I came here because I was missing my dad, Bill Callahan. Ended up loving the entire set.

Bill Callahan's "I've never had a deskjob" quip reminds me of the time I saw Smog perform in Leicester (UK), about 6 or 7 years ago. Between songs someone said " What do think of Leicester Bill?" And Bill said " Who comes from Leicester?" (or something like that), so I said " Englebert Humperdink". Bill said "Oh I've heard of him". I then said" What about Joe Orton" Bill said " Who's Joe Orton" And someone else shouted "A gay comedian". And Bill replied "Aren't we all"

Since it isn't already listed in the video, the people performing are Bill Callahan - Vocals/Guitar Kris Youmans - Cello Andra Kulans - Violin Jaime Zuverza - Guitar Luis Martinez - Percussion

1) Jim Cain 2) Rococo Zephyr 3) Too Many Birds All from "Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle" the last LP. You're so lucky to have found this, as you can now discover his back catalog of 20 years!

I always come back here and hear this session before I go to sleep. "spend half of the morning just trying to get up, half the evening just trying to calm down"

Just an unbelievably gifted singer/songwriter. His storytelling, guided by his profoundly keen emotional intelligence, is some of the best I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing.

Maybe the most underrated lyricist ever.

Music like this can save the world...rest in peace my dear friend Jonas.❤️

In my opinion, Bill has the greatest voice that's ever been recorded, ever.

This si still my favorite performance. Bill was at his best here.

hard to write something without sounding really cliche but I'm a big fan of this guy

The man is unreal and not to mention, the band that supports him is equally impressive.

Get Bill Back on the Tiny Desk!

I will listen to this set for the rest of my life, first came here in 2011. I love living!

If you play Bill's songs at x2 speed, they're actually quite cheery

I saw Bill Perform in Northampton Massachusetts. After the show I was invited to meet him. I'm also a musician and performer. I consider him to be a great influence when I write and compose my own music. I appreciate how thoughtful and genuine his words and music are. Being able to shake his hand and tell him how much of an inspiration he is, introduced to me to an understanding of feeling nervous when meeting a truly talented human being.

I still love to come back to this video and enjoy listening to Bill.

Just heartbreaking-ly lovely. Bill never fails to make my heart swell.

been listening to Smog since Read Apple Falls. I bought it when I was 18 cuz I liked the cover art, had never even heard of the band. That was eleven years ago. I have all the Smog albums now. I love you Bill.

still one of the best tiny desk sessions

Several times recently I've had my attention drawn to this rich velvet voice on the radio, had to stop whatever I was doing to wallow in the pleasure, then heard the name Bill Callahan mentioned. So I just had to look him up. Fab with the cello backing too.

That Jim Cain always brings tears to my eyes, well played Mr. Callahan

This is too good to be real, What a voice my friends, he is unreal 💥 I just love his music

I Love how it looks painful for him to sing. Like he's really singing from his heart

No songwriter has ever been more proficient in reading my mind.

Man... there is something so mesmerizing about his voice.Great to hear someone singing down in this lower bass-baritone range, too. Love the instrumentation, as well.I get the feeling these songs are coming from a very deep place.

Such solid music. Thanks Bill and band.

In case things go poorly And I’ve not returned Remember the good things I’ve done... Heartbreaking

Oh, he's a side-mouth singer - I never knew that...

Wonderful. What a lonesome voice. I think "Too Many Black Birds" is my favorite, so far. Just getting into this guy's music.

Utterly, absolutely, hammeredly, had me rooted to the spot. As exquisite a performance as we could expect in this age of instant gratification.

il conserve un visage juvénile, adolescent... comme un jeune homme de 20 ans... sa voix rivalise de profondeur et d'une pudique expressivité (vous pensez à L. Cohen?.. moi aussi)... il a toujours été très assuré car il a une juste appréciation de sa valeur artistique... flegmatique, doté d'un redoutable humour à froid, il fait les choses à sa façon, selon sa personnalité... c'est une belle âme, un homme que j'aime et respecte. Je le considère comme un pilier, un phare de la musique américaine...

This is an instant trance inducing tune for my daughter. She's fifteen m onths old now and has consistently worked for at least 11 months. Thanks, mom (Tonya T) for finding it!

This is the most beautiful live performance I have ever seen. Bill has gone from brilliant to even more brilliant.

