Hot Chip: Tiny Desk Concert

Maia Stern | April 29, 2024 Even though it was the band’s first visit to the Tiny Desk, Hot Chip’s performance felt like a homecoming — a sweet return to some of the instruments the group first created its signature, playful sound with. Hot Chip’s “tiny instruments,“ as lead vocalist Alexis Taylor called them, fit right into the space. The members of Hot Chip arrived at NPR HQ each dressed in a different colored top, their bright and brilliant looks matching the music’s classic electro-pop vibe. The band, joined by Jonny Lam on pedal steel guitar (who played a Tiny Desk previously with Sinkane) began the set with two tracks from its 2006 album The Warning, including “Over and Over“ and “Boy From School.“ The latter of the two, Taylor explained, was written on the Casio keyboard that both Taylor and guitarist Rob Smoughton play in this set. Then the band slows it down a bit with “Look At Where We Are,“ before ending with the classic “Ready For The Floor.“ And speaking of bringing the perfect look, after the show, Taylor got out an on-theme top: an NPR branded sweatshirt that he asked us all to sign. It was a rare, tender and probably once-in-a-lifetime moment, when one of your favorite bands is asking you to sign merch. SET LIST “Over And Over“ “Boy From School“ “Look At Where We Are“ “Ready For The Floor“ MUSICIANS Alexis Taylor: vocals, guitar, keyboard Joe Goddard: vocals, keyboard Owen Clarke: keyboard Rob Smoughton: backing vocals, guitar Leo Taylor: drums Jonny Lam: pedal steel guitar TINY DESK TEAM Producer/Director: Maia Stern Audio Technical Director: Josephine Nyounai Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Pierre Kattar Audio Engineer: Neil Tevault Production Assistant: Elle Mannion Photographer: Elizabeth Gillis Tiny Desk Team: Hazel Cills, Ashley Pointer Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins #nprmusic #tinydesk #hotchip