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Amanda Shires: Tiny Desk Concert

By Bob Boilen
Published August 3, 2011 at 10:47 AM EDT

Maybe it's the quiver in her voice or the poetry in her spare writing, but there's a magnetic pull that draws me into the music and stories of Amanda Shires. "I have one happy song, but I'm not going to do that today," Shires says with a bit of a smile during this performance at the NPR Music offices. But that's okay.

You may have seen this West Texas fiddler, now based in Nashville, behind Gwyneth Paltrow in the film Country Strong. You may have heard Shires playing with Drive-By Truckers' Jason Isbell or with Justin Townes Earle, the Thrift Store Cowboys or the legendary Texas Playboys. But for this Tiny Desk Concert, Shires performs with only her musical partner, the outstanding musician Rod Picott. Here, they play songs from Carrying Lightning, Shires' inspired new record, and the result is simple, raw, heartfelt and a delight.

Set List

  • "Swimmer..."

  • "Shake The Walls"

  • "When You Need A Train It Doesn't Come"

    • Credits

    Michael Katzif (cameras); edited by Bob Boilen; audio by Kevin Wait; photo by Mito Habe-Evans/NPR

    Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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    Music News from NPR
    Bob Boilen
    In 1988, a determined Bob Boilen started showing up on NPR's doorstep every day, looking for a way to contribute his skills in music and broadcasting to the network. His persistence paid off, and within a few weeks he was hired, on a temporary basis, to work for All Things Considered. Less than a year later, Boilen was directing the show and continued to do so for the next 18 years.
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