Ratboys Bring Emotional Depth and Midwestern Charm to the Tiny Desk

Not many acts can seamlessly pull off an eight-minute rock epic during a Tiny Desk session, but Ratboys has more than earned the space to stretch out. Over more than fifteen years, the band has honed its craft into a seamless blend of indie-rock warmth and emotional depth. As frontwoman Julia Steiner notes between songs, the band has been watching these iconic concerts since the days of the family desktop computer.

With exceptional guitar work, Steiner’s sweet, expressive vocals, poignant lyrics, and a sturdy, Midwestern sensibility, Ratboys has established itself as an indie-rock mainstay. While this captivating performance draws from their recent album, Singin’ to an Empty Chair, and 2023’s The Window, it also offers a glimpse into a deep catalog of exceptional music waiting to be explored.

Steiner dedicates the set’s centerpiece to “the chillers” before launching into a miniature epic. The twangy track “Black Earth, WI” starts with a steady, midtempo groove before building into an explosive, headbanging riff. It is the kind of emotional thrill that has become a hallmark of Ratboys’ hard-won career.

SET LIST

• “Penny in the Lake”
• “What’s Right?”
• “Black Earth, WI”

MUSICIANS

• Julia Steiner: vocals, guitar
• Dave Sagan: guitar
• Sean Neumann: bass, background vocals
• Andy PK: guitar, pedal steel
• Marcus Nuccio: drums

TINY DESK TEAM

• Producer: Elle Mannion
• Director/Editor: Maia Stern
• Audio Director/Mix: Josh Newell
• Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
• Videographers: Maia Stern, Kara Frame, Mitra I. Arthur
• Audio Engineer: Josephine Nyounai
• Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
• Photographer: Bronson Arcuri
• Tiny Desk Team: Joshua Bryant, Felix Contreras
• Series Editor: Lars Gotrich
• Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
• Executive Director: Sonali Mehta
• Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson, Robin Hilton

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