Alvvays: Tiny Desk Concert

Stephen Thompson | December 15, 2023 Tiny Desk concerts involve challenges and constraints that aren’t always immediately apparent: The crowd stands closer than many artists expect, it’s truly a working office and not a soundstage, in-ear monitors are a no-no and so on. The guideline that caught Alvvays off-guard came in the form of our limit on reverb and other vocal sweeteners, which get used to glorious effect on 2022’s Blue Rev, but are otherwise frowned-upon at the Tiny Desk. The restriction forced the Toronto band — and recent first-time Grammy nominee — well outside its comfort zone. But it also shined a bright light on the radiant and expressive voice of Molly Rankin while proving, in the spirit of T-Pain, that not every vocal enhancement is there to hide imperfections. Still, Rankin acknowledged the nerves involved in making this show happen: “We’ve not worked up the courage to do this until today,“ she said with a chuckle, acknowledging (however indirectly) that we’d been trying to make this Tiny Desk concert happen for ages. The band needn’t have worried, as its magnificent recreation of Blue Rev’s billowy, shoegaze-y sound lit up the room. By the time Rankin joked about replacing a retiring Bob Boilen, we were half-inclined to give her the job, just to keep Alvvays from leaving. Can you imagine a more lopsided trade? SET LIST “Belinda Says“ “Pressed“ “Very Online Guy“ “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 Series Producer: Bobby Carter Editor: Maia Stern Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Elizabeth Gillis, Maia Stern Audio Assistant: Ted Mebane Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Josh Rogosin, Hazel Cills VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann #nprmusic #tinydesk #alvvays