Defacto Productions @defactoproductions-blog-blog - Tumblr Blog

Taylor Muse of Quiet Company on Flickr.

5-2-13 Grand Stafford Theater Bryan, TX

Like my photo page!

Tiny Desk Concerts

When confronted with the acronym NPR, odds are the phrase, “My favorite place for the newest music,” is not exactly the first thing that springs to mind. However, led by the guiding hand of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen, NPR has snagged some truly remarkable artists with a unique and wonderful little series called Tiny Desk Concerts.

This series encompasses an incredible range of musicians. From more prominent names such as Passion Pit, Adele, and Macklemore, to up and coming artists including Kopecky Family Band and I Wayne (fantastic roots reggae artist), the show presents all artists raw and unadorned. The Tiny Desk Concert series provides the sort of content music lovers and consumers in general relish. It allows a behind-the-scenes look at these artists. This gives us an opportunity to feel a personal connection with the performers and increase our emotional investment in their success.

The Tiny Desk Concert series was originated in 2008 following the music and film festival in Austin, TX, South by Southwest – a great experience and next week. Bob Boilen and Stephen Thompson went to see Laura Gibson, however because of a raucous crowd, could not hear her show. When she visited the NPR offices in Washington, D.C. later that April, she was asked to perform at Bob Boilen’s desk. What resulted was an intimate, special presentation and the inception of a new NPR music series.

In honor of the festival that provided the inspiration for this series, below are the top five Tiny Desk Concerts whose artists will be performing at South by Southwest this year, with a link to when and where they will be performing. Enjoy and be sure to check out this awesome series!

Telekinesis:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112980019

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2013/events/event_MS21027

Andrew W.K.:

http://www.npr.org/2009/11/30/120758328/andrew-w-k-tiny-desk-concert

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2013/events/event_MS22875

Hey Marseilles:

http://www.npr.org/2010/10/17/130516583/hey-marseilles-tiny-desk-concert

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2013/events/event_MS20407

Local Natives:

http://www.npr.org/event/music/133899844/local-natives-tiny-desk-concert

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2013/events/event_MS21004

Iron and Wine:

http://www.npr.org/event/music/133059550/iron-and-wine-tiny-desk-concert

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2013/events/event_MS23541

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis:

http://schedule.sxsw.com/2013/events/event_MS23217

To check out all the archived tiny desk concerts, follow me!

Sugar & the Hi-Lows

Sugar & the Hi-Lows: Facebook Twitter Tumblr

Photography

Review by Christian Weise of Defacto Productions

#Amy Stroup #Sugar & the Hi-Lows #Trent Dabbs #album #b&w #black and white #blues #debut album #garage rock #indie #music review #photos #press #review #rock #usa today #Nashville #tennessee #Nashville Tennessee

Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights

Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights: Facebook Twitter MySpace YouTube

Photo

Review by Drew Knight of Defacto Productions

2/14/13. It's going down at the Grand Stafford Theater! COME EARLY. BE LOUD. WEAR AS LITTLE AND BE AS FABULOUS AS YOU WISH.

#Downtown Bryan #Grand Stafford Theater #Rocky Horror Picture Show #Rated R #scandalous #Halloween #celebration #drag #Texas A&M University #Theater #Cepheid Variable

Amy Stroup

With an angelic voice and an indistinguishable gracefulness, Nashville’s Amy Stroup has caught the eye of the indie music community – and indie rock fanboys - everywhere. Her sound is something between The Civil Wars’ Joy Williams and Imogen Heap, with a nod to classic country and pop influences that she grew up with. She leaves you hanging on her every lyric – a note to her work as a songwriter as well.

She is a commercially successful, indie-folk artist. That’s not someone you come across every day, but Stroup has bridged the gap nicely. Even those who don’t know of her have probably heard her. Featured on popular television shows and a handful of commercials, Stroup uses her distinct voice bouncing between the subtle vocal tones of piano-led choruses and a ringing endorsement of acoustic folk.

Jodi Williams, vice president of BMI Nashville, describes Stroup’s songwriting as “unique and optimistic, vulnerable and strong.”

As her website describes:

The searching quality of Amy’s music can be traced in part to her inveterate upbringing. Born the child of religious parents in Boston, she spent much of her girlhood traveling. “There’s the military families that move around and the church families that move around,” she jokes.

I defy you to listen to “Redeeming Love” and not hit repeat. Even more so the well-produced video is fantastic and very heartfelt. The enthusiastic and positive vibes that echo throughout the song – and much of the album – put a warm feeling in your soul.

From personal experience, it can even bring a gargantuan man such as myself to a subconscious vocal shift trying to emulate Stroup (even possibly in public). My own embarrassment aside, the album stands up specifically because of her compelling voice. She never overpowers the music, blending with whatever tone the lyrics allow, an almost well-acted performance.

Speaking as a indie/folk rock enthusiast – and certainly a fan of blues – this album was a blessing. And after listening through her albums, you should give a listen to her other band, Sugar & the Hi-Lows.

Octopus Project