Jones, you're missing the point

[@meyepadwe5988]

+max gowan k

[@heitorvasconcelos1706]

+max gowan Wise words. Just strange as some people don´t recognize it...

[@cyoung7127]

I can name 10 bands in the same style who are better tho

[@maxgowan4978]

+Cory Y. Cool I'm excited to see the list

[@markothwriter]

Who doesn't like them? What comments? You know that most thumbs down are from programmed bots? They're not humans.

[@jimnyenhuis560]

It invites you to pay attention to individual aspects of the sound and puts weight on small choices -- moments of harmony, dissonance, even just the unchanging steadiness of the beat.

[@franciscaribeiro7441]

I just fucking love musicians who don't even try, they just... this is exactly the type of music you play on your couch when you are pretending your making a song with a friend, and it's just so honestly performed, they are not focusing on what it may sound to others, they are just... it's amazing how they perfectly make this type of music work.

[@flowerchild365]

They are perfect. they write honestly. the simplicity of the guitars and driving vocals just accent the writing so so beautifully. Ugh. life goals.

[@iamfs1971]

I saw Girlpool open for Waxahatchee and they were mesmerizing. So unique and watchable.

[@Samanthie11]

I saw them in concert yesterday and they were awesome.

[@luis8000]

+SuppSamanthaa same

[@luis8000]

+SuppSamanthaa joyce manor?

[@Djfounddead]

In the spirit of the Mouldy Peaches 4 sure

[@keenanslittlesister4604]

DJ Found Dead it’s just the same genre, anti-folk

[@dianahernandez8271]

oh fuck I take it back. I admit I judged too quickly. this angsty punk rock genre has been dominated by men. and its so empowering seeing two women just belt out their emotions without being constrained by sounding "pretty" or "angelic". lost of respect.

[@dianahernandez8271]

**LOTS

[@MisterIkeJones]

+Diana Hernandez welcome to 1991, riot grrl.

[@kyliesparks1435]

YES! They've got a very Front Bottoms-esque sound, and I don't think I realized how much I was craving that sound in women's voices until I discovered Girlpool

[@sparkanotherowl23]

or Raincoats? The slits? Poly-Styrene?

[@kaiserfred3396]

Lol tons of women have sang without sounding pretty.

[@kayliemancino6269]

It’s so weird to see how much this band has changed over the years. Still amazing and fantastic but different.

[@scharlesworth93]

Yeah the one on the right is a dude now.

[@audrev6005]

I love their new album! Definitely one of my favorite releases this year.

[@b__wenner]

They harmonize so well together it's crazy. One of the more unique and interesting indie rock acts I've heard in a while. I love this album and was impressed to see how well they pull this off live. No bull shit..just great songs. Respect

[@ThePauseMenuVlog]

Insane how these two have changed over the years.

[@mb9284]

They took the vax

[@simgrmehmej8075]

Literally

[@DingoSaidSo]

I'm freaking mesmerized by these two and listen to them over and over and over again! So simple, yet brilliant!

[@T3lmoMartins]

Love them! The lyrics, the melodies, the quirkiness in their voices, the simplicity, that nostalgic 90's/early 2000's rock feel, and yet it's still original... love it all!

[@andrewwilson9579]

this what happens when 2 90s teen film protagonists fall in love and start a band

[@kane00000]

The heavy guy playing bass has a nice voice.

[@jackbaradog]

love the call and response with the guitar & bass in before the world was big

[@bwrsboy]

I think anyone who has a criticism should actually watch the entire performance (at least "Cherry Picking") and honestly really listen to the 2 albums they have put out in the last couple of years. Then, before making an insult about their style and how your ears can't handle it (which is your loss), think about how your comment could apply to every single important piece of rock music throughout history. Then realize that they do what they do very intentionally and effectively, how sophisticated they are for their age, the gap they are filling between The Shaggs, early alternative chicks in the 90's, and now, and how well practiced and musically connected these two girls are. The songs are original, unartificial, and orchestrally minimal by choice.

