The Heligoats: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

[@stockwelldesigns8308]

I've been coming back to this tiny desk for over a decade, still probably the best one npr has hosted.

[@PoguesMThon]

This is my favorite, but NPR has some crazy great recordings....I still come back to this one

[@laurenceconstable7618]

13 years of listening to this Tiny Desk. Still one of my favorites.

[@jesspez9520]

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve revisited this over the years.. Chris is obviously such a gentle human, his voice fills my heart with warmth. I made my first will recently and I’ve requested that his song “goodness gracious” is played at my funeral.. it’s not all doom and gloom though bc I want it played at my wedding too. Big loves from Australia x

[@captainnuradin]

Tiny Desk!!!! You need to recirculate this video to all of your subscribers! this guy needs to be seen and heard by way more people! This should be The Bob Dylan of this current generation! He is a true poet! Cerebral, soulful, tragic and joyful. He is a most extraordinary musician and deserving of a larger audience. In fact, it would be the audience that would benefit most.

[@alanblaze7]

Reynard The Fox I’m pretty sure he has the audience he deserves, nowadays, people listen to music, but they don’t feel it they don’t really look for “it” you know? Chris does great, I think maybe in another time, he would have been another kind of Bob Dylan, maybe as popular as him

[@meatcreap]

@@alanblaze7 Weird take - I agree with the OP. There are so many people who would fall in love with Chris' music if they had the chance to hear it.

[@meatcreap]

This video is so so special. It feels like the warmth of home every time I come back.

[@megangershey1444]

This is the most thought out, well-narrated, and completely heartfelt set NPR has to date. With his lovable nerdy demeanor no wonder I have not stopped listening to it since 2012. Lets convince Chris Otepka to do a solo tour, who’s in?!

[@tompk1bs]

if its acoustic. I went to a Troublehuble show a couple months ago and couldn't hear anything. Need his individual majesty. Definitely most revisited tiny desk set. I would just like a full acoustic album and it would be the soundtrack to my life.

[@SinnetSongs]

Chris tours solo quite a bit! We just played with him back in May!

[@anniecat832]

It's 2019. I'm still in.

[@kevinsyma4681]

Just listened to this again during the night of the lunar eclipse and even though it has been a few years I never get tired of this fella. I heard this set before ever listening to his albums and I gotta say I prefer this. Just him, a guitar, his songs, and his nervous wit.

[@levineely3312]

I sing Goodness Gracious to my son every night as a lullaby. I hope it becomes a part of him.

[@mirandan2660]

I always come back to this tiny desk. It's just the best❤️ "i never knew i was frozen, until you turned on the heat"

[@accuser_of_the_brethren7816]

Ugh..that line still gives me goosebumps and I'm a late bloomer (just found this about 6 months ago) and I've probably put about 3k views on it lol his rhythm in his right hand is SO opposite of how he approaches the verses like, that whole song comes from nothing but his soul you know?

[@nclmbin8]

Same mate

[@emmettpegan2679]

This specific concert has been one of my favorite things for about ten years now 🤣

[@albysctp666ify]

I'm back at this video like thousand times, as soon I'm down for some reason this makes me in peace with myself. thanx

[@ThePonderingboy]

aaaaand i just fell in love with Chris Otepka

[@JesseValenciana]

I can't love this any more. Chris has such an amazing, sincere voice and he's a beautiful human.

[@AlecTheConfused]

To me this is the most underrated tiny desk :')

[@zanetams70]

lyrics are everything for this man.

[@davidlindahl6514]

I met Chris running track back at Batavia High School and went to a few Troubled Hubble concerts in about 2001. I remember talking to Chris about good music -lesser known alternative, low fi, Radiohead circa 1995 and stuff. With TH he surprised me by how good he was and how interesting the band was. I was disappointed not to see them get bigger, but it was a hard time to start a band... And now likely harder. His solo stuff blows me away, though. He was intellectual and a bit quirky in high school, but didn't expect this level of songwriting. He's easily as good as Bright Eyes or Ben Gibbard on acoustic, and has an authentic, honest style that's singular. The depth of his lyrics and storytelling are incredible. I hope he's still creating, because the world could use his intellect and unique voice.

[@meatcreap]

I agree. Singular is such a good word for his music. It's so well made and it communicates something ineffable so so clearly.

[@talalahmed608]

Those song intros of his might just be the most awesome thing i've heard all month.

[@RealZeboTroob]

I saw these guys live as part of a concert series hosted at a coffee shop. It proves you don't have to sell millions of records to be a great band.

[@johnmcguirk2246]

Maybe one of the best tiny desks ever. What it was created for I feel

[@mg0]

I was lucky enough to see troubled hubble live 3+ times in college. They were brilliant. Now I work in startups trying to find exception in others. I attribute a lot of my current behavior to discovering the underappreciated brilliance of troubled hubble and Chris.

