Meridian Brothers: Tiny Desk Concert
Музыка
Felix Contreras | July 7, 2023
You gotta love a band that names itself after siblings that don't exist, and under a name that doesn't match anyone in the band. At least I do.
I've been a fan of the edgy sonic traditions of the Meridian Brothers for a while now, and jumped at the chance to bring the duo's space age cumbia direct from Bogotá, Colombia to the Tiny Desk. And band leader Eblis Alvarez did not disappoint.
Right from the start, the band's cumbia-infused grooves floated beneath almost otherworldly electronic keyboard sounds in "Guaracha U.F.O.," eventually incorporating Alvarez's signature, sly "I know something you don't"-style vocals. It's easy to be tricked by the eccentricities of the instrumentation and the offbeat vocal stylings, but Alvarez is a man with a vision, using his vast knowledge of Colombian folk and pop music to do things like pay tribute to an imaginary salsa band that never existed, as he did on its last album.
Things were very real during the group's turn behind the Desk, as he and his band challenged the audience to bring along what they knew to meet him in his world of recycled beats - played by his dedicated crew of Colombian musicians - off-kilter vocals and imaginative storytelling lyrics on "¿Dónde Estás María?"
He and his band pulled off a powerful version of "Bomba Atómica", a sort of calling card that speaks to Alvarez being influenced by the rich history of Colombian cumbia and surf rock guitar, for a song that is essentially a frantic warning of the end of the world. Alvarez acknowledged the audience's appreciation with two raised fists, as if to celebrate how the real world dipped their toes into his realm of the imaginary, and everyone was better for it.
SET LIST
"Guaracha U.F.O."
"¿Dónde Estás María?"
"Bomba Atómica"
MUSICIANS
Eblis Javier Alvarez Vargas: guitar, keyboard, cello, vocals
Alejandro Forero: keyboards
Cesar Quevedo Barrero: bass
María Angélica Valencia Sanchez: saxophone, percussion
Mauricio Ramírez Echeverri: drums
Alejandro Araujo Larrahondo: percussion, vocals
TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Felix Contreras
Director: Kara Frame
Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Creative Director: Bob Boilen
Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Kara Frame, Sofia Seidel, Michael Zamora
Editor: Michael Zamora
Audio Assistant: Brian Jarboe
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Maia Stern, Hazel Cills
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann
#tinydesk #MeridianBrothers
Пікірлер: 286
Hey Tiny Desk Fans, Check out NPR’s Black Stories, Black Truths - a collection of podcasts hosted by journalists who speak truth to power. Our voices are as varied, nuanced, and dynamic as the Black experience. And stories should never be about us without us. Listen now: www.npr.org/podcasts/510372/black-stories-black-truths
Y recuerden, lo importante es que la Cumbia suene más fuerte que los problemas.
@jonathangonzalez5474
11 ай бұрын
Apoco tocaron cumbia? 🤦♂️
@manuelalejandro3322
11 ай бұрын
@@jonathangonzalez5474 entre otras cosas, sí. No es mi problema si estás sordo
@jonathangonzalez5474
11 ай бұрын
@@manuelalejandro3322 aber, en cual momento tocaron cumbia? Pon el time stamp donde tocan la cumbia 🤣
@manuelalejandro3322
11 ай бұрын
@@jonathangonzalez5474 la primera canción tiene una estructura de cumbia con tempo acelerado, fusionado con electrónica y otros elementos. Te repito, si eres sordo o tienes algún impedimento mental para entender estructuras musicales complejas no es mi problema
@benimanah
10 ай бұрын
@@jonathangonzalez5474they literally have an album called Cumbia siglio
Very glad to see Colombia represented by a non-regueton band. More like this please!!🔥🔥
@carles3316
5 ай бұрын
Please!!
@batnest5
2 ай бұрын
YES!!!!
That guy just literally spoke an alien language perfectly pronounced after playing the most minimalist salsa ever
@teresaa6150
11 ай бұрын
Best part is he got one of the aliens to play drums for him 👽
@Indoorboss
11 ай бұрын
Smoking a fatty listing to him speak Martian 🔥🔥
I was initially introduced to them via their Weird Al-eqsue "(Son of a) Pichaman" novelty song a few years ago on Spotify -- then dove deeper into their discography. WOW. Definitely very seasoned musicians that are part parody and part homage to Colombia's rich musical history. The better my Spanish gets, the more little winks and wry jokes I pick up - ENJOY!
