This Is The Kit: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Dec. 19, 2017 | Bob Boilen -- Effortless storytelling is at the heart of This Is The Kit. And the stories the band's only permanent member, Kate Stables, weaves are profound but sweet with a tone that quietly reels you in.
"Bullet Proof" is the opening song at the Tiny Desk - and the opening track on her fourth album, Moonshine Freeze - a song that sees the darkest challenges in life as a way to begin again. "Everything we broke today/Needing breaking, anyway," Kate Stables sings as she's picking on her banjo with tides of percussion and bass flowing in. It takes two minutes before the perfectly punctuated guitar hits but completely worth the wait.
That gradual unfolding is the strength of these songs and this band. "Moonshine Freeze," the last one they perform at the Tiny Desk, is the title track to the new album produced by John Parish. It's a song taken from a children's clapping game: Say "moonshine" three times, then freeze. But the song takes these images deeper, looking at patterns in the repetitive words, specifically patterns of three, which in Kate's mind forms a triangle or a delta and it just gets deeper.
Lovers of Sufjan Stevens will appreciate the gentle ways Kate Stables can touch a heart with a song. And the band she plays with here is tightly in touch with how best to support these tunes.
Set List
"Bullet Proof"
"Hotter Colder"
"Moonshine Freeze"
MUSICIANS
Katherine Stables, Rosalind Leyden, Jamie Whitby-Coles, Noil Smith, Adam Schatz, Jonah Parzen-Johnson
CREDITS
Producers: Bob Boilen, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Bronson Arcuri, Alyse Young; Production Assistant: Salvatore Maicki; Photo: Jennifer Kerrigan/NPR
For more Tiny Desk concerts, subscribe to our podcast: www.npr.org/po...

[@timytimeerased]

Man the number of people disrespecting Kate Stables in the comments. If you're looking for voice range, go listen to Celine Dion. She's writing her songs, and she's got an incredible voice because it feels real and full of emotion. You just need that, nobody cares about how many notes you play on guitar or how wide is your voice's range if the feeling isn't there. This is the kit is freakin great and sounds different because of her and the band.

[@ruthieboots4325]

Great comment

[@glynnwadeson5605]

Couldn’t agree more

[@lutrellee1457]

Yes! Her intriguing story telling with beautiful rolling melodies, it’s so special. They will always be in my favourite bands exactly for this.

[@adamgardiner5869]

Just discovered her...fantastic! could agree more with u

[@goldbluetears]

i have not seen a single negative comment and yes she is absolutely fantastic!

[@johnnybeezwax22]

Not only is their music fabulous, but they are genuinely wonderful people too. I used to play at the Railway open mic night in Winchester back in the day and I was always in awe of them then. I'm so glad they're doing so well, because they worked hard and have so much talent. I love and miss Roz & Kate and Roz's bro Sam very muchly :)

[@EmbraceTehMartian]

Her vocals are so clean damn

[@tonalidadesdecian]

This is one of my most most favourite bands. I've seen them at least 4 times... the first time was in a church in north london, maybe hamstead some years back. Kate's magical voice captured every crevice, and church acoustics are so sweet. Thanks for this lovely recording. Tiny Desk 4eva

[@DavorMatosevic]

What a magnificent band. I have recently discovered them on Spotify and seeing how good they translate their music in the live setting makes me discover more of their music and fully immerse into exploring their sound. Greetings from Bosnia. ❤

[@kubrix1222]

I love Kate Stables so much

[@stephengraham1430]

Just saw them this week in Newcastle... mesmerising!!!!

[@robharwood-stamper9857]

Can't emphasise enough how much I love this band. What a breath of fresh air

[@Myriadis]

Bout time they got to play there, thanks NPR! Great band, saw them last month in Luxembourg. Her album Wriggle out the Restless is really good, with "Earthquake" being my favorite song.

[@5k33k]

Fun fact! This is actually the 3rd time Adam Schatz (the saxophonist) has been on a Tiny Desk! He was on Father Figures back in 2013 and was actually on earlier in 2017 with Landlady!

[@CiaraColette]

I love this band, I love the simplicity and innocence in their sound. I love that Kate is so natural in the way she presents herself. So inspiring. Love. ♥️

[@glynnwadeson5605]

Never heard Kate S before, but will be following! What superb recording quality though, NPR you are magic!

[@michelleeper]

If Katherine Stables wasn't a musician she'd 100% be a kindergarten teacher.

[@whiteyfisk9769]

Miss Lippy from Billy Madison?

[@kishosoundandvision]

1st song is so pretty ...so real ... takes me back to my childhood...love it....amazing

[@beenumb]

one of the few channels that never disapponts

[@damonbilling7746]

I'm not reading 200 comments but if you can't hear the complexity of what she is doing with her voice, record yourself and compare and listen how far off you are. The irony is that the entire song of Moonshine Freeze is talking about what she and the band are doing. If you don't like her stylistically, that is agreeabley, is one thing but if you can't hear the complexity of the music, and the vocals, you can't possibly have a creative background, where' you've attempted to bring spirit into the physical realm.