[@accuser_of_the_brethren7816]

Why am I just finding this NPR?!? I've been rewatching sets like this for almost 7 years now and definitely missed out on this guy. His lyrics are up there with Ben Gibbard and the like. Thank goodness npr has such a wide variety

[@CapnCorn304]

I know! I was lucky enough to see them live a few year ago and it makes me sad that goodness gracious didn't catch on its a beautiful and creative album.

[@accuser_of_the_brethren7816]

@@CapnCorn304 so the songs on here are all from "goodness gracious"? Man, I don't usually find anyone with lyrics that catch my ear enough to look them up let alone care what they mean but this guy got me.

[@CapnCorn304]

@@accuser_of_the_brethren7816 all of them but I see molecules. But back to the lake is a great album as well

[@lampposteffect]

I wish everyone could see this. I love The Heligoats.

[@TheAlbsar]

I'm so glad i stubled upon this video, not only is the music amazing, but he also diagnosed my eye problem! I really thought i could see molecules too!... until now

[@Jackiegoal]

So simple, yet so heartfelt and precious.

[@sweetgoose]

this is one of my favourite tiny desk concerts. he has a similar sincerity to he voice to Conor from Villagers

[@thegoddessmegan]

mr otepka you've written some of my favorite songs ~~blessings~~

[@anthonyhabib2815]

I definitely pressed my eyes into my head the moment he mentioned that he used to do that... I was just seeing "fractals" when he got to the bit about chronic floaters... can't wait to write a really strange song about it :)

[@Cobertuskb]

I get so angry when I hear Molecules because it's so beautiful. And I'm scared I could never make music as magnificent as this. Awesome.

[@kristir4862]

Thank YOU Chris O. & N.P.R...Such a Sweet Sound! Harmonious melodies for thee GOD created ears...Far to grand for words...Just listen & EnJOY! Fancy the tie too.

[@seantye8007]

i think i am responsible for 97% of the views on this video haha. amazing music Chris!! keep it up man!

[@jarboe1000]

+Sean Tye You would have had to have watched 3.84466420662 years worth of this video. I have no clue why I just did that math... but I did.

[@captainnuradin]

I keep rewatching this one too, but now the math doesn’t jibe, cause I feel that I’m responsible for something like 88% of the views on this video... I feel that this really should have gone viral, if only the truly talented artist and poets of our time were given their due, and if real depth and quality of thought had anything to do with a video’s popularity.

[@bugsbunny2944]

This is poetry. Great job. Thanks for showing this band to me

[@fosterlee6719]

An incredible set. I remember Chris from his Troubled Hubble days. Saw them a couple times on tours that included (for some amazing reason) Lubbock, Texas. I can't stop listening to this. I hope he's okay; maybe just anxious? This is powerful for me like the first time I heard "Court & Spark." Thanks, Chris.

[@jasongluck3977]

i wish everyone knew about this, its just too good.

[@justinburkewalsh8061]

I found this! I have been looking for a long time after listening to it very often in the past. I love this. What a goofy and original person Chris is- and that is amazing. I love this.

[@Yoursaffectionately]

Oh my god. Such a fucking poet. What a god damned man.

[@CRxShelton]

I love the nervous confidence.

[@LETSharmonize]

He is beautiful and so is his music.

[@Giselle62]

i like this guy---i'm looking forward to looking at all of these tiny desk concerts.

[@idreaminlandscapes]

This man is genius. After listening to him just a few times, he's up there with my other favorites like Sufjan.

[@cyoung7127]

I think I'm going to watch this every day for the rest of my life

[@bradcrane]

Cory Y. Still watching ?

[@Neddeadly]

I see molecules what en epic master piece!

[@charlesjmudd]

I enjoyed this immensely, a happy boost for my day..

[@Noright36]

chris otepka, you are great. thank you. I've seen you play solo once opening for clem snide, and once in milwaukee at linnemans....come back to milwaukee or madison soon!! we'll be there!

[@Philthyphiljones]

Amazing , keep rocking Chris

[@ralenfishsticks]

ya that dude lives in the house right beside me ahh what a dude

[@parkerthekat]

really enjoyed this one. i love the explanations he gives before he does each song, will definitely check out more of the heligoats!

[@Drostie]

Definitely. The comment at the beginning about Troubled Hubble is also really important. Troubled Hubble was, in my opinion, one of the most magical musical groups ever. If you use archive.org to go to www.troubledhubble.com, you can download "Airplanes" which shows this off spectacularly; it's a song containing an adventure of flying planes with sputtering engines just barely coaxed into flying again, averting a crash. Two brothers, Nate & Andrew, provided solid drum/bass backgrounds that you can still hear in the band Kid, You'll Move Mountains. Otepka's lyrics were as poignant as ever, and he was joined on guitar by a guy named John Miller who really took it over the top. Lots of amazing stuff there. Heligoats with the rest of its members is actually really good now too, but neither band quite has the perfect mixture the way TH did.

[@Falgor72]

Thanks for Showing me this Matthew Fischer

[@Drkzx]

Sun Ra's book in the background adds so many points to my likehood of this video.

