Sam Amidon & Bill Frisell: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Sam Amidon takes traditional music and makes it his own. He might begin with a traditional murder ballad and then morph it into something of his own, fueled by Bill Frisell's languidly atmospheric guitar, Shahzad Ismaily's minimal but essential percussion and Amidon's own yearning voice. At other times, Amidon weaves his own new tunes into worn, weary, seemingly ageless sagas.

Amidon has been doing this for a long time. In 1998, back when he was 16, NPR aired a story about his Vermont contra-dance band Popcorn Behavior, a group he'd assembled with his friend Thomas Bartlett (a.k.a. Doveman). Sixteen years later, Amidon has made a gorgeous new album, Lily-O, and performed a pair of its songs at the Tiny Desk — followed by "Short Life," from his 2013 album Bright Sunny South. -- BOB BOILEN

Set List
"Blue Mountains" 0:01
"Pat Do This, Pat Do That" 4:57
"Short Life" 10:45

Credits
Producers: Bob Boilen, Maggie Starbard; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Nick Michael, Maggie Starbard; Assistant Producer: Susan Hale Thomas; photo by Susan Hale Thomas

[nielrasmussen]

maybe the best backing any folk singer ever had

[walterquinlan]

I've been listening to Bill Frisell for many years and his work with this trio is one of my favourite things.

[plumeetpixels]

and very discret and humble, this genius of Shahzad Ismaily...

[jonathonmeyer]

That guy playing bass and percussion has such good feel and a delicate touch

[Loganlips]

Exquisite team, Sam Amidon is a bundle of underrated talent..

[brohamhd]

My dad played this song when I was 5 and I loved it and just found it 7 years later

[michaelhockus]

totally amazing, this is a great document, thanks NPR, Sam, Bill and Shahzad

[Com_Truise]

I saw Sam open up for Anathallo in 2009 at the Exit / In. His cover of "O' Death" had people weeping in the crowd. Glad to see he's still putting out music.

[catbutler]

I saw this lineup on tour at Fringe in Philadelphia. I had never heard of Sam Amidon, but I am a massive fan of Bill Frisell. I left the show a fan of Sam Amidon.

[taikoking]

I love to see Bill playing in this kind of setting.

[Sparkles]

I`m not sure what`s better, hearing these guys lock in, sensitively and beautifully.Or Bills gorgeous smile when the band are `in sync` and utterly somewhere else

[bfgivmfith]

I love Tiny Desk Concerts, and this one just took it to the next level for me.  It is not often that you hear a song that grabs your attention for the first time, I just heard three in escalating order!  Thank you!

[francescobertanzetti]

Quanta storia! Quanta musica così eterna, quanto tempo traslato! Un attimo nella verità.

[jwildmanbamf]

Got to see them live at the wolf trap.  Sam is a hell of a lot taller than I thought.  And he does the screaming when he plays wild bill jones too, bill and shahzad just stopped playing after awhile and just looked at him till he ran out of breath.  Great performer

[kckrye]

When I listen to Sam Amidon, I feel like a kid just learning to jump in on a double dutch jump rope session.

[gigglydookie]

I love his stories :) and how he just keeps on going.

[nacienlos]

Man, the way everything just blends in... beautiful.

[thiele.banana]

the end was stunning, i like this raw sound. his voice is very emotional an true

[xthepierrex]

Never heard him before. That was amazing. 

[arana]

Man!! The second song "Pat do this, Pat do that" reminds me of the show "Outsiders" Great music. Love it!