Snail Mail: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
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Published 2017-09-22
Encouraged by punks in the Baltimore scene, Jordan started Snail Mail at 15 and released the quietly stunning Habit EP via Priests' in-house label last year. She's quickly found fans in Helium and Ex Hex's Mary Timony (who also happens to be Jordan's guitar teacher) and just went on tour with Waxahatchee and Palehound. Oh, and she once made blueberry pancakes with me on a short-lived NPR cooking show because clearly my kitchen is the path to success.
Jordan's joined in this performance by what's become her consistent live band (drummer Ray Brown and bassist Alex Russell), giving weight to both "Slug" and the soaring coming-of-age anthem "Thinning." Because we often ask bands to turn down for the office space, she jokes, "I guess I don't really know what we sound like because we're so loud. Now we're quiet and Ray's using the mallets and my guitar's all the way down — I was like, 'We sound like this?'"
Jordan closes the set solo with a new song, "Anytime." It is, perhaps typically for Snail Mail, slow and sad, but the alternate guitar tuning and Jordan's drawled vocal performance gives this song about a crush an aerial motion, like acrobats sliding down a long sheet of fabric.
Habit is out now via Sister Polygon. Snail Mail goes on tour with Beach Fossils in October.
Set List
"Slug"
"Thinning"
"Anytime"
MUSICIANS
Lindsey Jordan (electric guitar, vocals); Raymond Brown (drums); Alex Russell (bass)
CREDITS
Producers: Bob Boilen, Niki Walker, Morgan Noelle Smith; Audio Engineers: James Willetts, Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Niki Walker, Tsering Bista; Production Assistant: Marissa Lorusso; Photo: Claire Harbage/NPR.
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All Comments (21)
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Here's how this normally goes for me. Randomly discover an artist in a playlist that I absolutely fall in love with. Dive deep into live shows on YouTube and then inevitably find out that Tiny Desk had them on 4-5 years before I even knew about them. You guys are the best!
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SNailed it
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Imagine being able to get close to doing something as good as writing Thinning when you were a teenager. What a legend.
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No one gnna talk bout how tight those drums are?? Dudes a beast
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I'll always have a big soft spot for loud jangly three piece bands. This was wonderful. Thanks.
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I'm 63 and I love this music
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I knew Lindsey when she was doing Arcade Fire Suburbs covers on youtube and uploading them to tumblr. I used to think she was so talented for her age, at that time I think she was only 13 or so. We would chat now and again about our love for Arcade Fire and such. I cant believe shes now on Tiny Desk all these years later!!! GO GIRL!
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She is so incredible. I met her after she opened for Japanese Breakfast in Athens and half the crowd was there to see her. Lush is going to be legendary.
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Welcome to tiny desk concerts better than Coachella 100%
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She just casually tunes the guitar while entertaining the crowd,and it comes out sounding like that.. oh yea and This whole performance was incredible.. new high score
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The slight imperfections in her great voice are perfect.
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I’m 574 years old and I like this music
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Anytime I hear someone say “There’s no good music these days.” I gladly guide them to this band.
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she is a great guitarist, i love watching her play
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I can't remember the last time I listened to 'anytime' without crying. Mainly because there wasn't one
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Four years later, I'm still watching this video for self-care. LJ is iconic!
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It's 2019 and I'm still crying over this tiny desk
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Her guitar playing is so natural and fluid #goals
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One of my favorite bands!!!!! This is LIVE! It sounds just like the songs on her album! That’s how good she and the band really are! I love them so much!!!!
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As an old guy that was into Belly, The Breeders, etc in the early 90s, this rocks.
