Many music fans are well-acquainted with NPR‘s “Tiny Desk” concert series, which takes a vast array of artists and puts them behind a desk and in front of the camera for a live recorded performance. Tiny Desk has featured an incredible list of performers throughout its history, including Run The Jewels, Anderson .Paak, Chick Corea, Steve Kimock, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and countless others.
Late last year, NPR announced that Phish frontman Trey Anastasio (who performed his own Tiny Desk concert a couple years back) would serve as a featured judge for the 2016 “Tiny Desk Contest.” Thea nationwide competition calls on bands to film themselves performing an original composition around a desk and send in their videos for consideration.
Phish’s Trey Anastasio To Judge NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest Submissions
Today, NPR announced the winners of the competition: New Orleans hip-hop/R&B/soul/spoken word outfit Tank and The Bangas. You can watch their winning submission below:
Anastasio commented on the group in a post on his Facebook page, raving about the charismatic contest winners: “Tank and the Bangas is like a psychedelic joy rap explosion. Like a female Sly Stone teleporting into 2017 and landing in New Orleans. I love this video. It makes me want to be there. I saw so many amazing musicians while judging this year’s Tiny Desk Contest. Proud to share the winner today — New Orleans natives Tank and the Bangas! Thousands of entries from all 50 states. One winner…This is the one video out of thousands that won NPR Music Tiny Desk Contest. Introducing Tank and the Bangas!”
You can find out more about the incredible Tank and the Bangas on their Facebook page. For more information and a list of upcoming tour dates, visit the band’s website.