Public Service Broadcasting: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

These guys don't speak or sing a word, but each song sends a clear message. Public Service Broadcasting is a duo featuring the nerdy J. Willgoose, Esq. on guitar, banjo and electronics and Wrigglesworth on drums. The source material for the music is British public-service films from roughly the 1940s through the 1960s.
The band projects carefully crafted films from those public-service messages that sync to the music, liberally using footage and voices from the past as a way of looking at the present. Public Service Broadcasting puts it all together in a powerful way - it's sometimes melancholy but mostly good fun. It's entertainment as education for the head and feet alike.
In this Tiny Desk Concert, we project a few of those films in the bright daylight of our office. It frankly works better in a dark club, but the music made in this small setting remains huge and powerful. --BOB BOILEN
Set List
"Signal 30"
"Spitfire"
"Everest"
Credits
Producers: Bob Boilen, Denise DeBelius; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Denise DeBelius, Olivia Merrion, Meredith Rizzo; photo by Jim Tuttle/NPR

[@jeffgorchynski]

2022 and I'm rolling in here like I just discovered the amazing Sliced Bread.

[@mtrps_]

its been 8 years and every album is a blessing to my ears!

[@Herbiesainty]

Boy these guys were good even before The Race for space and Every Valley

[@matttcameron_]

He's dressed like the Doctor, but they're killing it. I guess this is what you get when Timelords form a band?

[@iwillnevergetone5]

agree with pretty much everyone else here: easy to be a skeptic but dammit, these dudes have got it! would love to catch their set in a club setting with this shit pumping super loud. it'd be great. lovely rickenbacker

[@clockguy2]

I was expecting this to be lame, but these guys are great!

[@JohanRaphael]

clockguy2 me too! HAHA

[@jonnyrocket3659]

this is an example of why UK music is and always has been at the front of progressive music... if you didnt hear it first in the UK then you didnt hear it

[@derrywalker7835]

Intelligent, innovative and just brilliant! A band that takes a concept and goes full in.👏

[@diegogarrido2335]

I expected it to be regurgitated and.. No, this is revolutionary!! Drummers rejoice!! Hail the birth of the Vocal Machine!! Well done....

[@ericgunn4261]

What an fantastic Tiny Desk Concert set. I was introduced to PSB by their outstanding new release The Race for Space, but definitely need to go back for Inform-Educate-Entertain!

[@sophiesdad45]

This much creativity doesn't always sound so great but in this case it totally works. I would love to go to a show.

[@Xombigod]

These guys totally blew me away as soon as I first heard of them!!!

[@Jempeas]

Two very small men, cutting steps in the roof of the world..

[@jonnyrocket3659]

who is small ? we are as tall as we want to be.. now go get your shinebox my friend.

[@juststardust8103]

Hard to define how amazing is this surprise. You have to listen to it!

[@NeonThoughtBox]

Why doesn't this have a million more views? :/

[@flashflashbang2102]

You need your publicity people to start pumping you in Australia. I heard Spitfire on a very obscure but quality Sydney station (FBI Radio) the other day and got hooked straight away. I'd love to see you playing shows down here as it's pure genius marrying PS films to your wonderful music. I'm chasing your work all over KZbin at the moment and thank you for putting it on here.

[@gustavogimenez410]

I just come from watch it to say they ruleeeeeees! I didn't know their but now are one of my favorite bands!

[@Nadrient]

Definitely reminds me of old prog; very pumping and spacey.

[@TommyRobertsMusicChannel]

Saw them in a small but packed hall in Amsterdam and they were brilliant.

[@AslanBlood]

Saw these guys the other day, headlining for The Manic Street Preachers in Paradiso, Amsterdam (Netherlands) Quite powerful set, pumping dance beats with a somewhat gloomy nosalgia. I enjoyed the music and now even more so.

[@christianlesurfmusic]

0:02 Signal 30 4:02 Spitfire 8:49 Everest

[@DuppyBruh]

That first song floored me. These guys are fantastic. That was such a solid performance

[@mikecoduto7732]

These guys are musical geniuses. Such beautiful music :D

[@invisible1955]

Not normally my kind of music, but I checked PSB out as there was an interview with J. Willgoose, Esq in Guitarist magazine. Have to say I'm really enjoying what I'm hearing - especially Everest - superb!

[@Lukebones101]

Saw these guys live at bestival, their live performances are truly entertaining

[@itwashimmusic]

Franz Ferdinand and explosions in the sky had a baby with 1984, and this was born. It is a good thing.

[@michaelmcgarry3997]

these guys are killing it. wasn't expecting it.

[@michaelmcgarry3997]

reminds me of " holy fuck " just good music

[@kristins194]

These guys are just so much fun to listen to

[@rolfedrengen]

It amazes me how this can sound so full with a thin sounding drumset!

[@Hawkeye156]

I clicked on this video specifically only to ask why anybody would name their band that, but now it makes sense.

[@tonyburnett5968]

That guy that beats the ballacks off them skins is PROPER! He's from Leeds too (20 miles darn road from me) 1st class!

[@shaneharrington3655]

Fantastic guitar tone.

[@paulelliott3220]

Superb Never fail to play inventively brilliant music perfectly suiting to the soundtrack Love PSB

[@waynoodonnell5532]

mr bigglesworth percussion masterclass

[@CNder77]

Wow this was really awesome, I enjoyed every second of it!

