Turnstile Goes Tiny, Bass Goes Huge: Franz Lyons at NPR’s Tiny Desk

Turnstile brought something brand new to NPR’s Tiny Desk. For the first time in the series’ history, there was crowd surfing.

The Baltimore band performed a five song set featuring Dreaming, Sunshower, I Care, Never Enough, and Birds. With horns, piano, and a fresh arrangement, the group leaned into texture and groove instead of sheer volume.

That left plenty of space for bassist Franz Lyons to shine. His playing carried the music with warmth and precision, locking in with drummer Daniel Fang while shaping the atmosphere of each tune. In a setting where every note is exposed, Lyons’ tone and feel stood out even more than in the band’s explosive live shows.