If you’re anything like me, when you find something you like, you stick to it. Ever since discovering eggs benedict, I can count on one hand the times I’ve gotten another dish at any given breakfast or brunch. Two years ago, I found black combat boots that match everything, so I wear them almost every day. Every time I go to Cafe Opus on my college campus, I stare at the menu for ages before giving up and ordering the same thing as always: a small Americano with a shot of hazelnut.
Music is, by far, my ultimate kryptonite. When I started and finished my Spanish Literature research paper in a marathon thirteen-hour binge freshman year, I listened to nothing but “Believe” by Mapei on repeat. During finals week sophomore year, I made a playlist to help me get through the tidal wave of exams and papers. The only song on it was “You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor. In Madrid last semester, I discovered the new Florence and the Machine album and proceeded to listen to those same eleven songs on repeat until I flew back to the states (and even after, if I’m being honest).
I’ve been told there are people like me. In which case, I am your sister in solidarity. Also, you’re probably not as bad as I am, so now you can feel better about yourself and your bad musical habits. In any case, let today be your day to discover new music instead of listening to the same tunes over and over. Here I’ve compiled a little list of live performances of songs that make my heart sing (pun absolutely intended).
If you don’t know what the NPR Tiny Desk Concerts series is, you’ve been living under a lonely, lonely rock. The NPR music channel on YouTube has been putting out mini “concerts,” usually about three or four songs long, of selections picked by solo artists, duos, full bands, etc. A Tiny Desk Concert typically runs for about 14-20 minutes, and has surprisingly good audio quality considering it was literally recorded at a desk in an office. The range of artists invited to the “studio” is diverse: from Adele, to Death Cab for Cutie, to a powerhouse all-female Mariachi band based out of NYC. The warm, intimate setting facilitates some really creative and comfortable renditions. Somewhere between flawless studio quality and a raw, live performance, the Tiny Desk Concerts series delivers in the best possible way. These are two of my favorite performances:
I fondly think of KEXP Seattle as the more alternative cousin of NPR Music. Similar to the Tiny Desk Concerts, KEXP puts out multiple-song sets, called “full performances.” The main difference here is they’re usually 10 minutes or so longer than a Tiny Desk Concert, or artists perform individual songs instead of a full concert. Additionally, KEXP seems to bring in more hipster names, if you will, like Grimes, alt-J, and FKA Twigs, among others. If you’re looking to broaden your music taste, fool around on the KEXP YouTube channel and see what you can find; that’s how I discovered one of my now favorite bands, CHVRCHES. Below are some single song performances I love, including one by my actual favorite band, The Antlers (and my favorite song of all time, "Slow It Down" by The Lumineers):
Florence and the Machine - "Cosmic Love"
The Lumineers - "Slow It Down"
3. Contemporary Female Ballads with Black & White Live Music Videos
This last one isn’t a real category, but it’s important nonetheless. My favorite live performances recently just so happen to have black and white music videos, which I found cool and deserving of a spot in this article.
Lucius and San Fermin are just excellent in general; give them a listen.
The takeaways from all of this are simple: live music can be infinitely better than the studio version, new favorite songs are waiting around every corner, and nobody’s perfect (even after preaching all of this, I’ve been listening to "Fire Meet Gasoline" by Sia for the past week).
Go forth and discover.