[@Zakuma101]

+Isaac Bjorke Best comment.

[@cyoung7127]

True, but don't oversell it. They aren't American Football or Bikini Kill. They aren't Polvo or Pavement. They're decent.

[@cyoung7127]

I'm not, I'm contrasting them

[@jackbaradog]

yeah but they're not even remotely similar genres

[@guitarpop]

It's a bit much to ask people to listen to two full albums before having an opinion on this specific performance. I get it, you like them, and that's cool, but not everyone can appreciate every style of music.

[@krakou2]

much better than the usual 2 barre chords indie rock band. I guess the haters have never heard of the Breeders, Pavement or Low.

[@mrwellington102]

+krakou2 yeah I mean them guitar riffs are so technical...

[@jacksonpage1580]

+Jake Waller That was literally not the point of the comment at all

[@mrwellington102]

Jackson Page so what was the point of the comment?

[@jacksonpage1580]

That the band is original, and take inspiration from some legendary bands. To be creative and original you don't have to be a technical wizard.

[@mrwellington102]

Jackson Page I know, I didn't say that good music is always technical. I don't have that opinion at all, but the impression I got from this person's comment was that he was saying it is a nice change from 'simple indie rock', whist this is exactly that.

[@Keessette]

Okay it's really cool to hear a band that's doing polyphonic music instead of homophonic music. A lot of what they do is based on multiple melodic lines rather than having a chord progression. That's super cool. While their voices are not the best for some people they definitely hitting those notes and it's very easy to understand the melodic lines that they're singing. This band is cool musically and more bands should take a page from their book instead of just doing weird chord progressions and SICK RIFFZ just for the sake of it.

[@TheNinetySecond]

What are you talking about? This band is much more homophonic most. It's like the basis of the entire sound. You got this one way wrong, dude.

[@bretbret8293]

I love it. Before the World Was Big is one of my favorite albums of 2015.

[@SenorMorgenStern]

good folk-pop. harmonizing and full throated like mountain women. worth a raised eyebrow and piqued ear.

[@kane00000]

That base player is one large man.

[@joshuaking9005]

There was very little harmonizing, mostly unison singing.

[@reldith]

yo this sounds super mega creepy

[@MrSrDonGabo]

Two girls, one guitar, one bass, so simple, so awesome! :) this video made my day

[@TheFourteenthWard]

They kind of really sound like The Shaggs, but in a good way

[@MidtownSkyport]

The Fourteenth Ward I was just thinking that!

[@izzydupuis1700]

The Fourteenth Ward thank you for mentioning that just now i just found the shaggs!

[@daniramc]

The Fourteenth Ward Girlpool fortunately has not caused me seizures, like when I heard The Shaggs

[@gonetubing]

+The Fourteenth Ward Exact thoughts.

[@sukurimi]

+The Fourteenth Ward YES!!

[@taraelsey926]

I love it. Their voices sound perfect together.

[@coreym.8131]

i actually love their sound. and the way they just look at each other so happily at the end of each song makes me smile

[@CloudsformmusicProject]

these girls are amazing. their music encapsulates what i love the most about what Rothko band is about, these clean bass tones and beautiful and simple melodies. combined with their clean vocals and kinda raw female energy = love. this music is not simple in so many ways, you just have to be a little bit open-minded to fully apreciate it. peace.

[@13badwolves13]

This band sings the soundtrack to my soul

[@SerenaCavanaugh]

I think I listened to american beauty a couple years ago when they just started cuz I followed harmony on tumblr since like 2010! i didn't think much of it then but now I'm playing their songs over and over I love it! crazy

[@markjohnson566]

Maybe not for everyone but I say brilliant. These women have harnessed the charm of The Shaggs* and made it accessible. *One of Frank Zappa's favorite acts.

