Elle Mannion | February 5, 2024
I didn't fact check this, but I'm pretty sure this is the first Tiny Desk concert that mentions Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Between performing her lush indie-rock songs, Katie Von Schleicher mentions that she made a Dwayne Johnson zine for her latest record: "I'd like him to be my best friend, if you know him..." she says. There's a wry charm to Von Schleicher's exquisite songwriting, often underscoring its sincerity but never cheapening its quality.

Along with her mighty eight-piece band, Von Schleicher opens the set with "Montagnard People," which is also the opening track on her 2023 album A Little Touch of Schleicher in the Night (yes, that's a nod to Harry Nilsson's A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night). "Honestly, my tight five needs work / To get past hurts, I'm alive," she sings over swinging strings and saxophones, "Watching movies at night / only Dwayne Johnson helps me take that ride."

She and the band pack the biggest punch on the upbeat "Caged Sleep" before grooving through "Cranked." For the final song, "Texas," Von Schleicher takes to the piano; she starts slowly, then the sounds of the band swell to a cinematic crescendo — perhaps one that could soundtrack the next best Dwayne Johnson movie.

SET LIST
"Montagnard People"
"Caged Sleep"
"Cranked"
"Texas"

MUSICIANS
Katie von Schleicher: vocals, guitar, piano
Halsey Harkins: vocals, synthesizer
Stephen Becker: guitar
Nick Jost: bass
Sean Mullins: drums
Nate Mendelsohn: alto saxophone
Gabe Birnbaum: baritone saxophone
Ginger Dolden: violin
Pete Lanctot: viola

TINY DESK TEAM
Producers: Elle Mannion, Bob Boilen
Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
Audio Technical Director: Josh Rogosin
Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Catie Dull, Maia Stern, Alanté Serene
Audio Engineer: Josephine Nyounai
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Kara Frame, Hazel Cills
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#nprmusic #tinydesk #katievonschleicher