TV On The Radio: Tiny Desk Concert

Robin Hilton | November 27, 2024
TV On The Radio was one of the first bands we tried to coax into playing in our office back in the earliest days of the Tiny Desk, but it never happened. Roughly 15 years later, the group finally arrived to play a breathtaking and career-spanning set.

"Thank you for having us,"' frontman Tunde Adebimpe told the crowd after opening with a blazing version of "Wolf Like Me," from 2006's Return to Cookie Mountain. "I don't know what happened 15 years ago. I think someone missed a phone call or an email 'cause we wanted to do it!" "We've been sitting around talking amongst ourselves saying, 'I don't know why they don't want us,' " Kyp Malone added.

TV On The Radio is currently celebrating the 20th anniversary of Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes, and released a deluxe version of the album earlier this month. But they stuck to both older and newer releases for the Tiny Desk, including a slightly more subdued version of "Could You," backed by Yusuke Yamamoto on vibraphone, from 2014's Seeds. They also performed "Satellite," from the band's 2003 EP Young Liars, before closing with a soaring, lighters-up take on the title track.

SET LIST
"Wolf Like Me"
"Could You"
"Satellite"
"Young Liars"

MUSICIANS
Jaleel Bunton: electric guitar, acoustic guitar, background vocals
Kyp Malone: electric guitar, keyboard, background vocals
Japhet Landis: drums
Tunde Adebimpe: vocals
Yusuke Yamamoto: keys, bass keys, vibraphone

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Robin Hilton
Director/Editor: Maia Stern
Audio Technical Director: Josh Newell
Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Wendy Li
Audio Engineer: Carleigh Strange
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Michael Zamora
Tiny Desk Copy Editor: Hazel Cills
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins

#nprmusic #tinydesk #tvontheradio

Support for NPR Music comes from Better Help, committed to making mental well-being a priority

[arlowolf]

They still got it, Baby. Their Letterman Live performance of "Wolf Like Me" is one of the greatest barn-burner moments in all of Rock

[Aduder]

Wolf like me is one of my all time faves

[ChuckHipolitho]

Everybody be aware that Tunde Adebimpe is releasing a solo album soon, some singles are out already.

[paperclipantenna]

In 2006 these cats (including Gerard, RIP) were casually walking around downtown Seattle before their show at the Showbox and I got to giddily point at them and exclaim, "there goes the coolest band in the world". I still remember Tunde smiling and doubling over all bashful like. 18 years later they're still the coolest. Thanks NPR

[daveymerciless]

Saw TV on The Radio with Bloc Party in 2006 at The Marquee Theater in Tempe, AZ. On of the best concerts of my life! 🙌🔥

[mpeekay]

If there ever was a band who needed to be celebrated more than it is...Thank you Tiny Desk.Dear science is comfort food in this house.

[Kodack-kiim]

Their album Seeds came in a black and white striped plastic CD sleeve. The CD liner notes had striped abstract art in them and if you put them under the CD sleeve, it did an optical illusion where you saw animated images as you moved the liner notes back and forth. Every song had it's own animated art piece. That was the single coolest CD I've ever bought and it must have cost them a fortune to do it but so worth it.

[kylehubbs]

0:21 - Wolf Like Me
5:40 - Could You
12:11 - Satellite
17:09 - Young Liars

[Otsajustme]

The audio engineering is phenomenal! Best mixed live recording I have heard in a long time, they deserve awards.

[Graufuchs]

wolf like me was one of the songs that formed my teenage years. growing up on these guys and now all of a sudden seeing them here feels like liberation.

[MrPriceJones]

These guys are so underrated. I hope this means a tour soon ❤

[Ahhnuhh]

So nostalgic! The year is 2006, my brother passed down his blue iPod mini 2nd gen to me and I managed to get these guys on it. I’m walking to algebra class while Province is playing. Life was great!

[carlatrujillog]

Wow! What a surprise this morning! Such an undervalued band! Love ‘em!

[anthonywhite]

They sound better than ever. So glad this finally happened.

[gchros]

Finding a band you've never heard and really enjoying what they do is priceless. Thanks, Tiny Desk. 👍

[RottenlyMoodyChild]

Well deserved tiny desk concert, better late than never. What a treat on a Wednesday 😊

[AM-qhfr]

Finally TVOTR, such a fantastic and underrated band, thanks Tiny Desk! Please do Foals or Bloc Party next🤗

[teddykasteel]

They're unique. I love these guys, wish they were actually still played on the radio.

[Oenitz]

Thank you for playing Young Liars especially, it's my favorite song of all time. It has accompanied me for so long, and is one of few songs that I cannot grow tired of, even after all these years. Been a fan for 20 years now, and I am so grateful that you are still around. So much love.

[MPLoura]

It's so crazy that Tunde, Kyp and myself have grown big white beards in the last 20 something years.
My favorite gig will always be that summer night back in 09 in Oeiras.