Alum TK Johnson Backs Bartees Strange for a Tiny Desk Instant Classic

Alum TK Johnson Backs Bartees Strange for a Tiny Desk Instant Classic The drummer has been playing with Bartees since 2022, and also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live supporting the indie artists new album, Horror.

By

John Mirisola

February 20, 2025

Drummer TK Johnson BM '22 performs with Bartees Strange at NPRs Tiny Desk.

Image courtesy of NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concert

Its been a big month for Bartees Strange and his band. The genre-bending indie rocker just released his phenomenal third LP, Horror, and with the band hes logged two barn-burning performances on the national stage-first playing the new song Backseat Banton on Jimmy Kimmel Live and then, this week, taking a set of all new material to NPRs Tiny Desk.

(Dedicated readers might also recognize Bartees from his appearance on our list of great cover songs.)

Drummer TK Johnson BM '22 has been backing Bartees since 2022, playing on multiple tours alongside artists including the National, Clairo, Boygenius, and Dijon. Johnson has also performed as a touring drummer with Colombian pop icon Karol G. She now joins an impressive cohort of alumni whove stepped behind Bob Boilens old desk.

Of all the times we've played together, Tiny Desk has gotta be in the top 5, Johnson said on Instagram. Thanks for bringing me along this ride, Bartees. The things this band does never cease to amaze me.

Bartees and co. tear through the energetic and emotive Horror cuts with just enough restraint to keep from blowing the dropped ceiling off the place. His band gives a leaner and meaner version of Wants Needs, featuring a toy megaphone and whirring tape loops, writes NPRs Lars Gotrich. Thats the ripper, I tell him beforehand, to which he responds, Theyre all rippers, man. No lies detected.

Help yourself to some rippers below.

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Drummer TK Johnson BM '22 performs with Bartees Strange at NPRs Tiny Desk.

Image courtesy of NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concert

Alum TK Johnson Backs Bartees Strange for a Tiny Desk Instant Classic The drummer has been playing with Bartees since 2022, and also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live supporting the indie artists new album, Horror.

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