Nathaniel Rateliff delivers an elaborate and warm Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

Nathaniel Rateliff gives one of the more elaborate than some of the other Tiny Desk (Home) Concerts that have come out in the year since this version of the NPR Music series began.

Rateliff technically isn’t at “home” performing at the Mercury Café, but he might as well be. Joined by a backing band and a small string section, Rateliff performs in a place he’s been familiar with his whole career. While this definitely isn’t the “stripped down” version of his work that the series promises, Rateliff’s work doesn’t really need to be stripped down in the first place. It’s already straightforward, heartfelt, and warm music, and this performance cements that fact.

Rateliff performs “And It’s Still Alright,” “All Or Nothing,” and “Mavis” from his 2020 album And It’s Alright, intercut with “Redemption,” written for the upcoming film Palmer. Each song feels almost like it’s falling into a sort of narrative — at least in an emotional sense. You can check out the performance below.