The War On Drugs: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

13:20

Tom Jones: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

03:59

Enrique Iglesias - Por Amarte - (Visualizer)

06:05

The War On Drugs - Change (LYRICS)

17:18

Lightspeed Champion at SXSW 2008

02:53

GAYLE - sleeping with my friends (visualizer)

19:28

The Flaming Lips: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

516,752 views

The War On Drugs: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert with tags npr, npr music, national public radio, live, performance, tiny desk, tiny desk concert, tony desk, tiny concert

The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music's Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. It's the same spirit — stripped-down sets, an intimate setting — just a different space.

Maia Stern | November 1, 2021

In their Tiny Desk (home) concert, The War On Drugs gather in their packed studio in Burbank, CA to let us in on the fun and intricate inner workings of their craft. After opening the show with “I Don’t Live Here Anymore,” which shares the same title as their new album, frontman Adam Granduciel introduces the band and asks if anybody has a capo. Suddenly a very thoughtfully crafted tiny desk with drumsticks for legs (and topped with a tiny lamp too!) slowly lowers down into the space, delivering said capo. Granduciel smiles, and the group continues with three more tracks from the new record: “I Don’t Wanna Wait,” “Old Skin,” and “Change.”

Although the band’s big sound is fit to fill an arena, we’re lucky to get to hear it reverberating in this cozy setting. The War On Drugs’ fifth album, released Oct. 29, presents new songs that feel familiar and true to their sound. Originally based in Philadelphia, PA, the band’s members are now spread out across the country, but they came together to jam, demo, and ultimately record this album as a kindred unit.

The new songs are about reconnection, change, and uncertainty. This line from the title track resonates with me in the context of the daily unknown the pandemic has brought: “Time surrounds me like an ocean / My memories like waves / Is life just dying in slow motion / Or getting stronger everyday.” There’s beautiful tension and a lot of joy in these classic ballads.

SET LIST

"I Don't Live Here Anymore"

"I Don't Wanna Wait"

"Old Skin"

"Change"

MUSICIANS

Adam Granduciel: vocals, guitar

Dave Hartley: bass, backing vocals

Charlie Hall: drums

Anthony LaMarca: guitar, backing vocals

Robbie Bennett: keyboards

Jon Natchez: saxaphone, keyboards