The Low Anthem: NPR Music Tiny Desk From The Archives

We've been filming Tiny Desk concerts for more than 10 years. While revisiting our archives, we discovered that some of our earliest concerts never made it to KZbin!
Watch The Low Anthem’s Tiny Desk concert from 2010:
www.npr.org/20...
Bob Boilen | January 20, 2010
This past summer in Newport, R.I., I saw The Low Anthem perform as part of the Newport Folk Festival's 50th anniversary. I had heard the band's album Oh My God, Charlie Darwin early that year and found it simple, gorgeous and thought-provoking. It's hard to do what The Low Anthem does so well - play sullen, spacious music - at a noisy and crowded music festival. But it did, and it won over an awful lot of fans in the process.
Later, I was talking to Jay Sweet, who picks much of the talent that comes to Newport these days, and I told him how taken I was by The Low Anthem. Sweet replied, "These guys are from around here. Last year, they were volunteers at the festival, picking up trash."
I love that story, and I love this band's spirit. When The Low Anthem came to NPR Music to play a Tiny Desk Concert, the band seemed humbled and comfortable sitting on and around my desk, playing music as if it were hanging around in someone's living room. So grab something warm to drink, gather 'round, and pay special attention to the cell-phone trick at the end of "This God Damn House" - it's something else.

[@DavidHaile_profile]

I can see why this one is not a big crowd pleaser concert, but it is fantastic! I'm here because another song of theirs came up in my feed and I'm now obsessed with finding out everything I can about The Low Anthem. From Sheridan, WY.

[@shroder1]

Saw them twice, both many years ago. One of those times they had an entire bar go silent to listen. It was truly magical.

[@vincenzocuttitta]

This desk concert brings me up to 10 years ago, when their music helped me survive. Thanks NPR 🍻

[@kylekopatz6534]

The only opening act I've ever seen get a standing ovation. So great!

[@pedestrianfare8175]

I saw them while traveling. Then they turned up in my town, opening for City and Colour. So good! There was no question that I was only there for them and I had a lovely walk home afterward.

[@Butterfliesandzebras]

Saw these guys at Bestival just having a random walk one morning, absolutely hungover, and they were so calming and blissful, it was a great way to discover such a sweet gem of a band. Never got to see them again but I'm still listening today!

[@ellabee1858]

Pure magic, could listen to them all day. Hope one day we will hear more from them. They had so much talent.

[@LightweightUK2007]

I’ve seen countless amazing bands live, but I have to say these guys were standout as one of the really great live performances 🙏🏼💚 Love the conveniently placed copy of ‘origin of the species’ on the bookshelf too 💥😉

[@chicanica]

I remember seeing The Low Anthem open for Iron & Wine in 2011 but never heard them before or stayed up to date with them after. Just randomly felt like youtubing them today. Wow how grateful am I for the archives.

[@jimmessina1882]

I saw this beautiful band open for Ray LaMontagne at the Shubert Theater in New Haven, CT a couple years earlier. I bought their album and sheepishly asked for their autographs. Thanks for reminding me of those happy memories ❤

[@honorablebandit]

been loving them since before the flood, and watching this, as somebody who marched in the university marching band with an alto horn, while they turned the alto horn sound into something winsome that speaks to some kind of tone of recovery in This G-D House--as lovely as the cell phone ghost theramin. Thank you, all.

[@anglerud]

This is a wonderful recording. I saw The Low Anthem play a central London pub called the Slaughtered Lamb back in 2009 or so. A basement venue with a bunch of sofas - and like this recording, it felt so intimate - like they we'd just wandered into their living room when they'd decided play. Over a decade and many, many outings later, and it's still one of the best gigs I've been to.

[@dobees]

I saw these guys, unintentionally, at a folk music festival. My friend and I were walking by one of the smaller stages they were playing on and stopped to hear the haunting sounds that were coming from the stage. The Low Anthem blew us both away! I'm glad to see this performance as it prompted me to check out their newer stuff.

[@timmarshall7903]

Just right for a morning coffee and this mood. The recent home Tiny Desks just show how good your ‘Studio’ sound is! Thanks, engineer....

[@mikerphone.]

This was from a decade ago. Not bad though huh? They didn't have nearly the recording set up then that they do now.

[@stephenearnshaw6198]

Great band. Hypnotic sound.

[@Madhukirtan]

I still have their videos on my Vimeo account! 12 years ago... They are great!!!!

[@Dlorisumbridge3887]

That phone bit was so mad omggggg

[@emilyyoung4556]

saw them live at my school years ago and they had the whole audience do it - it was incredible

[@mikerphone.]

@@emilyyoung4556 That's awesome. What school? I wonder if they're still touring. Not now of course but i mean in general.