[@TwelvetreeZ]

Saw these guys at a gig in Scala, London nearly two years ago - can confirm they're bloody amazing :D :D

[@bluesandroots2008]

I’m here because Iggy Pop said in an interview that Girl Pool is his absolute favorite band.

[@sensualsquelch]

Do you remember which interview it was?

[@foxvincenzo5027]

i know I am quite off topic but does anybody know a good place to watch newly released series online?

[@princemoshe841]

@Fox Vincenzo i watch on FlixZone. Just google for it :)

[@martineric6894]

@Fox Vincenzo i would suggest flixzone. You can find it by googling :)

[@lildragon04]

all of the negative comments that people (mostly men) are making on their vocal style is almost comical bc if it were male vocalists singing similarly there wouldn't be nearly as much criticism. it's unique, it's not for everyone, but that doesn't mean it's bad in any respect. i enjoy girlpool.

[@KitchenJames]

+lildragon04 yeah they sing kinda like jeff mangum but I guess he gets shit about it too lol.

[@sshelton1433]

How dare you assign gender to commenters

[@DJSKWhirl]

I adore that bassist.

[@woebegone_kenobi]

Been a really big fan of both Girlpool _and_ Tiny Desk for quite awhile, how am I just now finding out they have a fucking Tiny Desk Concert. Fuck I needed this. So damn proud of you both, christ

[@drac0nismist]

it's so messed up how so many people are commenting on this and saying cleo and harmony can't sing or play very well, yet so many mainstream white men are very mediocre musicians and are praised for their talent. girlpool's music is very real and relatable for loads of teenagers/young adults and i love it.

[@flowerchild365]

+brie kimble yep. yes. totally agree with you! their lyrics make me feel so much

[@iLoveMylifeSofuckingMuch]

omg yeasss

[@nawbruv]

+brie kimble Why bring gender in to it? I quite like it, but I can see why others would find it a bit abrasive.

[@ItsGibbyyy]

Feminism

[@KurtfromLaQuinta]

+brie kimble Well I'm old... and I like it too!

[@rontwyman2239]

The attitudes in these 2 highly intelligent young women is what our world needs! I am a fan!!

[@sophiapinto6506]

Their song "Soup" hits me in the gut, and that's how I discovered them. So glad to see them here.

[@beab123]

123 was my top song of 2020 i listened to it so many times

[@yulikabunya9682]

I love this song "Before the world was big". They play it here in the radio on a local channel... Thank u girls! Keep it up!

[@dowsabel]

this is such a time capsule that it's as tearful as it is painful

[@BrendanLikesApple46]

I actually kind of like this. It makes me feel good, and almost nostalgic, specifically of my early childhood.

[@kansasandinmisery]

I think that any negative comments are coming from the senior npr listeners who listen to tiny desk concerts to make a half-assed attempt at keeping up with the kids. I find myself in this category, because really what middle-aged man with a wife and kid and full-time job has time to hear new music. I don't think I'm as judgmental as the other oldsters that are like why can't every band be like Fucking Fleetwood Mac with the drums and the skill, goddammit, these kids why don't they take guitar lessons? Anyway, I love this. It reminds me of the lofi indie pop I loved back in the 90s. Scrawl-ish, minus the drums?

[@mollieswonderland]

I love how little tattoos they have here! they inked cuties now ❤️❤️❤️

[@FlockofSmeagles]

There's a local grunge scene in my city. This shit is picking back up. I'm so happy.

[@FlockofSmeagles]

Akron, Ohio.

[@realbillnickson]

broshaman this isn't grunge lmfao

[@FlockofSmeagles]

Bill Nickson No, but the essence is there.

[@stevehanna8534]

broshaman oh shit man i live in cleveland!

[@tommyfly]

broshaman yeah, it does have a really midwest 90's indie sound. I was at college in Richmond, IN in the 90's and it reminds me of the local bands there at the time.

[@marcuslittle9372]

im here because i was watching a music video of Kyle from SNL and someone commented about Harmony who is in Kyles band-I actually like this music, very simple and down-to-earth!

