Fragile Rock: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Bob Boilen, July 14, 2017 For just 15 minutes on a glorious spring day in Washington, D. C. the town that birthed emocore three decades ago National Public Radio became National Puppet Radio. Rarely has a news organization had this much fun. It was the reallife breakup of band leader Brently Heilborn that led to the formation of the woefully woven band Fragile Rock. But these aren t just any puppets no. They are emo puppets, armed with drums and guitars and glum tales to tell, with songs like Wake Up to the Breakup and I Am Sad (And So Am I) that which draw from the spastic boogie of The B52s and the laments of The Smiths. At one point, you ll see Fragile Rock empty a bag of bloodied socks, tossing them into the crowd, before breaking into the song Socks Are Murder, a playful take on The Smiths thoughtful Meat Is And in the spirit of the day Fragile Rock managed to crowd surf a puppet bringing giggles to a crowd of reporters, editors and friends, while puppets depicting NPR ho