David Byrne’s Stripped-Down Band Highlights Inventive Bass Work at Tiny Desk

David Byrne and his band squeezed into the Tiny Desk and immediately made the whole thing feel like a party. Byrne sounds as good as ever, relaxed and completely in his element, and the room has that loose, joyful energy that only happens when great players are genuinely having a blast.

Kely Pinheiro and Ray Suen are the real treats to watch here. They trade off bass duties. Kely moves between her electric cello and her short scale Mustang Bass, and every time she grabs the Mustang the groove settles right into place. Her feel is steady and warm, the kind of playing that keeps everything glued together. You can see how much fun she is having too, which only makes the low end feel even better.

The band tears through new songs and Talking Heads favorites with big smiles and a surprisingly open sound for such a tight space. It is one of those Tiny Desk sets that looks as fun to play as it is to watch, and the chemistry on screen makes it an easy one to revisit.  Kely is a little bass solo moment in the last track too!