Small desk concert: NPR

On By Littum

MJ LendermanMusic is a little sad, sometimes funny and almost always comforting. He has already played the little desk with indie -rock band WednesdayBut after a star 2024 – a memorable feature on WaxaHhatchee‘s’ right back to it’ and his own solo album, Manning Fireworks – It was time to bring him in to his own set.

His band, usually called MJ Lenderman and The Wind, told us that when they play their songs stripped back like this, they refer to themselves as MJ Lenderman and the breeze. FIDDLE-FORWARD “RIP TORN” AND “YOU DON’T KNOW THE FORM I AM IN” FEELING EXPERIENCED TO THE COVER.

Lenderman’s compelling lyrism and crooked sense of even shines in this performance. On a song drawn from Ghost of your guitar soloDoes he reflect on how he used to think he would be a Catholic priest: “I would never have to worry / about the girls trying to break my heart / all expenses paid / yes i would have made / house would come furnished.

Set list

  • “Wristwatch”
  • “RIP RANED”
  • “Catholic Priest”
  • “You don’t know the form I am in”

Musicians

  • Mj lenderman: vocals, guitar
  • Jon Samuels: Guitar
  • Landon George: upright bass
  • Ethan Baechtold: Piano
  • Colin Miller: drums, background vocals
  • Xandy Chelmis: Dobro, Fele, background vocals

Tiny Desk Team

  • Producer: Elle Mannion
  • Director/Editor: Maia Stern
  • Audio Technical Director: Josh Newell
  • Host/Series Manufacturer: Bobby Carter
  • Videographers: Maia Stern, Kara Frame, Mitra I. Arthur
  • Audio Engineer: Josephine Nyounai
  • Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
  • Photographer: Michael Zamora
  • Tiny Desk Team: Joshua Bryant, Hazel Cills
  • Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
  • Series creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
  • VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins