Tiny Desk Meets SXSW: Yard Act

Every year, NPR Music participates in the SXSW music festival, whether it's curating a stage or simply attending hundreds of shows at the annual event in Austin, Texas. In 2020, the festival was canceled due to the pandemic, but it returned last March as an online festival. We programmed a virtual "stage" of Tiny Desk (home) concerts in 2021 in a series called Tiny Desk Meets SXSW. This year we return again, virtually, with another round of Tiny Desk Meets SXSW: four videos filmed in various locations, all of them full of surprises.
Bob Boilen | March 21, 2022
Before the English band Yard Act set foot on stage at the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge, England, the band set up its instruments in the green room and performed this Tiny Desk (home) concert. It’s a fitting location for the band from Leeds, which has around 70 shows lined up to celebrate its debut album The Overload including the SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas. Yard Act’s music is filled with brash sounds aimed at capitalism, equality, or lack thereof, and all done with both venom and humor.
Jay Russell’s drum machine sits on a tiny table and kicks off the song, with Ryan Needham’s simple bassline and Sam Shjipstone’s guitar tones setting the backdrop for James Smith’s narrations. “Rich” is our opener, a song that James Smith wrote imagining a world where one might actually make music for a living. James Smith told me that it was a kind of “hypothetical exercise in what I’d do if all of a sudden I had a lot of money, as someone who’s never had money and never expected to.” The lyrics humorously imagine the song being used in Hollywood films where the protagonist gets rich, and in turn making James rich. It’s a searing, tongue-in-cheek look at capitalism and our money-obsessed culture, a theme that takes different forms through different characters in this wry and compelling five-song set.
SET LIST
“Rich”
“Payday”
“Land Of The Blind”
“Fixer Upper”
“100% Endurance”
MUSICIANS
James Smith: vocals
Samuel Shjipstone: guitar
Ryan Needham: bass
Jay Russell: drum machine
CREDITS
Video: Jonny Ridout
Audio: Pete Flinton, Jay Russell
Recorded at the Trades Club green room, Hebden Bridge
TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bob Boilen
Video Producer: Joshua Bryant
Audio Mastering: Josh Rogosin
Tiny Production Team: Bobby Carter, Kara Frame, Maia Stern, Ashley Pointer
Executive Producer: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann
#nprmusic #tinydesk #yardact

[@DGlesterHadunkichud]

That 200 year old steam train worker gets such class sounds out of that telecaster

[@DanikThomas]

Listening to James change it up and just having fun with it, really cool. It makes it so much more worth it to see them perform live, and the recordings are just a bookmark to the transformative, where they will go.

[@mhbackman]

100% Endurance is one of my fav songs of the year so far. Existential alien-first-contact angst.

[@Brightfreeman23]

Can’t wait

[@jonnall9668]

I've watched this hundreds of times already. It's my favorite thing they've ever done.

[@nasmithist]

It's nearly as good as the Anker competition they won in Germany !

[@Kinghenhog39]

Love NPR Tiny Desk I always discover new favorite music from here and now Yard Act has joined that list. Love the themes and sound and the smooth awesome beats & vocals very Cake meets Tune Yards meets LCD Soundsystem imo.

[@edzielinski]

Total pros, and they deliver with such suave confidence. They are on my list for bands that I must see live.

[@foolsgold953]

Alan Partridge meets John Cooper Clark meets The Fall .... Sublime 😎👌🏼

[@mandyworthington24]

Add Gang of Four

[@Postpunk-cx1ph]

These boys are the gold standard live.

[@cityboy9301]

I love these . I saw them 4 weeks ago tonight in Nottingham England. Tiny venue and brilliant....I'm Graham bye the way.

[@mrchuffy6535]

Hi Graham

[@cmpc724]

Are you related to Steve Bytheway by any chance?

[@cityboy9301]

@@cmpc724 no but I know who you mean didn't he marry Lucy Azitappens ?

[@alleluiacone26]

Love these songs!!! Grooving along in Philadelphia, thanks NPR and all!

[@mistertimz]

It’s like a blend of , and ! It’s really !

[@julezthealien2467]

Were you going to say at least one of those is Cake?