[@Danfromoverthere]

I love girlpool!!! Thank you to my daughter for showing me them!!!!

[@buzzcrushtrendkill]

There is hope for the future. Thank you ladies for being independently minded with art and music.

[@1feloniouspunk]

I like a lot of their songs, and this performance may be my favorite of theirs! I love how they're like a new punk Everly Brothers, except instead of brothers they're a female couple. I love how everything is so basic and pure, perfectly harmonized, focusing on a particular range of the voice where it is vulnerable and touching a piercing part of the soul. The minimal guitar work keeps me on the edge of my seat!

[@PIPisLORD]

first track sounds influenced by early modest mouse

[@ryanhomcy7759]

PIPisLORD I feel like Cherry Picking is even more

[@sammay600]

PIPisLORD Thank you I was trying so hard to place that

[@somenoise5624]

It's a pretty blatant rip. Pretty shitty to try and get one over on a classic band like that.

[@sammay600]

Part of me feels like it is unintentional.

[@shayne233]

+Indienoise ya man isaac would be fakin pissed im sure of it

[@100chuckjones]

Don't know how I got to this video and I've never even heard of these girls before. But wow. I am very impressed. Loved every minute of it. They almost remind me of a female Weezer. Can't say enough about these girls. Amazing stuff.

[@teezytwochins4775]

I am a sucker for any music with stringed instruments. this is my first time hearing them and these three songs are infectious as hell. I like it.

[@arkboy4ever]

I can't believe this even has one thumbs down. This is crazy good

[@kmfdm10392]

Having seen "Ladies and Gentlemen the Fabulous Stains" around 1983 I have an affinity for this sort of thing. What appears amateurish and simple on the surface is actually pretty fucking deep. How I had never heard Girlpool before today I have no idea, but this performance makes me want to delve into their catalogue.

[@Brokenkingpins]

I cannot say I am a fan. Although, I think the sincerity of the lyrics and rudimentary music compliments the experience well.

[@hannaberryworkshop3377]

I LOVE Girlpool! You ladies are awesome and fresh!

[@GutsyMonkeyman]

I've been looking for a band like this since Modest Mouse was my favorite band growing up. They have a very similar sound without sounding like a straight up rip off. I'm going to listen to all their albums now.

[@npw1982]

This is easily my favourite Tiny Desk Concert, and i'd never heard Girlpool before listening to this, I think I even prefer these versions to the record. It's incredible.

[@BendikKeymer]

Gorgeous -- to hear people listening to each other

[@BoxcarJohnnie]

Monday May 22, 2017 Girlpool is a Giant Gray Blob The Los Angeles indie-rock duo blurs the lines between bandmates and best friends. Elle CarrollThu May 18th, 2017 8:42amMusic Tags: girlpool, Indie Rock Whaoah. I love these girls, it actually Rubs Me the RIGHT WAY! I am 67 Years old, San Francisco living, Busker. My Inbox had a Article from SFweekly "This Week in Music: The Grand, Girlpool, and more.. and came here to hear. This is Great Music...'Music To Me Ears."

[@TheSrcmrc39]

makes me cry every time I hear Before the World was Big

[@jt2698]

why do I like this so much

[@imslicc]

because you feel they're young and hip, and it speaks to you, and you ignore how mediocre the music is.

[@roseopheliashepherd8379]

The sound like the Shruggs if they could actually play, that's exactly the sound I've been searching for!!

[@terry10tnj]

God I miss these dual harmonies I always thought girlpool was gonna be huge but unfortunately things change and now they are broke up 😢

[@JohnDoe-ld7hc]

Love love love this! As great in 2022 as it was in 2015.

[@Nicole-fx3ei]

I searched two girls screaming tiny desk concert and I found this band again yay

[@Yardmastr]

Tiny desk always coming through with vibes

[@totodepatas]

This is amazing. Wow! Bravo. They are so talented!

