Mdou Moctar: Tiny Desk Concert

Lars Gotrich | September 10, 2024
As soon as Mdou Moctar plugs in at the Tiny Desk, the Saharan shred begins. The music feels midstream, as if the licks never cease in his fingers — guitar strings bend with the utmost gentility, but, in an instant, set fire to the fretboard.

Born and based in Niger, Moctar comes from the Tuareg tradition: hypnotic desert blues that swim in rock distortion. (Think Tinariwen, Bombino and Al Bilali Soudan, all of whom have played Tiny Desk in their own distinct styles.) For more than a decade, Moctar has built an extensive repertoire that not only mesmerizes musically but also speaks to the joy of his homeland and resistance to those who exploit its people.

Unlike his acoustic-driven Tiny Desk (home) concert, Moctar and his berobed band here play up the chunky riffs and body-rattling volume of 2024’s Funeral for Justice: Orange amps, Fender Strats and, for this occasion, a kick-and-djembe combo that absolutely whips. Moctar’s aim is true: a plea, in Tamasheq, to preserve Niger’s native tongue (“Imouhar”); a protest against politicians who sell out Africa’s land and resources (“Funeral for Justice”); a battle versus inner demons (“Takoba”). In these songs, there’s a righteous fury, to be sure, but also a reminder that the good fight is always worth fighting.

SET LIST
“Imouhar”
“Funeral for Justice”
“Takoba”

MUSICIANS
Mdou Moctar: guitar, vocals
Ahmoudou Madassane: guitar, vocals
Souleymane Ibrahim: drums, vocals
Mikey Coltun: bass, vocals

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Lars Gotrich
Director/Editor: Kara Frame
Audio Technical Director: Neil Tevault
Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Kara Frame, Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Alanté Serene
Audio Engineer: Josephine Nyounai
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez
Tiny Desk Copy Editor: Hazel Cills
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins

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