Tiny Desk live shows contain challenges and constraints that are not at all times instantly obvious: The gang stands nearer than many artists count on, it is really a working workplace and never a soundstage, in-ear screens are a no-no and so forth. The rule of thumb that caught Alvvays off-guard got here within the type of our restrict on reverb and different vocal sweeteners, which get used to superb impact on 2022’s Blue Rev, however are in any other case frowned-upon on the Tiny Desk.
The restriction pressured the Toronto band — and up to date first-time Grammy nominee — nicely outdoors its consolation zone. But it surely additionally shined a shiny mild on the radiant and expressive voice of Molly Rankin whereas proving, within the spirit of T-Ache, that not each vocal enhancement is there to cover imperfections. Nonetheless, Rankin acknowledged the nerves concerned in making this present occur: “We have not labored up the braveness to do that till as we speak,” she mentioned with a chuckle, acknowledging (nonetheless not directly) that we might been attempting to make this Tiny Desk live performance occur for ages.
The band needn’t have anxious, as its magnificent recreation of Blue Rev‘s billowy, shoegaze-y sound lit up the room. By the point Rankin joked about changing a retiring Bob Boilen, we had been half-inclined to offer her the job, simply to maintain Alvvays from leaving. Are you able to think about a extra lopsided commerce?
SET LIST
- “Belinda Says”
- “Pressed”
- “Very On-line Man”
- “Tile By Tile”
MUSICIANS
- Molly Rankin: lead vocals, guitar
- Alec O’Hanley: guitar, vocals
- Kerri MacLellan: keys, vocals
- Abbey Blackwell: bass, vocals
- Sheridan Riley: drums, vocals
TINY DESK TEAM
- Producers: Stephen Thompson, Bob Boilen
- Director: Joshua Bryant
- Audio Engineer: Neil Tevault
- Collection Producer: Bobby Carter
- Editor: Maia Stern
- Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Elizabeth Gillis, Maia Stern
- Audio Assistant: Ted Mebane
- Manufacturing Assistant: Ashley Pointer
- Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez
- Tiny Desk Workforce: Suraya Mohamed, Josh Rogosin, Hazel Cills
- VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
- Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann
