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
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