But if you think you know “Machinehead,” prepare to be surprised by this Tiny Desk arrangement. It’s quieter and slower than the revving speed of the original, but thoughtfully weighted — the years of wear and tear give meaning to once nonsensical lyrics like “bleeding through a tourniquet smile.” The same goes for “Glycerine,” an alt-rock ballad slimmed down to piano and guitar fuzz, underscored by an a capella vocal performance that left the room stunned. The dreamy “Out of This World,” from 2001’s Golden State, emerges from a rubble of noise and feedback — a deep cut reshaped into something stranger, more attuned to our desperate and disorienting atmosphere.
Bush closes with the title track from I Beat Loneliness, a 2025 album that’s worth clocking into if you’ve missed a certain era of melodically-driven hard rock. Triumphant riffs explode as Rossdale is defiant in his naked vulnerability, buttoning up a moving set that reconsiders and extends the signature sound of Bush.
SET LIST
- “Machinehead”
- “Glycerine”
- “Out of This World”
- “I Beat Loneliness”
MUSICIANS
- Gavin Rossdale: vocals, guitar
- Chris Traynor: guitar
- Corey Britz: bass, background vocals
- Nik Hughes: drums
- Joshy Soul: keys, piano, background vocals
TINY DESK TEAM
- Producers: Josh Newell, Lars Gotrich
- Director/Editor: Maia Stern
- Audio Director/Mix: Josh Newell
- Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
- Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame
- Audio Engineer: Josephine Nyounai
- Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
- Copy Editor: Hazel Cills
- Photographer: Vanessa Castillo
- Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
- Executive Director: Sonali Mehta
- Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson, Robin Hilton
Copyright 2026 NPR
