Tiny Dancer / In The Sand

Have you guys heard of NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts? And if so, why didn't you clue me in sooner?

They're mini-concerts video-recorded live in the perfectly cluttered office of "All Songs Considered" host Bob Boilen. Indie, gospel, hip-hop, jazz, classical, reggae, gypsy punk: there's something for everyone. Most artists play a set of three or four songs, every now and again there's a little talk, some bring friends along for the ride. What a lovely idea!

Recommended sampling:
Ana Tijoux
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
The Tallest Man On Earth

Got No Time To Take A Picture

Indie bands perform live, courtesy of Le Cargo on youtube. 618 videos and counting! I'm particularly fond of this one:



(via metafilter)

Perfection As a Hipster

You're walking down the street in your skinny jeans, thick-rimmed glasses, over-sized headphones, and you're thinking to yourself: if only I had a hipster shirt to go with this outfit...

The Yellow Bird Project is a young Montreal-based non-profit that 1. raises money for charities by selling t-shirts designed by indie rock bands, 2. raises awareness for those charities through the artists' endorsement, and 3. picks up on some great new bands. Each webpage says a little bit about the shirt, a little bit about the band, and a little bit about the charity.

Par Example (French, because this is based in Canada, eh?):

Stars / Le Chaînon Women's Shelter



Grizzly Bear / Brighter Planet



The National / Safe Space



Plus: the Indie Rock Coloring Book. (Secretly you know you want it. I do.)




(more bands/charities/shirts here)