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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ม.ค. 2016
- January 19, 2016 by BOB BOILEN
This immensely talented band from Asheville, N.C., was my favorite discovery at this year's Americana Music Festival. River Whyless builds its music around fiddle, guitar and harmonies, with imagination and textures that set the band apart from many of its acoustic and folk-based peers.
At the Tiny Desk, River Whyless' members used a typewriter for rhythm, a toy piano for whimsy and a harmonium for mood, as well as a gong, multiple odd percussive accents and subtle guitar effects. There are hints of Paul Simon in their inflections and poetic phrasing, and their songs feel fresh and nicely crafted. "Life Crisis" is a song from 2015's self-titled EP, but the others are new to me; here's hoping we'll have a new album in 2016.
River Whyless EP is available now:
iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/album/riv...
Amazon: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
Set List:
"Life Crisis"
"Sailing Away"
"Baby Brother"
Credits:
Producers: Bob Boilen, Morgan Walker; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Walker, Niki Walker, Julia Reihs; Production Assistant: Kate Drozynski; photo by Jun Tsuboike/NPR
For more Tiny Desk Concerts, subscribe to our podcast: www.npr.org/podcasts/510292/ti... - เพลง
Was he hitting F5? Because that was refreshing.
its an effin typewriter no F nos FYI - SO SADLY NOT FUNNY ;-)
LOL....I heard an F11 minor with a Caps Lock vibrato....
Luv it.
so talented. I bet he was writing his doctorate thesis during this performance.
Look, I'm an old punk. I no longer have pointy hair and my sartorial pallet even has some primary colours in it now. But I'm still angry, how could I not be, looking at the way the world is today. And I like music that speaks to that anger: aggressive, raw, and loud.
With that context in mind: Holy hell, River Whyless are great! I have no idea why, but they kicked me right in the feels. Beautiful.
Thanks River Whyless, you sparked up this dreary day. And thanks NPR for bringing them to me.
man, i was thinking how this speaks to me so differently than it does you.. and that's awesome. the raw we certainly agree on, i find it more inviting than aggressive and certainly not loud enough to make one make one whimper upon listening.. plugging into electrics, turning the gain to 20 out of 10 and adding tons of distortion and screaming into the mics might add some aggressive and loud to the sound though LOL
A mesmerizing performance -- how can there be so many, many talented musicians I have never heard of out there? Thank God for Tiny Desk.
Its rediculous how little musicians and singers get paid nower days! So sad to see the male singer hammering away at some freelance typing work as he performs just to make ends meet...so sad.
whats really sad is thet there are teachers out there paying for supplies out of their own pocket to make ends meet. Just so they can give the future of our nation a chance for an education. While sports players, actors, musicians etc. make milloins. dont get me wrong i love music, im a musician myslef. i just think that kids arent getting proper education because there isnt enough funding for them. while you have people getting paid millions because they can throw a football with prestine accuracy.
I bet he can spell "ridiculous" AND "nowadays" (even without spell check)
+David Carter uh oh grammar police alert!
+Andrew Myers I don't know, it looks more like he's calling you out for being a dumbass who thinks he's a smartass
+Andrew Myers I laughed for way to long after reading this. So awesome hahaha
I swear this is one of the best Tiny Desk shows! I watched this video 100x
xoxo
The first song is bloody perfect.
Oh so perfect!
I had this video in my 'Watch Later' playlist for ages. I definitely need a 'Watch Sooner' playlist. Great!
so happy I found this band. that first song was amazing.
and the guitar player is so handsome lol..
Epic first song!
This group is so amazing. Lucky to see them in a setting of about 100 people. They came down to the floor and played in the middle of the crowd for an encore. Opened with "It Aint Me Babe" accapella. Out of this world. Check them out if at all possible.
This Tiny Desk might be my favorite one~
My favorite band on my favorite concert series! LOVE!
The first time I heard this band was on Live From Here ( or maybe it was still Prairie Home Companion back then but I don't think so ), I had turned it onto the show mid song and the sound of them touched something in me so deep I almost drove off the road. I'd never heard a sound like them before...the lyrics, their voices, the instrumentals, I like that they are still mostly undiscovered and can be appreciated by a select few, but at the same time I wish they could be more successful because they deserve to be appreciated by the world at large. They are so brilliant.
Great to see some Asheville representation on the Tiny Desk! Simply beautiful...
Who is the one responsible at NPR for discovering these guys in Asheville? I love you. Thank you for sharing them with us, with me. I love you so much.
