The Doobie Brothers Bring Five Decades of Harmony to NPR’s Tiny Desk
When legendary artists step into the intimate setting of NPR’s Tiny Desk, the moment often reveals something unexpected. For The Doobie Brothers, whose career spans more than half a century, that revelation came almost immediately. Opening their set with “Takin’ It to the Streets,” Tom Johnston paused to acknowledge the unlikely magic of the room. Fresh from a large scale performance at Jones Beach in New York, he admitted that the Tiny Desk audience somehow managed to outdo the roar of an outdoor amphitheater. It was a telling moment, one that captured the unique energy bouncing off the walls of NPR headquarters.
Broadcast on November 5, 2025, the Tiny Desk Concert found Johnston, Michael McDonald, Patrick Simmons, and John McFee performing not as stadium veterans, but as seasoned musicians rediscovering the joy of close connection. With countless accolades behind them, including inductions into both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, The Doobie Brothers arrived with nothing left to prove. Yet their performance felt vibrant, present, and deeply engaged.
The appearance also marked an important chapter in the band’s ongoing story. Earlier this year, the living members reunited to release Walk This Road, their latest studio album. To support the record, they returned to touring and chose Tiny Desk as a platform to debut new material. The performance of “Angels & Mercy” sat comfortably alongside their classic catalog, demonstrating how their songwriting voice has matured without losing its melodic warmth or rhythmic soul.
Of course, a Doobie Brothers set would not be complete without the songs that defined generations of listeners. The office crowd quickly became a choir during “Black Water”, its familiar harmonies filling the room, before the band closed with the uplifting optimism of “Listen to the Music.” In the Tiny Desk setting, these well known songs felt less like nostalgia pieces and more like living works, still capable of bringing people together.
For a band with over 50 years of history, this Tiny Desk Concert was not about legacy alone. It was a reminder that even the most accomplished artists can still be surprised by their audience, and that great songs, when stripped down and shared up close, never lose their power.
Set List
Takin’ It to the Streets
Black Water
Angels & Mercy
Listen to the Music