Ghost-Note stopped by NPR‘s headquarters in Washington, D.C., for an especially funky Tiny Desk Concert.

The nimble nonet led by drums/percussion duo Robert “Sput” Searight and Nate Werth showcased material from its latest album, Mustard n’Onions, and paid tribute to the band’s influences, starting with uptempo nods to James Brown and Sly & the Family Stone “JB’s Out” and “Move with a Purpose”. Vocalist Mackenzie Green then stepped center-desk (so to speak) for the soulful R&B cut “Synesthesia”, highlighting the group’s versatility.

“Be Somebody” was the sole selection not drawn from Mustard n’Onions. Introduced by Searight as a tribute to James Brown, the song’s title references a speech Brown delivered on national TV during riots spurred by the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., in which he championed education, ownership, and self-empowerment as a path to Black power: “Don’t terrorize. Organize. Don’t burn. Give kids a chance to learn. The real answer to race problems in this country is education. Not burning and killing. Be ready. Be qualified. Own something. Be somebody. That’s Black Power.”

“Slim Goodie”, another sultry soul number punctuated with an invigorating percussion break, brought the dynamic Tiny Desk Concert to a close.

Watch Ghost-Note’s full Tiny Desk Concert below.

Ghost-Note is gearing up to embark on an extensive December tour, kicking off with a three-night Northeast run that includes stops at Brooklyn Bowl (12/2), The Sinclair in Cambridge (12/3), and Ardmore Music Hall (12/4). The band will then head through the Midwest for a string of dates spanning Pittsburgh, Columbus, Detroit, and a two-night stand at Garcia’s in Chicago (12/9–10) before wrapping the initial leg in Cleveland on December 14th. After a brief break, the band will return for a special two-show night at New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market on December 20th and closes out the year with a New Year’s Eve performance at The Mint in Los Angeles. Ghost-Note will also appear at the Northlands Music & Arts Festival in Swanzey, New Hampshire, next June. Scroll down for a full list of tour dates and head to the band’s website for ticketing details.

Ghost-Note: Tiny Desk Concert

Ghost-Note Tour Dates:

Dec. 2 – Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY
Dec. 3 – The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA
Dec. 4 – Ardmore Music Hall, Ardmore, PA
Dec. 5 – Thunderbird Café & Music Hall, Pittsburgh, PA
Dec. 6 – Woodlands Tavern, Columbus, OH
Dec. 7 – Park Theatre, Holland, MI
Dec. 8 – Magic Stick, Detroit, MI
Dec. 9 – Garcia’s, Chicago, IL
Dec. 10 – Garcia’s, Chicago, IL
Dec. 11 – High Noon Saloon, Madison, WI
Dec. 12 – Fine Line, Minneapolis, MN
Dec. 13 – Hard Rock Cafe, Gary, IN (Free)
Dec. 14 – Grog Shop, Cleveland, OH
Dec. 20 – New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market, New Orleans, LA (7:00 PM)
Dec. 20 – New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market, New Orleans, LA (9:30 PM)
Dec. 31 – The Mint, Los Angeles, CA
June 19 – Northlands Music & Arts Festival, Swanzey, NH