Just saw them in Los Angeles at the Troubadour opening for Sarah Watkins. They were fantastic live, completely captured the audience and myself, made me an instant fan. Bought their music at the table on the way out. Can't wait to see them again.
This is so awesome, the typewriter part is so cool.
Amazing!
I saw them play for a group of maybe 40 here in SLC! Despite the low-ish turnout, they played a full set, plus they did a 4-song acoustic encore in this little courtyard space just outside the venue. It was also my second time seeing them...I'm sort of a geek for their stuff lol.
Wow! Best thing I've heard in years. Love the new album and can't stop playing it, will buy everything they release.
Typewriter as percussion. I'm in love.
AMAZING!
Just about every one of their songs I want to listen to makes me want to listen over and over to try to catch nuances or things that I could have missed in their songwriting. I've had the privilege of seeing them live a few times and they have this huge, orchestra-like sound even though there is only four of them. Each song is very well done and that's part of why I think they're so addicting. Such a talented group that are so in tune with each other. Very inspiring every time I listen. Definitely my current favorite.
EXCELLENT!
Since it isn't already listed in the video, the names of the performers are:
Hali Anderson - Vocals/Violin
Ryan O'Keefe - Typewriter/Harmonium/Guitar
Alex McWalters - Percussion
Daniel Shearin - Guitar
Saw these guys live a year ago. Every sound they make sounds perfectly placed and natural while still being totally unique.
The use of the typewriter was very creative! It works so well!
SO well!
such beautiful people..
Best band to begin the day at Newport last year!❤️ them!
guitar player is precious
How is this not viewed a million times. River Whyless....speechless. Each and every time.
They were awesome at the this years Newport Folk Festival!!! They started their set and I was instantly hooked. Hope to see them back at the Fort next year!!!
Wonderful; made me want to leave Florida for Asheville.
Glad these guys are finally getting the publicity they deserve! If you can catch River Whyless live you have to go see them!!! I've been a big fan since Do It To Julia!!!
You guys NEED to get the band Joseph on here. Those three women can harmonize like the angels
I love this and I'm so glad I randomly ran across this performance!
good stuff to float down the river too
Bill Hader straight killin' on drums.
They're amazing! So glad you had them on!
This is SO great, their voices, their chemistry, their lyrical ability!
On the steps of Justice Hall in 2010 i listened to two of you play the most beautiful set ive ever heard on a perfect spring day. You played till twilight. The crips mountain air, the cool grass and your voices weaving through the guitar and violen. Its probably one of my happiest memories and im glad you guys are still playing =)
so I just checked the ITunes Link - and like most of the times - I am disappointed! all these amazing bands here on NPR - and all I want is to find this Kind of energy on their recordings - the live Spirit the passion - but what I find on iTunes is the Same overproduced sh***! Effects - eddits - Layer over Layer of "inspiration"- all mastered way to loud :-(
please Npr-> set up 2 more microphones - let the bands Play a Full show -- publish - and I will buy it all! this is music- this is what sends shivers down my Spine and sometimes tears in my eyes- this is music! do it!
Fully agreed.
Fully agreed.
It's so hard to get the same feel in a recording session surrounded by four walls versus performing for a real live audience surrounded by hungry listeners. Also seeing the performers faces and watching them cut their chest open for the crowd gives these tiny desk concerts such a great intimate setting. I would strongly agree that most bands live performances are much better than listening to their 99 cent songs on iTunes. I love these tiny desk concerts! I've found so many new favorite artists through them.
+Explosionskatze I'm wondering, what stuff of theirs are you listening to? The EP they released a year ago sounds pretty much like live takes, recorded AND mixed in only 4 days (according to the liner notes). I saw them live and they sound almost exactly like the EP. If you're talking about the previous album from 2012, then yes it might be a little overproduced, but I believe that was their first go at it, also with a couple different members. Forgivable in my opinion, especially when you see how much they've grown. Check out the EP and see if you still feel that way. I hope whatever they come out with next is closer to that!
+Explosionskatze Totally agree. I was thinking of suggesting the same thing to NPR myself. The last 3 albums I have bought are as a result of NPR showings but I don't listen to them, I listen on here instead. I just feel better having given some cash their way. It would be great if we could pay for a mixed album from NPR and pick the tracks we want (with or without the talky bits).
Thank you, this is my song for this season nof my life.
That was awesome!