QUE VIVA COLOMBIA QUE VIVA MERIDIAN Q VIVA BOGOTÁ NO JODA
Estuve esperando este tiny desk desde que subieron las historias al Instagram y no estoy para nada decepcionado aguánten los meridian brothersssss
@incomploruto6006
Жыл бұрын
x80
@AlejandroElOyentePropio
11 ай бұрын
X2mil
What a great start to my Friday morning ... a high energy, eclectic sound party! 👏👏👏
@OwLwAyzFuReVeR
Жыл бұрын
❤️🔥🫠🥰🎶🔊
@jenjen2744
Жыл бұрын
I loved it! Fresh sounds, full of energy, unique, totally entertaining, like digital tech meets traditional folk. Brilliant creatives! ✨
¡Qué alegría ver representación Colombiana en Tiny Desk ❤️🇨🇴!
Christopher Nolan' should rescore Oppenheimer and make Bomba Atómica the main theme song.
Lo más grande musicalmente hablando que ha dado esta tierra en las últimas decadas!
Ah, Tiny Desk you've done it again... introduced a new band into my life! Thank you.
Ooh I'm feelin this 💃 Thanks for introducing me to something new- love finding new music!
@KevinBuritica-jp1tm
Жыл бұрын
then you'll love to hear these artists: Mitú, Lido Pimienta, Combo Chimbita and many more. Colombia has a richful musical environment, so many atmospheres and rythms :)
How do you get people to come together and agree with each other to make music like this? That’s the impressive part.
@derechorocks
Жыл бұрын
The music is also impressive… and your questions is reasonable.
@jamaicmalic
11 ай бұрын
Just ask them if they want to come over a drink a full Cartón de Cawamas bien heladas and play some Salsa Caliente myfriend
@chriscortes6322
11 ай бұрын
The root of the answer would be that they have studied and also dissected the cumbia sound to its most essential parts to reinterpret it again.
@goceystore
11 ай бұрын
it's actually eblis who writes, arranges and records everything solo i believe, the band is just for touring. either way, the chemistry and talent is unreal in everybody on stage!
@TheFullofnihil
9 ай бұрын
If you ever visit Colombia you will see many more bands like this 🙌
who would have thought that my day will get that bright
Within the first few seconds I was hooked! Delighfully weird😊
Finally someone had the balls to come out with some exciting new music 💥👺🔥
First song sounds like I just walked into a spirit Halloween store
@lkajiess
Жыл бұрын
They've got ghouls.
@trollkarlenjp
Жыл бұрын
i was thinking battleblock theater from that one. its a vibe
@kirill76kuzmin
Жыл бұрын
Nope. This is what stress sounds like. Also, not a song
@user-rw7xd7qy3j
Жыл бұрын
I'm sure they're stoked to hear that 🤣
@waynedexter
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the commercial 😒
I have a bunch of their albums-bizarre and fantastic stuff.
Highly recommend seeing these guys live. Saw them last summer for free at MacArthur Park in L.A., probably one of the most engaging shows I’ve ever been to. Literally felt like a Columbian U.F.O had landed & hundreds if not thousands of people dancing care free
@fightvale57
11 ай бұрын
That's so rad. I miss living down the street from Mccarther.
@dustinsimpson9876
10 ай бұрын
I danced so hard to them at Pickathon festival this summer
@DocmyEye340
6 ай бұрын
Played at word fest in manhattan, loved them
@DocmyEye340
6 ай бұрын
World
los hermanos meridian son la mera verga salu2 cordiales desde méxico
@ChristianMercadoAcevedo
Жыл бұрын
Vamos a mandar este comentario al tope 😂
Oh wow, I've just discovered Tiny Desk!! I may never leave home again.... 🥰
01:34 you can see this dude thinking ---- "needs more cowbell" 😅😅😅😅
Mucho amor para los meridian desde Ecuador!
"Guaracha U.F.O.": 0:00 "¿Dónde Estás María?": 7:05 "Bomba Atómica": 11:49
Getting serious Residents vibes from this, love it.
@manuelalejandro3322
Жыл бұрын
They even have a song called "Somos los Residentes". Indeed a direct influence for them 🤠
@michaelfedak8963
Жыл бұрын
@@manuelalejandro3322 Wonderful bit of circularity there, The Residents were borrowing from Latin and Indigenous American music 40+ years ago and incorporating early electronic instruments. Now these guys evolve it further and bring it home.
I can`t stop listening.This is phenomenal good.Thank you,thank you...!
Wow, how great to hear something original !
gran banda latina, desde colombia para el mundo. Mis respetos desde chile
One of the best bands today
FYI, this is not their typical setup. Considering Tiny Desk’s sound restrictions and everything, this came out phenomenal!
GRACIAS MERIDIAN GRACIAS COLOMBIA
Qué grandeeeees. Te quiero mucho Eblis
Un poco loco, pero fantástico! Música muy agradable con mucho entusiasmo.🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎵🎵🎶👏👏👏🙏🏼
I love how different and fun this is. The first song is super unique and fun but the second song has me hooked. No idea what they’re saying but I’m singing along anyway.
