Leo Kottke and Mike Gordon: 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 | October 21, 2020
It's been 15 years since the legendary guitarist Leo Kottke put out a new recording, and it's no coincidence that his new music is with Phish bassist Mike Gordon. The two have a history of making albums together, but that hit a hiatus in 2005 with their Sixty Six Steps project. They're back with a 2020 album, Noon, and Phish drummer Jon Fishman joins the duo. And while they're miles apart for this Tiny Desk (home) concert, Leo at Creation Audio in Minneapolis and Mike and Jon at Tank Recording Studio in Burlington, Vt., there's plenty of humor and spirit traversing the wires.

They begin with what fans of Leo Kottke fell in love with 50 years ago, the sound of his acoustic guitar fingerpicking. Mike Gordon punctuates the opening song "Flat Top," which at moments feels like a musical chase. Jon Fishman is a tasteful addition. Mike and Jon have played over 2,000 shows together, so there's telepathy there. Still, he also finds ways into the music that isn't merely rhythmic; he adds aural atmospherics with brushes in hand. There are some fun visual tricks but — musically speaking — not a moment of trickery. Just pure magic.

SET LIST
"Flat Top"
"The Only One"
"Sheets"
"I Am Random"

MUSICIANS
Leo Kottke: acoustic guitar, vocals
Mike Gordon: bass, vocals
Jon Fishman: drums, vocals

CREDITS
Edited and Directed by: Eli Tishberg
Videographers: Nate Ryan and Bruce Gibbs
Music Produced by: Jared Slomoff
Audio Engineers: Rob O'Dea, Miles Hanson and Steve Wiese
Production Assistants: Gretchen Bedard and Sam Gibbs
Recorded and filmed at Creation Audio (Studio A), Minnesota and Tank Recording Studio, Burlington, Vt.
Producer: Bob Boilen
Audio Mastering Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Video Producer: Maia Stern
Associate Producer: Bobby Carter
Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

[markjohnson]

There's a short list of people who have truly reinvented guitar playing. They forge their own path and style which is totally their own. Leo is one of them.

[loralee]

Leo, I’m the 14 year old that watched your children. I would so love to see you again after 54 years. You impressed me my whole life with your humbleness

[Ceb]

Tiny Desk has always hosted my favourite artists. But never in a million years would I expect Leo Kottke to be on here.

Incredible.

[gibby]

leo Kottke is the rare musician who continues to evolve and still sounds like Leo reinventing

[joehartka]

Leo Kottke is truly in a class by himself. I found out about him in the early 1970's and I have been amazed ever since.

[klarifoon]

Credits to Mike for dragging Leo once more into recording, arranging nice bass additionals and telepathing with Jon for nice rythmic drum additionals. Great intimate set.

[stevelaurent]

Leo Kottke – love you, dude. Thank you for the music, always. Gordon – ditto. Also, thank you for connecting so many more to Leo.

[lostvalleyramblers]

One thing I really love when these guys play together: Mike gets really percussive and staccato with his bass playing which allows him to play so many great counterpoint lines without intruding. This video is awesome! Love is real

[daveandrew]

I have been listening to (and attempting to play) Leo Kottke songs for nearly 40 years. Listening is a great deal easier. He is a unique artist in every way, and one of the most bizarrely funny people you could ever meet. I hope he lives forever.

[GeoffWilliamsMagic]

How Leo never won a Grammy is unbelievable to me.

[rd]

Leo is such a natural that he’s thinking about his “to do” list while he is strumming away in his typical complex manner of playing.

[kootenaiblades]

I've seen Leo work his magic on a 12 string three times in a 10 year span.
I'm so happy I found this. He never gets old.

[hawkeyejrose]

Dad introduced me to Leo with the cassette "My Fathers Face". I wore it out, flipping it over and over. His singing is like a warm pair of wool socks on a fall evening, and it's so "normal" that I just feel like my dad is singing some funny and deep poetry to me, calming and inspiring. Mike Gordon could not be a better and strange compliment to his style of writing and playing. He will always be welcome in my ears when I need him most.

[fishelbresler]

This is an impossibly fabulous production in every detail: musically, technically (the audio coordination and blend), camera work, editing, the visual shtick...everything. Everyone connected with it deserves a big gasp of appreciation!

[raccoonlittlebear]

Leo has been a big influence on my life.
Been a big fan of his for fifty years now.
It seems at many low points in my life, he would come out with another album & cheer me up again. If you are reading this, Leo, thanks again!🎶

[PentameronSV]

0:00 - *Flat Top* (2:08)
3:25 - *The Only One* (6:13)
7:46 - *Sheets* (11:27)
12:04 - *I Am Random*

[GeneMontemore]

Leo and Mike are creatively and personality-wise perfect compliments in every way. No wonder their music is so uniquely beautiful.

[spb]

Kottke overcame a career threatening injury. Inspiring.

[smithbros]

Saw Leo play at the Orpheum in Omaha, early 80's. He played by himself, but I spent the first 20 minutes trying to figure out where his backup band was. Just him and those magic fingers! Musical bliss.

[twhite]

Two remarkably talented musicians here. Such a clean and pure sound