New to me! Love it! What Tiny desk is all about... River Whyless has a new fan...
Love this
SO PERFECT
Oh my word. I love the sound of this recording! I want an impulse response of that tiny desk. It sounds so nice!
i love this song
Life Crisis: 0:00
Sailing Away: 4:51
Baby Brother: 9:30
Que Dios les de todo la fortuna por el tiempo que han pasado para componer esta maravillosa musica.
Beautifully modulated emotional control. I used to play typewriter but had to give up due to broken fingernails. Wonderful rhythm and harmony work.
Pure joy.
I love you! Thanks
wow beautiful
someone got the tabs for the typewriter, its hard to see the right keys hes playing.
+Mathews Barbosa He's just typing out the TH-cam comments in this thread
His A is so sharp it almost sounds like a Q.
I first heard this band for free at Artisphere in Greenville, SC. Great band!
Love it!
love it!
NPR finding the best as usual :)
Loved it, the last song was my favorite!
Refreshing!!
Some of Asheville's finest!
These guys had a really interesting sound, I'll have to check out their ep.
Cool stuff!! Very unique👍🏻👍🏻
the harmonium isn't broken you've just engaged the tremolo function and probably don't know how to turn it off. it's usually activated by a knob, but with your model you may have to open the reed board to take a look at it. it's definitely not broken, tremolo is a standard feature on most harmoniums.
+mindbodylightsound10
yes, this
+mindbodylightsound10 One time after a show, the bass player (playing guitar in the video) was kind enough to show me the harmonium and it is in fact broken. The far right knob (typically the tremolo knob) only works if you pull it out very slightly - otherwise it stops all together. True it's not broken like the fiddle player said, but indeed broken. I imagine she was confused on the specifics and he was too gentlemanly to correct her on video. He's probably more the private-message-type and less the public-ridicule-type... if you get my gist.
great fun ty
"So you're in a band."
"Yes"
"What do you play?"
"Typewriter"
"Wait wut?"
Wow... ♥
Holy crap, I have that exact kind of typewriter. It's a Royal Quiet Deluxe.
Nice!
This shit's so hot it literally just caught my house on fire.
omg genius
The one guy was just trying to finish an article he was typing up and then this band comes into his office. But he was a trooper and kept right on working. Later, they go play in the janitor's closet and get in his way.
WOOOOOWW
this is it chief.
Harambe took one for humanity, yet 30 people couldn't eschew the " dislike " in favor of the search bar. River Whyless is the best act in like, forever.
I can play the typewriter. Damn. Awesome. Definitely awesome.
I don't understand why people in this comment thread are so obsessed with the typewriter. Listen with your ears - not your eyes. It sounds cool, that's probably why they used it. Leave your projections and agendas at home. There are so many interesting sounds being blended here besides a steady quarter note on an unusual percussion instrument. Kudos RW, keep up the good work.
who are the 59 psychopaths downvoting this ridiculously beautiful creation???
it's nice to know if the basketball thing doesn't work out, kevin love has his band right here to fall back on
Neyla Pekarek, Charity Rose Thielen, Halli Anderson
Why is everyone in this band so attractive? it reminds me of that louis ck bit when he talks about how every musician is attractive and he thought there'd be at least one ugly dude with a guitar
Please play in Fresno CA
The thin blonde creature playing the violin is intoxicating.
This would be overbearingly hipster if it wasn't SO DAMN GOOD.
awhn. we arent so bad if you give us a chance.
+Christopher Joseph ain't bad at all imo!
I think every folk band and singers always be interpreted as hipster. Who cares if they produces good musics, right? This band is an excellent example :)
www.ncbrewsmusic.com/Bands.asp This WEEKEND at the NCBrewers and Music Fest, Huntersville, NC!
This is the Tiny Desk Concert i love. Lovely music. Only one question: I hate spiders, please remove
So there was an alternative to playing the triangle at school...
the harmonium isn't broken
🌈😎🌈
Was it my imagination, or did that typewriter sound sexy?
Kevin Love can sing
супер девка мне б такую а то я 43 года без девки живу
whats that thing around her violin?
It's a bandana. Probably put there to rest her chin on.
A bandanna
28 people are soulless and wrong.
I wonder how many young peeps out there have no idea what instrument the dude on the right is playing?
The type writer or harmonium?
Typewriter
This is the most hipster thing I have ever witnessed, no disrespect though. They are amazing musicians.
Jealous
Are you kidding me???