Katie Von Schleicher: Tiny Desk Concert

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Katie Von Schleicher: Tiny Desk Concert with tags npr, npr music, national public radio, live, performance, tiny desk, tiny desk concert, tony desk, tiny concert

Elle Mannion | February 5, 2024

I didn't fact check this, but I'm pretty sure this is the first Tiny Desk concert that mentions Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Between performing her lush indie-rock songs, Katie Von Schleicher mentions that she made a Dwayne Johnson zine for her latest record: "I'd like him to be my best friend, if you know him..." she says. There's a wry charm to Von Schleicher's exquisite songwriting, often underscoring its sincerity but never cheapening its quality.

Along with her mighty eight-piece band, Von Schleicher opens the set with "Montagnard People," which is also the opening track on her 2023 album A Little Touch of Schleicher in the Night (yes, that's a nod to Harry Nilsson's A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night). "Honestly, my tight five needs work / To get past hurts, I'm alive," she sings over swinging strings and saxophones, "Watching movies at night / only Dwayne Johnson helps me take that ride."

She and the band pack the biggest punch on the upbeat "Caged Sleep" before grooving through "Cranked." For the final song, "Texas," Von Schleicher takes to the piano; she starts slowly, then the sounds of the band swell to a cinematic crescendo — perhaps one that could soundtrack the next best Dwayne Johnson movie.

SET LIST

"Montagnard People"

"Caged Sleep"

"Cranked"

"Texas"

MUSICIANS

Katie von Schleicher: vocals, guitar, piano

Halsey Harkins: vocals, synthesizer

Stephen Becker: guitar

Nick Jost: bass

Sean Mullins: drums

Nate Mendelsohn: alto saxophone