Tiny Desk Concert

Great Grandpa writes lullabies for the restless. The indie rock band's thoughtful intensity remains intact at the Tiny Desk, just at a quieter volume.

An upright piano, a guitar and Daniel Caesar, lifted by a 12-piece choir. The presentation is simple, but the effect is transcendental.

So much of the holiday season is about finding a balance between bright lights and dark nights. Sixpence None the Richer's music finds depth in the in-between.

As a founding member of Stars and a longtime collaborator with Broken Social Scene, Amy Millan has helped shape Canada’s indie sound. Now she returns with I Went to Find You, her first solo album in over 15 years, made with composer and actor Jay McCarrol — and performs it in an intimate mini-concert recorded by WXPN’s Indie Rock Hit Parade.

Right from the first note, Odeal instantly transports us to the warm, soulful pocket that we never leave. And his mom has a front row seat.

Guitarist Sean Shibe pushes his instrument to the limit in new music written for him by Thomas Adès, and softens the vibe with intimate pieces by Bach, Mompou and the eccentric street musician Moondog.

The bluegrass virtuoso brings back the spirit of Tiny Desk's early days: fewer microphones to capture "the way these instruments are meant to sound." He's a humble musician and a sorcerer of his craft, wielding a guitar as if it's a part of him.

It's always summer somewhere. Annie DiRusso and her band offer a five-song pageant full of clever costuming, synchronized dance moves and even a few behind-the-back guitar riffs.

The French electronic duo turns distressed dreams into symphonies plucked from cotton candy clouds. Yet to see Air's members perform live, everything looks so effortless.

Brandi Carlile has a way of making any performance feel like a tête-à-tête, a deep emotional exchange between friends that just happens to take place in a crowd.