Shame: 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 | July 30, 2021
The first time I saw shame singer Charlie Steen, he was stripped down to nothing but his Racing Green brand underwear (which he had wedged up his behind), as guitar, bass and drums punctuated his emphatic vocals. In this Tiny Desk (home) concert, we find Charlie in a full suit, tie and hat, sitting in a living room atmosphere backed not only by the rest of shame (also seated), but a compendium of violins, horns and more.

All the songs here are from the band's 2021 album, Drunk Tank Pink. It's the sound of this South London post-punk band challenging not only their listeners, but themselves. What a thrill.

SET LIST
"Snow Day"
"Born in Luton"
"Human, for a Minute"

MUSICIANS
Charlie Steen: lead vocals
Eddie Green: guitar, vocals
Josh Finerty: bass, vocals
Sean Coyle-Smith: guitar, vocals
Charlie Forbes: drums
Freddy Wordsworth: trumpet
Campbell Baum: saxophone
Kai Akinde-Hummel: percussion
Oliver Hamilton: violin
Magdalena McLean: violin

CREDITS
Producer: Duncan Harrison
Directors: Benjamin Brook and Jerry Dobson
Camera Operators: Callum Chaplin and Lawrence Jones
Sound Engineer: Tom LeBeau
Horn and String Arrangements: Josh Finerty
Mixing: Josh Finerty and Nina Madley
Editor: Benjamin Brook
Special thanks to Elliot Lynks

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bob Boilen
Video Producer: Kara Frame
Audio Mastering: Alex Drewenskus
Tiny Production Team: Maia Stern, Josh Rogosin, Gabrielle Pierre, Bobby Carter
Executive Producer: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#shame #tinydesk #nprmusic

[JapanoiseBreakfast]

The year is 2021. England has discovered a stash of wind instruments large enough to supply every single band in the country. Things are good.

[oddgog]

What a version of snow day man... my god - great arrangements

[XxcalprofenxX]

Weird to see Josh actually staying still and not jumping around like a maniac!!

[gayvalds]

This arrangement of Human, For A Minute is absolutely

[AbstractCatsMedia]

Post-punk meets avant-jazz and experimental beat poetry. Cool.

[riccardoaffaticato]

These guys use to blast with volume, great idea to adapt orchestral elements to replace their raw sound. It works magnificently

[some_entrancing]

Black Country, New Shame, Black Squid Midi

[Thegreepest]

Human for a minute wasn’t in my top songs off the album but this rendition changes everything

[matiasfrangioni]

Steen realizing his Tom Waits dreams ABSOLUTELY FUKIN LOVELY.

[ryanhm]

This raw perfectly crooked decadent-circus melancholic sound is just my favorite for some time now. I'm addicted to this, I wish they made an album out of it.

[preheatedmusic]

I’ll never forget meeting these guys at a small show in Columbus years ago. I just saw they will be opening for foo fighters next year and I couldn’t be happier for them!!

[allisonlynch]

If I can’t access these versions on streaming services I will be VERY upset

[dancelittlesquire]

Charlie Steen looking like Will from the Inbetweeners trying to get served, but ending up with bags of Kettle crisps, Beefeater Gin and Drambuie Liqueur

[keirrennie]

So much hate for Charlie? Personally I think he's one of the most charismatic and captivating front men of his generation

[helenarodrigues]

I just found something wonderful, whole and dazzling. thank you so much for making this

[agustmi]

A post punk band in a tiny desk concert got out pretty really well

[RegularCody]

I swear Post Punk is just Prog Rock Revival, this is so proggy

[ardianacomia]

Met these lads and loved the first album. Didn't expect the new album to sound like this. Props.

[rustemsadvakassov]

omg thanks npr for letting us know new names... it is such a wonderful concert! love every little bit of it!
right after that we also watched the 2021 concert film and listened to both albums. and the band is absolutely gorgious!

[sihamharchli]

The arrangements on this session are marvelous 💕 ughh