Shovels Rope: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Shovels Rope s presence in the NPR Music offices attracted plenty of interest; many in attendance had long since fallen in love with the husbandandwife duo s mix of rowdy folkrock and rootsy balladeering. But once Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent showed up, the office quickly lost sight of the approaching performance, as the murmurs began: There s a dog in the office there s a dog in the office there s a dog in the office You could practically see our coworkers brains short out from a combination of cognitive dissonance and canine adoration. But, as endearing as our new friend was, Shovels Rope soon won back the crowd s attention. After opening with the plaintive ballad Carnival, the South Carolina duo ripped through one of its signature rockers Birmingham, during which the pair held eye contact sweetly while singing in unison before closing with Bad Luck, a clattering gem for which the two swap instruments (he on guitar, she on drums). The song, originally from a Michael Trent solo alb