Future Islands: Tiny Desk (Home) 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.

Bob Boilen | January 25, 2021
It's been 10 years since the band Future Islands performed its first Tiny Desk concert. Now its four members are gathered not too far from their Baltimore base in Carroll Baldwin Memorial Hall, sans desk. "We lost the desk," singer Sam Herring tells us with a smile. With drummer Michael Lowry on the tiny stage, the rest of the band — including bassist William Cashion and Gerrit Welmers on electronics — took to the floor, allowing Sam Herring to make his moves and sing his heart out. This music is clearly for the head and the feet.

The songs are from their sixth and very recent album, As Long As You Are. Along with themes of loneliness and love, we also hear songs about race, which is most evident in "The Painter," a song about how we can all look at the same thing and see it so differently. We end with a song that came out shortly after visiting NPR in 2011 called "Balance." It's one of those tunes that feels repurposed for the 2020s: "This is a song for anybody who's struggling through their lives," Sam Herring says, "and I know there are a lot of you all out there, just trying to get by, but it's going to take a little bit more time."

SET LIST
"Hit the Coast"
"The Painter"
"Thrill"
"Balance"

MUSICIANS
Sam Herring: vocals
William Cashion: bass
Gerrit Welmers: keyboards
Michael Lowry: drums

CREDITS
Video: Marisa Gesualdi
Audio: Steve Wright of Wright Way Studios
Director: Marisa Gesualdi
Director of Photography: Jake DeNicola
Cameras: Jake DeNicola, Hil Steadman, Marisa Gesualdi
Engineer: Paul Mercer
Monitors Engineer: Matthew Ricchini
Covid-19 Compliance Officer: Tosha Potter
Covid-19 Compliance Assistant: Jerry Potter
Production Assistant: Melany Rochester

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bob Boilen
Video Producer: Maia Stern
Audio Mastering: Josh Rogosin
Associate Producer: Bobby Carter
Tiny Production Team: Kara Frame, Morgan Noelle Smith
Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

[wiseguy]

Oh I love this band. The singer gives it his all in every performance.

[DerekWrites]

Sam Herring performing with the same intensity for an empty room as he would for a full crowd.

[grego]

The most unassuming yet legendary frontman! So much passion and artistry.

[Dave-xhoc]

Some people want to watch the world burn, I just want to watch Sam dance.

[rishi]

future islands are transcendental, painful, beautiful, anarchic, joyous, sunshiney all at the same time xx

[ipsilonia]

balance is such a beautiful song. "but trust me as a friend, that i'll do all that i can do... and i'd do anything for you because i want to see you through" sometimes i'll sing that to myself during my most difficult moments. ya gotta be an encouraging friend to YOURSELF sometimes. i'm so glad they ended the set with that record.

[danielbaker]

Hit the coast is one of the most underrated songs of 2020

[droppinhammerz]

If you ever have the chance to see them live, I implore you to go. the passion that sam brings and gives is absolutely unreal. You will not regret it.

[michaelswinford]

I saw this band by accident on Stephen Colbert. I'm so very happy I didn't turn it off and go to bed. I am now officially obsessed. I don't think there is a way to pinpoint what their magic is, nor should I try to do so. Their music, the amazing vocals all stir something inside that I may have forgotten about.

[NObucketLIST]

Sam has the soul of an 80s/90s new wave rocker. This band and his antics connect! 😎

[PentameronSV]

0:00 - *Hit the Coast* (3:52)
4:32 - *The Painter* (9:13)
9:46 - *Thrill* (14:04)
14:25 - *Balance*
[18:18 - Tiny Desk team]

[HumanBeingWithFeelings]

After having listened to them for a few years during a very intense time of my life full of changes, challenges, etc, I finally had the privilege of seeing them live and I must admit it was extremely hard to hold my tears.( I wanted to hold them because I knew if I started it would be difficult to stop.) Their music helped me get through some tough times, it always feels like a hug from a good friend. *Long live Future Islands*

[EJulia]

As a child of the 80s, I hear my beloved, dreamlike, new wave music I would listen to for hours, come alive with this band. The raw emotion and just pure talent of this band blows me away :)))). Thank you

[Seanshun]

I really love Future Islands. I can listen to them forever.

[tsjordan]

One of my favorite bands. Sam Herring voice is so unique and just captivating. I could listen to him all day.

[thenightrises]

Future islands music will be with me till the day I die.

[chenkelelopes]

This is the most epic Dad band ever created.

[brentj.peterson]

My musical tastes run the gamut from metal to blues to country..I have NEVER heard a band or sound quite like this. It's soothing and mesmerizing. You cannot look away from Sam's heartfelt performance.. adding the bass hook and dreamy synths...wow.

[Matsbh]

The reverb in that old dance hall makes me shiver. So right for the vibe of this band. <3

[countbacula]

I had heard a few of their songs and thought they were pretty decent, and then on a whim went to see them live and was absolutely blown away. Incredible artist.