[@garynealmccracken]

@@julezthealien2467 I hear a little Red Hot Chile Peppers at times- They have a fresh, cool sound - but bass player is no Flea.

[@Swanr123]

Seeing them in Kentish Town in December. Not been this obsessed with a band since Idles released brutalism.

[@CarlosIriartePalacios]

I'm a new fan of you from Marcelo Bielsa's Argentina. Thanks for the music!

[@dehope6247]

Love the version of Fixer upper!! Love it 😊

[@matthewallen1491]

Thank you, NPR. This is great! Seen these guys a couple times (virtually) this last week. Was already a fan, but you can really appreciate them even more in a live setting. Cheers

[@jm76vd]

Yard Act is so brilliant and insane..Their music speaks to me

[@NoelSufrin]

Definitely my fav "Act" of 2023. The fact that these guys have carved out such an instantly recognizable style - yet no two songs sound alike blows my mind. 🤯

[@lennyvee5735]

Absolutely love these guys.

[@cdeane56]

They owe the Fall some thanks. Mark would like this

[@skaustin_]

This is wild. I just heard this band a few days ago on CPR (Colorado public radio) and really dug their sound. Then bame here they are on TD, love this so much! Thank you!!! ❤️❤️

[@kldornfeld6437]

Here I am in CO and watching this randomly

[@davidjmckinney]

Getting a real LCD Soundsystem vibe.

[@mfreder7]

This is crazy good. Next time I hop the pond I'll have to see them! ❤🔥

[@monicaspector2388]

I absolutely love this performance.

[@user-MilaMarch1212]

Thank you very much.

[@anathimaliwa]

Right up my alley 🔥🔥

[@fridayrichie1274]

This is beautiful ❤️

[@hipchicagal2111]

Totally cool! Reminds me a bit of an updated version of the Talking Heads and Cake. Love these guys!

[@allelopath]

Cake + Hip-hop / LCD

[@maryclement2594]

@@allelopath fair, but I would say LCD is extremely influenced by Talking Heads...so you're both correct! haha

[@mikeprichinello2683]

Loved that.

[@jonjingleheimerschmidt5153]

KZbin's recommendation engine brought me here... and it's like one of the first times I've ever thought "omg, THANK YOU, recommendation engine... this is GREAT!"

[@JoshBrown1996x]

Love it

[@alejandroheres3216]

what a beauty

[@paulwaring7215]

At first I thought he was John Cooper Clark.... Brilliant.. Both. Refreshing.. 🕺

[@tommoreels3890]

Wow. Pure class

[@szymondudzinski6661]

The "they played it on a loop" part in 100% Endurance is brilliant! He does it live!?!?!

[@Luke-cecilpod]

So ike Gang of Four & that’s a compliment totally beautiful.x

[@blockontherock69]

‘Bout time!...sleaford,monkeys,cockeresque...you’ve touched me or was that just a dream?!...luv it,poetry in motion!.

[@tonysherman5649]

Oh my god yes lad

[@nockee]

Looking forward to seeing these guys in San Francisco next month.

[@cityboy9301]

You won't be disappointed.

[@tlcrf80mins73]

Very, very, very, very, very good!

[@seleneavalle1207]

Excelente 👏👏

[@patriciacollier128]

Fantastic 🎉

[@maxwellmichaelangelo]

A magical moment indeed ladies and gentlemen.

[@foundbythesea]

Good stuff! Love James deep voice!

[@TheRealMageCore]

Dope set

[@Leotique]

nice ! love yard act

[@user-ek5zi9cd9x]

アタシが通りすぎてきた諸々の｢音｣の現在形だな。かっこイイよ。

[@harmonleon9955]

This is my favorite band at the time which is now

[@plop202]

Top, brilliant....

[@deggstoid]

All of this is brilliant but the bass on Fixer Upper is just *chefskiss*

[@massnebassne6626]

jesus christ this is brilliant

[@Oldmanlearnguitar]

I can’t wait I’m seeing them tomorrow night in a 600 person club in Philly ❤

[@Honeyapplepear]

This is so satisfying.

