91.5 Chapel Hill 88.9 Manteo 90.9 Rocky Mount 91.1 Welcome 91.9 Fayetteville 90.5 Buxton 94.1 Lumberton 99.9 Southern Pines 89.9 Chadbourn
WUNC Music
WUNC Music is curated locally with songs that inspire, energize and bring joy to listeners across North Carolina. It’s a place for music discovery and a home to old favorites.

Big Thief: Tiny Desk Concert

The power of Big Thief lies in the stunning voice of Adrianne Lenker — as well as the band's intense rhythms, the guitar playing of Buck Meek and, right, the lyrics. Come to think of it, everything this band does serves the muscular warmth of these brilliant songs, which are not only memorable, but meaningful.

"Masterpiece" is the first song in this Tiny Desk Concert, as well as Big Thief's best-known tune. It's a song of mortality and walking through life with your friends by your side. In fact, all three of these songs, all from the group's 2016 debut, are about passion, friendship, reflection, life and loved ones — it's music profound and beautiful enough to even work well in a brightly lit office in the middle of the day.

Big Thief's Masterpiece and Capacity are available now (iTunes) (Amazon).

Set List

  • "Masterpiece"
  • "Paul"
  • "Lorraine"
  • Credits

    Producers: Bob Boilen, Niki Walker; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Niki Walker, Claire Hannah Collins; Production Assistant: Sophie Kemp; Photo: Ruby Wallau/NPR.

    For more Tiny Desk concerts, subscribe to ourpodcast.

    Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • Email
    In 1988, a determined Bob Boilen started showing up on NPR's doorstep every day, looking for a way to contribute his skills in music and broadcasting to the network. His persistence paid off, and within a few weeks he was hired, on a temporary basis, to work for All Things Considered. Less than a year later, Boilen was directing the show and continued to do so for the next 18 years.
    More Stories
    1. As student protesters get arrested, they risk being banned from campus too
    2. Elevator or stairs? Your choice could boost longevity, study finds
    3. CDC says 3 women diagnosed with HIV after receiving 'vampire facial'
    4. World Central Kitchen says it will resume operations in Gaza
    5. Candace Parker, 3-time WNBA and 2-time Olympic champion, says 'it's time' to retire