Loved it, my favorite band from Colombia for sure
ARE U KIDDING ME I LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!
Que guapo ese calvo del teclado ❤
Que vaina tan hermosa! Larga vida a los Meridian Brothers ❤
Hay una empanada en este escenario.
Great, this made my day! Btw I didn't realize until now that the Meridian Brothers have been my favorite band for several years now
Geniales. Hace un año los vi en vivo y quedé maravillado con su música. Saludos des Ecuador
THE BEST!!!! If you get the chance to see them live, TAKE IT!!
B O G O T A ❤
Fire 🔥 sounds, I love how they incorporate different Latin rhythm and sounds to each song. Saludos
My favorite Colombian band…
La "Bomba Atómica" me renvoie aux souvenirs de l'excellente "Bomba Neutron" de Black Chantilly. Merci à eux de cette joie et de cette énergie. Un seul reproche : c'est trop court ! 🥰
Not my VIBE, but I am an open minded person. Always willing to learn and try something new/different. I watched the whole thing. Great that NPR does a variety of ARTISTS. A lil something something for everyone. Great Job 👏🏻
@dustinsimpson9876
10 ай бұрын
maybe later it will work for ya, things are not always immediate
Todo el amor para Meridian Brothers ayer, hoy y siempre. ❤
There is nobody like 'em! Love Meridian Brothers!
Eso!! Que viva Colombia! ❤️🇨🇴
These guys rule! Amazing stuff! So so fresh!
Qué chimba, Los hermanos conquistando nuevos meridianos!
¡Larga vida a Meridian Brothers!
Can't emphasize how happy this made me
This not music, this is frequency emition, very deep!!!
los meridian brothers son una banda de la mas mejor de los ultimos anos _ un complexo de musica bellissima que este gustosa para la psyche y para las gambas*°§çé°çç!!!
Where's me shrooms
Interesting hearing different styles of music there is out there!!!
los amo chicos!
Wow! Me super encanta, I love them, have seen them live a couple of times, they are awesome live. Finalmnete Meridian Brothers en Tiny Desk. No lo puedo creer, otra banda más que nos da orgullo latinoamericano y Colombiano en el Tiny Desk. Gracias por atreverse a poner música nueva. The future of the music is here.
Qué alegría verlxs tan lejos! 🎉 Mange la mejor!! Quiero un perrito que se llame Eblis ❤
meridian brothers por siempre!
Que chimba verlos llegar a Tiny Desk! ❤
Eblis y sus amigos siempre tan virtuosos 🇨🇴💕
Espectacular ❤❤❤❤🇨🇴🇨🇴🇨🇴🇨🇴
OMG THIS IS AMAZING!!!! estoy tan feliz de que finalmente apparecieron en NPR
QUÉ MARAVILLA DE CONCIERTO! Ojalá pronto podamos verlos acá en México ❣
Hey guys, you have to let that sink in first! It's definitely interesting, no question, the transitions are great too! Yes, that's something, you just have to get involved! Thanks for your performance 🙏🏻
VAMOOOOOO BOGOTA CARAJO. Cracks!!!!
This is great!
The first song sounds like 8-bit spooky haunted house music
WOW! Espectacular!!
que alegria verlos porfin en tiny desk, se merecen esto y mas por el largo camino que han recorrido como banda. un abrazo de un chileno que los escucha desde casi 10 años ya.
Doutro mundo... muito bom para nos ajudar a sentir vivos neste mundo!
TE AMO BOGOTÁ
Sólo 2 palabras se necesitan para catalogar a Los Meridian: muy tesos
surreal ver un live de su musica en tiny desk.
Qué orgullo!! 🧡🥲VAMAAS!!!!🔥
¡lo máximo!
loved it
¡GRANDE Y SABROSO! ¡Up the Meridians!
I love the meridian brothers!!!!
Tremendo los Meridian!! Ya se antojaba un Tiny Desk con tremendas joyas. Fuega!!!!!
Los amo ❤
GRACIAS NPR
Los amo meridian! ❤❤ que chimba verlos romperla cada vez más y más
Super Alejandro forero y la banda. Bendiciones
This is so cool
Mucha hermosura ✨🫶🏻✨
Increíblesss!!! 🔥🔥
La Bomba is sooo good !!
¡explota todo! Una banda única 🤩
SO GOOD!
Que dichaaaaa!!! La más fan hace más de 10 años!!!
Love these guys. Thanks Tiny Desk
Que genios ❤
los adoro
Colombia tierra querida intensifies* 🇨🇴
Genios 🌟💖