[@leo959]

this actually sounds like good music

[@emeraldstrange]

Just gorgeous ❤

[@Giselle62]

I'm really into voices and i know what i like immediately---just heard her for first time on "Wanderlust" on Netflix. she does remind me of different things i've known; kind of a combination of early 70's folk and some stripped down British post-punk i useta listen to. first scritti politti album?

[@Giselle62]

real early scritti politti and they have the Rough trade connection!

[@JF-kv1gm]

Loving this set!!! 😊💗👏

[@joopsteur8162]

Quality, I like it.

[@ronbrown5818]

Her vocals seem quite similar to Joni Mitchell's. Before seeing who this was, I thought I was transported back in time.

[@umalong2867]

I totally agree omg!!

[@renegadebond6268]

All these amazing artists. WE NEED FRANK OCEAN!!

[@SayAnise]

Love her!

[@brantub]

Woah! This Is The Kit!

[@alexmajo2216]

2017 coup de coeur !!!

[@LucrCiaffa96]

please invite Peach Pit to have a tiny desk concert, i'd love to see them play live in this location!

[@joannenorman9617]

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Cool7Songs]

Tremendous!

[@keithjb100]

Cool as .

[@dlozanothornton]

missed a trick by not having rozi plain on... excellent stuff!

[@Drabee]

dlozanothornton for reels

[@shanetaylor8471]

I want to give this another thumbs up but I can't. It won't let me. So I'll type it * Thumbs Up! * :)

[@daveelvin1440]

Vocals on a shotgun mic?? Sounds awesome.

[@yandhi5016]

ya should get Mac DeMarco!! I´d be dope!!

[@Luisperez-sp2pm]

Son la mera verga, los amo, saludos desde México. ♥️♥️♥️

[@Interzone16]

can anyone telll me what chords shes playing in moonshine freeze? please

[@dominicpuckett470]

Isn't that Tenor sax player the singer from Landlady?

[@mauriciocastro6744]

I had that same thought too. Adam Schatz is credited in the description, it's definitely him!

[@tinybobboilen]

yes, Adam Schatz

[@teanatoast]

very pleasing insect trust

[@snowbullet2500]

Joyce Minor in a Tiny Desk Concert please

[@Emi7Carol]

Is Padre Pio a pop icon already???

[@JM-bg2ts]

Does anyone else get reminded of the joke Indy band comp on the show Portlandia

[@matiasbran1]

Next artist, Reggie Snow!!!!!!!!

[@samueldegrandi4125]

so, that's a 6 string bajo or a normal 5 one? why the hell the headstock looks like a guitar one but i juat see 5 strings?

[@FiddlerSteve]

It's a "zither banjo"! It has 6 tuning pegs but one is redundant, and the drone string goes through a tunnel from the headstock, instead of having a separate tuning key up the neck. They were originally made back in the late 1800s

[@samueldegrandi4125]

FiddlerSteve wow, thanks for the lesson, that was really clarifying :v

[@sametzweiler2630]

FiddlerSteve thanks steve

[@manuelorrego3314]

Please bring Jhonny Dee!!!

[@68020845865]

First time I haven't hated a banjo

[@-Pol-]

It's a little known vintage English style banjo called the Zither-Banjo. All the rage in the late 19th century - King Edward VII played one!

[@jessicarabbit2989]

How does one get a gig on NPR?

[@jesseconradson9673]

What is the bass Rozi Plain is using??

[@brackishband9193]

It's a Kay

[@FINcousins]

GET FRANK OCEAN ON HERE

[@fenixman12]

Please BROCKHAMPTON

[@sebastiancrowe2586]

what guitar is she using?

[@unitthree3282]

a Hobner.

[@nataroonytrontime3976]

@@unitthree3282 ah wow. Such a lovely sound

[@boykillshorse]

New to me.. Love them really cool tunes..

[@andrewrangel3074]

get standing on the corner

[@phillipkarnehm7712]

Good you finally Unleashed that saxophone dog

[@joeturnpenny2356]

Hey npr get marlon Williams in

[@Febianperez6969]

This is kat

[@stephenfurlong7505]

febian perez with the hat

[@irvineivan]

"moonshine freeze" Rosalind Leyden...nice

[@lucio4e]

please bring lil uzi vert

[@abdulmunye4687]

She can’t be a Gelfling I can’t hear her breathing after every line

[@daveetubac3831]

vulfpeck please

[@thecasualfront7432]

Love this band, apart from that wretched banjo

[@outcast_the_penguin]

Aside from all the hate. I never meet a this is the kit fan irl. Or is there no such thing lol

[@ryanbush942]

Never thought I'd see a shitstained banjo in my lifetime.

[@Adam-ev2hg]

This is the kit are class. It’s British folk at heart. It’s not meant to be polished. It’s folk. It’s British. It’s ours, but to be enjoyed - please embrace and positive vibes only!

[@paule.4563]

finally someone recognizes this beautiful band

[@nnnnsaakadamanas218]

This is absolutely fucking phenomenal. She doesn't need a huge vocal range because she has such wonderful control. Beautiful timbre from the fantastic choice of instrumentation

[@dminus77]

word!