[@rockerj881]

Just got into these guys from being on the FIFA soundtrack. This hit at the perfect time

[@mamieacrie2324]

I love the drum beat. Yazzzzzzz

[@tomcraig7590]

YES

[@BossQueen]

Over the past 10 years, even with the help of working at tower records, I've learned about different types of music and this, this is cool.🎶

[@jaynalarealtor]

veryyyy cool band

[@Menutra]

Still watchin'

[@adrianaspalinky1986]

Enjoyed your company

[@guilhermecarvalhodarosa]

Totally eggcelent!

[@AKAtAGG]

cut it with 100% endurance. Amazing.

[@serpex77]

These guys remind me of Audio Bullyz. Nice sound . Fresh.

[@lankershim.]

SET LIST 0:00 Rich 4:00 Payday 7:17 Land Of The Blind 10:42 Fixer Upper 14:50 100% Endurance

[@andrewmackenzie8817]

Liverpool gave the world: John Paul George & Ringo Leeds* now give us: Ryan James Sam & Jay *though I don't think any of them are actually from Leeds

[@wyndgrove9452]

Flippin' great

[@brianyore7031]

Just deadly.

[@Neil-Aspinall]

Like The Gang of Four, Yard Act could only come from the UK

[@ac8598]

From the same City too, Leeds!

[@mandyworthington24]

Oh yes..gang of 4 x

[@Neil-Aspinall]

@@mandyworthington24 I find that essence rare that's what I look for!

[@InWalkedBud752]

Wish I had a third of James' charisma

[@jasonnn2284]

They all look like Moshe Kasher variants. Good music, too.

[@artisfalkner3998]

You and Sleaford Mods should go on tour with LCD Soundsystem. Yer the best new band I've heard in ages.

[@Badgah619]

Love the version of fixer upper didn't expect that

[@alystair]

Good stuff. For whatever reason my mind keeps bringing me back to "B-T-K - Peppy Rock", although very different there's some similar tonality.

[@TheLivirus]

This is weirdly catchy!

[@aniaczarnecka1620]

Fixer Upper is still my fav

[@duartelisboa]

Again NPR increasing my musical portfolio

[@luckyears735]

The US loves YA

[@megankuehn5957]

doesn't he want to take his coat off and stay a while? 🤣 love the vibe. very "cake goes to the UK"

[@MattG1027]

100% Endurance is the song of the 2020’s so far (for me).

[@cjsmith5115]

I need this version of Fixer Upper on Spotify

[@herrvierkoetter]

Yard Act you're 'ArtistsForFuture', what ever kind of future it will be and for whom ... Rebel for life, Rebel for Love!

[@johnnystorm1714]

Winner

[@Flake_Live]

Please, post in Spotify this version

[@dipp4367]

sounded like CAKE!

[@jackcorker132]

I clicked on a gout advert

[@maryburke5423]

I’m so sorry. 😂

[@meredrums1]

Stay strong.

[@deinemuttiband]

💯☮🌼

[@Marcel-yt8ov]

NPR Music, we need Charlie Parr for a Tiny Desk Concert!

[@tecnoyonki]

Any idea which drum machine is Jay using?

[@timknight4769]

Courtesy of Leeds

[@lilmac4202]

Thank you Fifa

[@supasmutty4243]

Do they have any other vids with a drum machine?

[@alexaguila7750]

I thought this was John Dwyer for a sec lol

[@MelanieBush1989]

why was I CERTAIN that it was Charlie McDonnel on the thumbnail lol

[@JJCGE]

Oh my god. That name is a blast from the past!

[@rubengovers]

Anyone know which type of drum machine this is?

[@pierrelorcyresoneo9020]

Looks like Marc Rebillet's voice

[@andgainingspeed]

Add a horn and I'm hearing an English Cake. 🤔

[@julezthealien2467]

TOTALLY

[@melthed4306]

It appears they have become rad

[@richardgriffiths6823]

It's like John Cooper Clarke joined The Fall...

[@BossQueen]

Rich and fixer upper remind me of D.C..

[@daveyjones72]

How would I describe Yard Act? How about an eclectic mash up of Franz Ferdinand, Cardiacs and The Streets! 😎

[@Lagrangeify]

Very apt. With a pinch of LCD Soundsystem and Pulp 😎

[@lstyeveng3331]

Okay. Modern Pulp raps