This Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, NPR Music celebrates artists from all corners of Latinidad with an ‘El Tiny’ takeover.
What an honor to host Fito Páez, one of the pioneers of Argentine rock, at the Tiny Desk for the start of Latin Music Month. In 1984, Páez released his debut solo album one year after Augusto Pinochet’s brutal dictatorship, joining the swell of Spanish language rock and roll that was growing in Argentina. His lyrical insight was poignant then and resonates now.
In this set, his beloved storytelling is on full display as well as his connection to the audience. Páez reaches back to early ’90s classics, including “A Rodar Mi Vida” and “Mariposa Tecknicolor,” but also features the retrospective new song “Sale el Sol.” The closing feels like a homecoming with a rendition of “Circo Beat” that wildly transitions into the reference-heavy “Tercer Mundo,” which gets a few lyrical updates for 2025.
SET LIST
“A Rodar Mi Vida””Mariposa Tecknicolor””Sale el Sol””Circo Beat””Tercer Mundo”
MUSICIANS
Fito Páez: vocals, keysJuani Agüero: guitar, background vocalsVandera: guitar, background vocalsDiego Olivero: bass, background vocalsJuan Absatz: keys, background vocalsEmme: background vocalsGastón Baremberg: drumsAlejo von der Pahlen: trumpetErvin Stutz: tenor saxophoneSantiago Benítez: trombone
TINY DESK TEAM
Producers: Anamaria Sayre, Felix ContrerasDirector/Editor: Joshua BryantAudio Technical Director: Josh NewellHost/Series Producer: Bobby CarterVideographers: Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Maia Stern, Sofia SeidelAudio Engineer: Neil TevaultProduction Assistants: Ashley Pointer, Dora LevitePhotographer: Zayhra RodriguezSeries Editor: Lars GotrichExecutive Producer: Suraya MohamedSeries Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson, Robin Hilton