[@JM-bg2ts]

you mean she has extremely limited talent

[@fonzimendoza1979]

JMarz Hahahaha!!

[@nnnnsaakadamanas218]

Thought we got past that ignorant outlook that limited range = limited talent?

[@Jrnelle]

Billie Holiday had a limited range..

[@sametzweiler2630]

The only person with no hair is the only one without a beanie

[@whiteyfisk9769]

Its symbolism

[@AdamCzarnowski]

The guitarist is very, very, very good. It's a measure of how good everyone else is that you can nearly not notice him.

[@pierluigiromagnoli162]

Great lesson from the 80's post-punk guitarists school

[@DVLinden]

Neil

[@josmyth5579]

Smithy❤

[@NesBoi11]

My favorite song by this band is "Bashed out" it's mellow sound set the tone for all of 2019 to me.

[@caitlinrobertson3780]

Yes same! It’s my alarm clock song forever

[@livemusicnyc6357]

every band needs guitarist like this guy > great taste and knowing what song needs, nothing more or less...perfect work.

[@biggoomba2066]

You made me cry, and I don't know why. Maybe the simple beauty.

[@ЯнаАндреева-л6ь]

Me tooo❤

[@ЯнаАндреева-л6ь]

Me too❤

[@abhijit2121]

Same pinch. We can feel it but we can't explain it.

[@lonesomelooch5661]

Love an artist that appreciates the value of space and subtlety.

[@jonnygman6639]

The harmony at 9:20 is 👌😩😫

[@annette00]

favorite band. It's like a shot of fresh and delicious air you breathe once in a while . beautiful

[@adamgardiner5869]

Thank u NPR, just discovered this band, then found they did an NPR tiny Desk!!. This is a good day to be in Quarantine. Hope all of u and yours are safe 'n well.

[@keith-leecastle6700]

I love this woman!....Please,please more people doing something...different.

[@Giselle62]

i know what you mean...

[@milesbaigent4534]

They really are such a fine fine band. Love the sound and the complexity...it's so simple and perfect...brilliant..

[@MrNikkiNoo]

Kate Stables just comes across as a bloody nice person as well as being an amazing talent. And she clearly enjoyed doing this. How good can a thing get?

[@fatyowls]

Bullet proof is magical song, sung with beautiful voice..

[@GardenGirlD76]

I adore This is the Kit!

[@reeves326]

me too! they are just wonderful!

[@joeargen440]

I liked how you let the old guy in the band . That was nice:) .

[@terryoffen6717]

I saw these guys in Oxford in 2019, I was stood behind a really tall bloke wearing a hat; he was having the time of his life and everytime I moved, he moved infront of me! They are a great live band and if you get the chance to see them I'd strongly advise you do. I have tickets to see them in Winchester in Novermber. Giddy as a schoolgirl!

[@johnlawson3256]

Stand in front of him next time. Just an idea.

[@antiwaria3359]

Saw them last night and defo second that

[@kingkook3027]

Love this band so very much. Live they are wondrous. They create an almost magical atmosphere. Go and see them if you can and if you can't, buy all their records and see if you can stop playing them! Much love to this wonderful band.

[@mikep9505]

the sound quality of this is as amazing as the performance itself - joyous stuff - thanks NPR .

[@HappiestSadGuy]

I remember syrup sandwiches..

[@nizzaz]

why the kendrick reference pls i don't get it :'/

[@Disco-Terry]

The rest of the band are trying, but they will never be as cool as jazzmaster guy !

[@SodThisGiveMeABeer]

Check out his other band The Brackish.. absolute nutter!

[@nataroonytrontime3976]

That's my guitar teacher!

[@Disco-Terry]

@@nataroonytrontime3976 hah that's awesome

[@neardark7017]

What a band, this was truly beautiful 💜

[@douglaschisholm]

Clean, simple, unpretentious, melodic, atmospheric... Tasty.

[@anuragshanker9696]

One of my fav bands of the 2010s! Awaiting the new record!

[@micgant]

her voice is so smooth

[@limestoneheart]

See them live if you have the chance, absolutely worth it! Although this version of Moonshine Freeze is even better.

[@liz4067]

Amazing..........captivating......thank you!.

[@JamesRone]

Why do I ever read the comments for things I enjoy? What's the matter with me?

[@sabgha]

I’d love to see Sufjan himself brought to a Tiny Desk Concert!

[@tonalidadesdecian]

Oh please please, Sufjan

[@usuariodeyoigo8215]

Cool songs!... Excellent musical group!... Nice performance!...

[@christophegimenez6395]

Great ! What kind of mics are used for vocals ?

[@ElGuitaristo79]

Love it! Another Band discovered thanks to NPR!

[@sirenbrian]

What a treat to find this, thank you for having them on the show - I love these songs and the album is one of my favorites.

[@theescamilla000]

Saw them open for the national and made such an impression... really loving them lately

[@yetidodger6650]

spells set to music x

[@dawidjagusiak]

So glad to see you guys still going strong! Great performance.