[@phewd]

The Origin of the Species conspicuously placed behind 'em ❤❤

[@donnienewcomer]

This was the first Tiny Desk I ever watched❤️❤️

[@zarniwoopb6078]

There is so much good music to find here

[@mikerphone.]

Welcome.

[@deadassandbeyond798]

Saw this lovely band when they opened for Dallas Green in Vancouver B.C. 8 years back! Still shook by the musicianship.

[@tomas5376]

Wow! Bring them back! Love the vibe.👍✌️😊🙏🏼🎶🎵🎶🎵

[@mortenrollsen271]

No idea why this doesn't get any views. It's beautiful. Talking about not enough views. A Tiny Desk (Home) Concert with Mandoline Orange would be great.

[@cholst1]

Remember seeing them in europe on the Charlie Darwin tour in a tiny venue. It was absolute magic.

[@AdrianDunevein]

This music is timeless it will be loved just as much in another 100 years

[@gustavundgerlinde]

Wow! Because of the thumbnail I thought they would be a brass band, then totally surprised by their amazing relaxedness. And this crazy use of mobile phones, good idea 💡

[@simonr5171]

Fantastic band. I try and see them every time they come to the UK.

[@samyrakotoniaina]

Sad stuff. And that phone trick is legendary!

[@Tjanuka]

I've experienced them twice in Denmark and both times were small intimite concerts. They are a gift from god. Wow what an amazing experience!!!

[@slicewoodfirepizza]

Low anthem are absolutely magic , I named my son after their song Charlie Darwin ❤

[@kyuhyunsax]

I love your warm acoustic sound. 😍

[@pennypocket5463]

So Beautiful.

[@rolandborch4873]

Simply beautiful !

[@tiferetrose7527]

I love the flip phones!! Such a throw back!

[@lucylincoln3285]

Just beautiful.

[@abaneyone]

What a unique trio! Love Tiny Desk exposes me to music that I'd probably never discover on my own!

[@leonardoalvarez1172]

Thanks NPR for this gift from the archives... 👍 🌟 ❤️

[@stevehilliard1495]

Great thing to wake up to !!

[@photorectoby]

I saw them live twice. Once in New York City and later in a small town in New Hampshire. Good Memories!

[@ahogue88]

Was it in Keene? I brought them for our local radio station WKNH one time.

[@photorectoby]

@@ahogue88 Yes it was :)

[@sylvielopez2686]

Tank you very much to the tiny desk is great place for everyone listen music, great ideas, merci beaucoup

[@manuelme9075]

It never gets old

[@coolbluetoo]

Saw them live on their Salt Doll tour - great stuff!

[@benwilliams2679]

They were my complete favourites first few albums. Can't help but think in recent years they haven't captured this sound.

[@danielbeaumont-thomas6923]

No wait.... did that guy just use two feedbacking phones to create that sound?!?!?! Mind blown

[@zarniwoopb6078]

Beautiful

[@fangofsilver5537]

This was kinda beautiful😊 ..Cool voice as well

[@pennypocket5463]

Oh!..exactly in tune with these sparrows dancing outside!!!!!

[@michaelbender6830]

Amazing.

[@woodsoncircle]

Very well done. 🔥

[@nicework2]

I’m also loosing my mind in this house. What a great song.

[@TheBillyDWilliams]

The cell phones made me so nostalgic for 10 years ago...

[@generaljellyroll8737]

Well done. Differently pick up a vibe

[@sweetgoose]

does anyone know the name of the small brass instrument the singer plays?

[@zbaze]

i came here looking for that answer...

[@BradTaylorBass]

Hey random person scrolling down the comments.......... Have a great day

[@jameshollywood8394]

Brad Taylor I hope you have a great day too! Your simple comment brightened mine!!

[@sammywestenberger9303]

Superman II & IiI Expanded Archival Collection Soundtrack

[@Expe_riencE]

the best

[@skippydinglechalk925]

Please try and get the streets on tiny desk

[@raymondlawson2301]

👏

[@firstspiritualexercises8460]

Loose and sweet

[@돌쌤-y7s]

🥰😷좋다

[@billhdowne2382]

What ever happened to them?

[@adrianfisher7158]

I know it's against the rules, but you should have them back.

[@liafo4420]

Hear me out... Tiny Desk Concert with Sara Bareilles!

[@daironferreira7802]

Show...

[@lick3653]

Never heard of them, but impressed🔥

[@nonamecatter]

🍰

[@empress_josie]

I really some of the ideas for instrumentation, especially the phone trickery lol, but I feel like everything was sort of hastily put together and was a bit of a mess in execution. That being said, this was from a while ago, so I'll see if they have improved on their ideas :) thank you for the introduction yet again, NPR!

[@orangepuffs6796]

This is not Vulfpeck.

[@diaspo]

You're worse than covid19

[@NANA-tz7ep]

LOL