I just found this band on Austin radio, I listen while getting ready for work

So a friend of mine just mentioned Bill Callahan's name in passing and I had never heard of him. He didn't say anything about him, we were just talking about great musicians and lyricists, so I jotted the name down and here (or hear) I am. just from hearing this initial set, my life has just changed as it did the day I first heard Kris Kristofferson and Leonard Cohen. Hearing this in the wake of Niel Peart's death has me a bit emotional. Music is such a wonderful superpower.

His music takes me back to the 70's and being on the road up and down the West Coast and all over Europe. It's beautifully nostalgic.

Still fantastic, to this day. My fave. Love you lots, Bill.

So happy to be listening 💕

Thanks for this journey, Bill

Gostaria de ter o Bill cantando todas as noites pra mim. A voz dele eh maravilhosa!!!

I just saw them in Paris last Friday! It was perfect! Usually it's that a concert hall or such change the sound a bit ... But no, they played in perfect harmony and sounded like heaven.

Too Many Birds is about the grackles in the Hancock H-E-B parking lot in Austin

wonderful great singer Bill Callahan what a voice wow

I had never seen a video of Bill Callahan before...not what I expected. I love the somber look on his face. Every word seems labored. But it works.

Love the way he sings out the corner of his mouth

Found this guy yesterday and I’m happy I did. Notice no dislikes because it’s impossible to dislike

Love you Bill. Nobody quite like you. 💖

This is beautiful. Top quality dreamscapes

Goosebumps. I love Bill Callahan and this TDC performance is pure gold.

Thank you so much NPRmusic for the entire Tiny Desk series! Brilliant!

Well I used to be kind of blind, and now I can sorta see... Thank you, Bill, for sharing with us.

Just gorgeous ❤

Glad I stumbled upon this page, totally made my day!

this makes my heart happy

This album, this tiny desk, they’ve stuck with me for many, many years. Life sure is cyclical…

Holy musical genius Batman!!!!!!! This band is awesome. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Wow this is beautiful, thanks to NPR for showcasing real talent

I think this was the firs time I heard Bill. I was hooked that year. Honestly now sure if this is the first or I heard a shong then found this right after. I do love this older stuff more than what I've heard the last couple years though. So much more feeling.

I love these tiny desk sessions so much.

love his poetry style:)

Incredible! Bill is smiling!

Just so intimate, and beautiful in it's simplicity. Always come back to watch this.

inspired and beautiful

beautiful voice, great musicians.... Soft, deep, soulful...

cheers bill you bellend great music

Absolutely fabulous as always, Bill is a genius!

this is just so profoundly beautiful... the whole thing warms me to the bone

This is just beautiful. Bravo!

He uses the same singing expressions that Joanna Newsom uses. My heart...

"Jim Cain" is amazing. Grettings from Ecuador.

I love Bill -- so soft and so powerful, very heavy music.

The quality of this video is very good! Thanks for sharing!

Talented, authentic, brave.. well done Bill, I really love your music

Oh, those eggs are hatching. I can't stop listening to this. Fantastic!

The sound these 5 make together is so one of a kind Awesome. ....check out their concert "la route. ....(something in French)..." brilliant

'least the sound is great. Never ceases to amaze me, Bill Callahan.

Beer, thank you.

What a great discovery. Beautiful thoughts and music Bill.

Stephen Thompson's favorite moment at 11:46

Love Bill Callahan. Small plane was our wedding song

I I love I love the I love the last I love the last song I love the last song on I love the last song on this I love the last song on this set.

Astral Weeks ...Tim Buckley...and now you...took me awhile..but glad to meet you 26/12/22

This is so good, 3 of his best to chill to whilst in the bath. Come back on tour to the Uk so we can see you live

he is so beautiful it honestly hurts

Damn . What a voice . what a dude . Can I drink a beer with you Bill .

God bless you brother Bill.

the reincarnation of Nick Drake? So good people still dare to make this kind of music

that first song is really sweet

deeply calming

Fucking hell, man. Your gorgeous baritone, beautiful lyrics, wonderfully sensitive accompaninament here. Superstar stuff :o)

Atenderwillowbranch....................Flo-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-tin'.... on me... So good

Silly Bird. You. Can't. Only. Stop. Your. Heart. Beat. For. One. Heart. Beat!

Golden bloody stuff! As the man says: 'It's a high compliment to suggest that these three Bill Callahan songs may well implant themselves in your brain...'

The Richard Burton of the male singing voice.

Alright, so which intern dropped the wide angle lens?

love bill love

bill callaham is an amazing singer

bill is the light bach for me, same depth but much more comforting and disturbing at the same time

Thank you for the wonderful Concert