[@dddebolt]

A new business of death metal out there...haha awesome. Otepka is the best. Simple beauty.

[@BusterandGinger]

this guy is TOO GOOD!

[@socialstudiescharlee]

thank you so much!

[@devilboydesigns]

This is beauty. More original inspired musics please.

[@madeofkittens]

Check the Closed Captioning on this. It's unintentionally hilarious.

[@russellgeorge6195]

THIS IS SO FUNNY!!!!!! I think I may have a new hobby!!!

[@alexlewis4222]

Did this close-captioning base its transcription off of CNN buzz words? I love this music.

[@saturatedneowax]

I finally found it again

[@KisameFishieman]

He's so cool

[@jaksspring97]

this guy is obviously shy, a little uncomfortable, and completely weird...in an absolutely likable way. He's that silly witty friend everyone wishes would move in next door. Hilarious!

[@Teona1212]

Very beautiful !

[@ryguy522]

so happy I randomly clicked on this video

[@Tronald81]

Fuzzy feeling

[@Cobertuskb]

I feel so good having helped you. Really, it's weird.

[@Cobertuskb]

It's D major, then a D minor shape at the 3rd fret(e minor) Sometimes there's a weird chord shape like the previously stated but with a G on the Low E. On the part with "stopped having dreams" he's goes from C to G major. Then A to G then D. You're gonna kind of have to work it out since I couldn't do any better explaining, but hope it helps.

[@TheBulletPoet]

i actually push my eyes back with my fingers just now

[@alanblaze7]

Ronid Chingangbam did the same right now, 7 years later

[@wonderland03]

he's much too good!

[@infobasedchoices]

Wonderful!! Keep it up man!

[@mrgungho]

This guy is great...thanks NPR for this series. Cory Branan anytime soon? He's a great solo act with LOTS of songs.

[@brokenprism]

Have you seen his Kickstarter to release the new album Back to the Ache... google for Heligoats Kickstarter, one prize level is for Everything he has released as Heligoats and the new album, and PLUS new solo album next spring

[@TheBigTent]

i totally feel you bro. i fuckin love that show! people who hate on it arnt smart enuff.

[@justinstoudemire4438]

completely genius...

[@Giselle62]

i useta do this with my eyes, too...really pretty kaleidoscope images didn't do it too much because it would stop working!

[@Tronald81]

I see you

[@PoetlaureateNFDL]

Love the tiny guitar, or is it just that the person is big?

[@giorgio1943]

am I the only one getting a " bright eyes " vibe to it ?

[@AlienShip95]

I just found myself smiling a little...haha

[@mahatmasloth6543]

he also bumped his head on his guitar :D

[@celtic9keane]

niiicceeeee

[@littletriptoheaven]

Is there any truth to the Carl Beekman story? Feel like an idiot asking, but I just love that story.

[@dabedur]

Chris. You still owe me two t-shirts. I remember. And you should too.

[@shycowboy]

this is better than the old heligoats

[@ASkippingRock]

I messed up my eyes in a similiar way.

[@jagerfromgsg945]

Certified Zest.

[@carolehuffman1247]

good job j

[@kenhunt5153]

I miss TH.

[@FreeBrian3000]

"your were babtised in a river i was thrown off a bridge"..."then i started having sezers you stared have kids"...

[@Takarafire]

Reminds me of Bright Eyes a bit.

[@Cobertuskb]

I fudged it up at the end, it's D then C then G.

[@MrOttocarpenter]

@broman2255 It's just a crappy mini-Martin (LXM model) which just goes to show you, it's the vocals and lyrics that ultimately matter - not some $10K guitar. They all have their own voice, no matter the price.

[@1500rosa]

this is cute.

[@Rambisman]

its like a younger Eef Barzelay!

[@AdamOutOfPocket]

anyone know what kind of guitar that is? i really like the size. great vid btw.

[@gascangascan9426]

I only have 5k out of the 145k views

[@claufman95]

He sounds exactly like eef barezly.

[@mm9778]

I'm pretty #t=3m28s A guide to #t=7m54s Fish Sticks #t=13m13s

[@mm9778]

3:28 I’m pretty sure I can see molecules 7:54 a guide to the outdoors 13:13 fish sticks

[@mm9778]

Updated 😊

[@jacobacobcobobb]

Tabs??? Chords???? please help out.

[@littletriptoheaven]

Then this is a sorta true story? I realize that he would be referencing "sightings" himself but theres no actual news articles anywhere? I looked, couldn't find anything. Maybe I should just live in the fantasy of it :)

[@socialstudiescharlee]

chords for the first song, Goodness Gracious?

[@halfjapanesenirvana]

Twitchy.

[@shugapie513]

reminds me of josh ritter.

[@kmartens0064]

How do you get this job?

[@1234zoff]

[@xx_naasson_xx]

Can we have a little more playing and less talking, sheesh. Lol kidding, he's hilarious actually, he's definitely an entertaining guy. :D