[@sashapentovmusic]

I just would like to say that I'm not a hipster, but I really like the combination in this group. I guess the guitar sounds caught my ear first. Also the drumless tunes appealed to my creative side! It's definitely different and not for everyone, but there is a creativity that one can appreciate here.

[@jimbackmann7808]

hah it's 7:38 in the morning and I just stumbled upon this vid. It is so rad.

[@mrwellington102]

THAT IS SO RAD!

[@mrcanarsie]

One of my favorite bands of the 2010s

[@j4kez]

This is where I discovered Girlpool. Almost 5 years later and they’re one of my favorite bands :)

[@WLOMA]

everyone , and i mean everyone who wants to be creative in his own way and really feels great about what he's doing, i respect... coll stuff by the way

[@superlead100100]

Thank you for posting this! I was thinking on going to see them at Rickshaw Stop in SF. I will not do that now.

[@edgarallenpoe8200]

lol wow. great performance. honestly, this is my favorite band right now. theyre so punky. i like the fact that there are no drums. just pure guitar and vocals. absolutely great.

[@MikeBikerKickstand]

Came here because of a friends link. As a musician myself I can appreciate their commitment to their sound (they've obviously been rehearsing and tinkering with it for a while now). Maybe I'm just getting older and can't assimilate the new sounds I hear with my own tired repertoire these days, but I find this music kind of angular and I'm constantly trying to find the melody. But then again, maybe that's the point.

[@JamesCamienMcGuiggan]

Yeah pretty sure that's the point. It's quite aggressive towards the listener, I find. I see it as somehow feminist in that regard--demanding that the listener not just let the women's voices be a backdrop, that the listener not ignore them like it's so easy for people to ignore women! When I listen more carefully I find it quite mellifluous. The harmonies of thirds and simple diatonicism and so on.

[@mikaelaelson]

I saw them live two years ago and was not impressed :( but now that I'm looking into them again, I'm so in love! But I hate how live performances can sometimes take away from an artist; however, so many factors can play into a live performance. Just happy to be giving them another chance

[@Emerson-mc1hx]

You’re telling me it’s been 8 years of listening to girlpool???? Starting to understand the songs more everyday day starting at like 20 years old lol

[@Mia-rf1pu]

recently discovered them!! love their music also their synchronization tho

[@djkrismilam]

creative owning it thank you for inspiration. solo accepted angst. growing pains can't wait to see future stuff

[@mishasketchsss6804]

I'm so glad that they did a tiny desk concert

[@tryin9]

I have recently become mesmerized by these girls. So unique. Love it. Plus they're cute :)

[@lucid685]

Enjoying them. They have a cool feel. Reminds me of some of twee groups from 90s and also front bottoms. Hope they keep doing their thing and expanding their sound

[@samsigh]

makes me feel so many emotions seeing that this was 7 years ago... where did the time go !?@?

[@georgegonzalez]

Excellent K.I.S.S. group and amazing recording, mixed by distance to the mic. This is great!

[@moganhoow]

They're so amazing and beautiful all of their songs kill me

[@junelambert3702]

they're so fucking awesome

[@MarkStJohn-xd6lu]

Out fucking standing.

[@Gkuljian]

So unique and interesting. As I listened to that first tune I was thinking, I'll bet Don Van Vleet would have liked it.

[@johnpal5112]

Hamony is adorable!!

[@GhostTracksLtd]

amazing! made me sob uncontrollably

[@derpferguson5400]

haha what

[@extremelynormalperson]

Derp Ferguson what?

[@BILLYTALENTisamazing]

this is the music i come back to when i truly begin to believe that things will turn out again. i really dont know if they will but the idea is good enough

[@milkshakewithdemcrusheduporea]

i love girlpool they put me back together

[@Jerkcurb1]

love them so much

[@cpretzel2558]

Ugh I love them so much

[@tenorandrewowens]

it’s like I’m magically transported back to my Oberlin days