Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs was reportedly fearful at the prospect following up 2011’s w h o k i l l, but that hasn’t really been apparent at any stage of the rollout of her new record, the SPIN Essential Nikki Nack. She took her fearlessness to The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon to perform “Water Fountain” alongside The Roots and a Pee-wee’s Playhouse-esque couch with teeth.
Garbus did most of her touring for w h o k i l l with a stripped down band and loop pedal as her accompaniment, but the Fallon performance pulled out all the stops and brought a couple of backing vocalists/dancers into the mix. Garbus has always been a dynamic live performer, but the expanded band is an appropriately powerful look for these new songs.
Check out the video above, and if you’re itching for more from Garbus, check out our recent feature wherein she outlines the circumstances of her new album.