[@ТатьянаГорина-ш4м]

Просто охуительно!!! На мой скромный слух, смесь Chemical Brothers, Moby и "Зодиака" кто помнит в современной интерпретации. Очень круто!!!!

[@cunkmusic8748]

How stunning brilliant... really bright light white brilliant..

[@Cirunz]

Ok I'm starting to think Willgoose only talks via sound samples of his own voice even to his mother.

[@FluffersTheFirst]

damn, these guys are awesome.

[@martinquarton8535]

Spitfire on BBC6 MUSIC first tune. Simply brilliant.

[@Gadzooki]

Good to see NPR finally getting more electrically charged music. Plugged in. Loud. Whatever you want to call it. Damage our eardrums more often NPR!

[@iamyourfuture808]

Keep expecting the Ian Curtis vocal to come in

[@alanpayne6575]

Reminds me of Man or Astroman in the best way. Hope I can see these gents live asap!

[@captnodge]

Bit late for this one . Better late than never fully enjoyed their style

[@EpicChocolateSauce]

their music was amplified by the video. great show

[@hardatwork38]

If you enjoyed this, check out the Race for Space, live at the Royal Albert hall in 2019.

[@yamifyify]

This is awesome!

[@FesterGaming27]

👌 top notch my good looking dudes

[@tigerwood1597]

love the sound

[@jejesus]

Great idea made with great talent.

[@andy.b2621]

Awesome dudes ... new fan

[@MrAelius]

Amazing !

[@teriscallon]

I really dig this

[@steamc4tz]

This rocks!

[@cynandude]

Very cool. Am very much enjoying their latest "The Race For Space" album. btw, for this video, has anyone else noticed the audio seems to lag a fraction of a second?

[@LarrySaklad]

Everest took me there!

[@alq1082]

Wrigglesworth..........yeah!!!!

[@tigheclaire6873]

Those drums!

[@slyhick]

but that bow-tie tho...

[@smallcreep22]

very cool. new fan.

[@luiseduardoestrada6987]

i love song good boys!!

[@polpotsdog]

Shouldn't work...Love it!! New fan here. Great stuff.

[@mandomonica]

I like it. Very clever.

[@maribelcar-vall6055]

What seems to be the simplest turns to be the most difficult. Nutritious music : )

[@TheChrisbeal]

Slightly geeky, but I really like this.

[@hawkecaviar8270]

super clever times two

[@Scrappy1138]

Very Creative.

[@flapwheat]

Jesus, these sumbitches rock! I've been watching this TD ever since it came out!

[@ognigeis653]

ich hoffe die machen weiter so....

[@MichaelSchwagerPlace]

It's a Spitfire bird!!!

[@franciscopicado3768]

These guys are awesome!. Something refreshing finally! publicservicebroadcasting.net/#about_band_members #nprmusic #awesomeness

[@davep8221]

They're a new love, but please tell me there's not a click track coming through their ear pieces. Regardless, perfectly crafted songs and creative. Technique is often used to compensate for lack of compositional abilities. Very nice to see both in one place.

[@JohnnyF71]

There has to be a click track coming through their ears...but what's wrong with that exactly? Their whole show relies on electronic synchronisation...it's what they do. I don't think the presence of a click for such a precision-based artform is either a surprise or a problem. They're not The Ramones.

[@ArtBusker]

Hippiessssss !!!!

[@Wonderduck1]

If you think PSB are hippies, I don't think you know what hippies are.

[@bielaurent399]

touch the moon :)

[@martinquarton8535]

I wore a bowtie when I was younger apparently.

[@leeman692306]

Joe 90. He's alive..................

[@MySolarSystem]

I cant understand, how he use so clear loop pedal? Without any little errors. And where he use effects. Very interesting, how he synchronize the tremolo pedal on guitar and sampler in "Spitfire"?

[@wfalc4619]

+MySolarSystem he probably has all of it tracked to one midi clock

[@lumpyfishgravy]

4:07 for a moment I expected a Joy Division cover lol

[@Youtube_deleted_my_favourites]

You weren't kidding there....

[@allyoursphotography1]

CHECK OUT THE NEW TUNE - GAGARIN!

[@h4lo]

CHECK OUT THE EVEN NEWER ALBUM, EVERY VALLEY!

[@alfiewebb4840]

CHECK OUT THE HYPER-NEW EP, WHITE STAR LINER!

[@10brokenradios]

CHECK OUT J. WILLGOOSE'S ULTRA-NEW ALBUM, A WONDERFUL HOPE!

[@Bo_pavlo]

Hi, Giraffes? Giraffes!

[@marshallbrooksmusic]

They have the same glasses. I wonder if either pair are real.

[@WendyRedden]

It's a part of their act, they are actually really cool guys - got to meet and chat with them at SXSW this year - had to see them twice, they were that good live!

[@marshallbrooksmusic]

That's cool. I gotta see these dudes sometime

[@WendyRedden]

Marshall Jewell Out of the 45 bands I saw during SXSW - these guys and Royal Blood were at the top of my list :)

[@darrenc5394]

They’re real.

[@f1r3atwill13]

To the one person who gave this a thumbs down: YOU DON'T KNOW GOOD MUSIC

[@bradonlee9832]

Sounds like man or astroman....