Tiny Desk Unit
Tiny Desk Unit were a group of people that got together in the Summer of 1979 and made some music in Washington D.C. Sometimes it was good. Sometimes it wasn't. But sometimes it was really, really great. They played live at the 9:30 club. Rehearsed in the basement. Made their first live recording there. Practically lived there. Might have died there. They also recorded an independent E.P. (All of it and more can be found here.) Drugs, apathy and alcohol were the bands undoing.
Tiny Desk Unit were:
Susan Mumford - vocals
Michael Barron - gutiar
Bob Boilen - synth
Chris Thompson - drums
Terry Baker - bass
Bob Boilen has written an extensive history of the band at his site. Now he's a a host at NPR.
Go to the download page to get Tiny Desk Unit - "Cous Cous"
11 Comments:
This is probably the very last band I'd ever expect to find here. I saw them several times at dc space and loved 'em. Think I saw them at 9:30 too, but I didn't become a regular there (I mean, like, EVERY night)until the mid-80s. And you posted my favorite TDU song - Cous Cous. Amazing. Thanks for the memories....
Now, how about some Bloody Mannequin Orchestra? :)
a pleasant surprise!
I was a founding member of Tiny Desk Unit.
I am in the process of resurecting old tapes (literally baking them in an oven so the back coating doesn't flake off) and posting them to my web site.
I have full video performances and unreleased studio and live recordings.
Thanks for mentioning us. All the band members are still alive and well.
I still make my own brand of electronic music and post that on my site bobboilen.info
I direct NPR's All Things Considered and have for the past 17 years.
I started a music show for NPR online called All Songs Considered. the great irony is that we are webcasting shows, from the club that Tiny Desk Unit played at, the 9:30 club.
feel free to write me with memories or questions
tinydesk@bobboilen.info
Holy Cow. What a treat. These guys were great. Extra thanks for the pointer to Bob's site!
I'd also like to second the recommendation for some Bloody Mannequin Orchestra :-)
Susan Mumford's voice is very cool indeed.
holy cow, someone else beat me to requesting some Bloody Mannequin Orchestra!
i'm curious about this "baking cassettes" to preserve them? because i've got some BMO/WGNS cassettes that i'm dying to find a way to burn on to cd....
sarah woodell, formely of DC
Sarah, that would be me requesting BMO. I'm also formerly of DC. Saw BMO open for Einsturzende Neubauten at the old 9:30 and loved 'em. The other opening band was my friend Jared's one-night-only band Morgue One. Sigh, the old days....
Scott, formerly of DC and a 9:30/dc space habitue
BMO played my backyard:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/francesrust/168032714/in/set-879232/
Scott: email me directly
vivanow@gmail.com
Someday I'll find one of my photos of Jared/scan/post. I still have the book of poetry he put out!
If you feel like jogging your memory of name to a face: look at Banned in DC (the book) and I'm one of the contributing photographers. Cheers!
I regret that I was a little too young , by a hair or two, to catch Tiny Desk Unit back in their heyday. But they regrouped for the old 930 Club's grand finale on New Year's Eve (1995?) and they were great.
Regarding BMO, I put together a semi-tongue-in-cheek history of the band here. Enjoy. :)
BMO.
Updated site for free Tiny Desk Unit downloads.
music movies etc.
http://www.bobboilen.info/tinydeskunit/index.htm
enjoy
Bob Boilen
the music i make now can be heard here
http://www.bobboilen.info/downloads/index.html
How cool. I love this site! DC was a pretty good scene in the early days, though it was no New York, but lots of good music, lots of fun.
Does anybody remember the likes of REM (w/Sue Berg), The Velvet Monkeys, Urban Verbs, The Atlantis club (later the 9:30 club),
See Tiny Desk Unit @ the dc Space reunion/benefit for Tom T- this Sunday, July 29th at the 9:30 Club
Details at http://rockondc.blogspot.com/
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