Episode 14 – Tiny Desk Concerts & Joey’s Top 5 Favorites
In Episode 14, Dr. Joey “Leviathan” and Bobby “Behemoth” pull up chairs behind the famous NPR furniture and geek out over Tiny Desk Concerts. From its 2008 YouTube birth in a 12-by-16-foot office to hundreds of genre-spanning mini-shows, the series has become their favorite musical rabbit hole. Joey reveals his hand-picked top five performances—ranging from soul revivalists to avant-garde percussion—and the duo riff on what makes each one unforgettable. Expect soul comparisons, jazz philosophizing, and plenty of laughter about imaginary venue sizes and sonic math.
What’s inside
- The Tiny Desk phenomenon – origins, intimacy, and why a cramped office beats an arena.
- St. Paul & The Broken Bones – gold-shod soul revival that turns a desk into a dance floor
- Otis Redding vibes meet church-choir charisma
- the “voice-doesn’t-match-the-face” shock factor
- Sandbox Percussion – “sonic architecture” where math, marimbas, and choreography collide
- Cirque-du-Soleil-meets-TED-Talk staging
- custom instruments and kinetic precision
- The Lion King Broadway cast – joyful rafiki calls, 5 000-show stamina, and smiles that travel through speakers.
- Kamasi Washington set – cosmic jazz, DJ Battlecat grooves, and spoken-word poignancy.
- Chris Stapleton unplugged – battered guitar, whiskey laments, and a duet that proves less is more.
- Discoverability magic – how the YouTube algorithm keeps serving hidden gems long after the episode ends.
- Live-vs-studio debate – why these stripped sessions often eclipse polished recordings.
Why listen
If your playlists need fresh fuel—or you just want proof that great music can thrive in a cubicle—this episode dishes out five must-watch Tiny Desk sets with the hosts’ trademark blend of insight and irreverence.
