and watch the band perform "EyeonEye" from his new album, Break it Yourself:
Showing posts with label andrew bird. Show all posts
Showing posts with label andrew bird. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
stream: the new Andrew Bird album - Break It Yourself
Bird's sixth album, Break It Yourself, will be released March 6th via Mom + Pop Music.
Tracklisting:
01. Desperation Breeds…
02. Polynation
03. Danse Caribe
04. Give it Away
05. Eyeoneye
06. Lazy Projector
07. Near Death Experience Experience
08. Behind the Barn
09. Lusitania
10. Orpheo Looks Back
11. Sifters
12. Fatal Shore
13. Hole in the Ocean Floor
14. Belles
02. Polynation
03. Danse Caribe
04. Give it Away
05. Eyeoneye
06. Lazy Projector
07. Near Death Experience Experience
08. Behind the Barn
09. Lusitania
10. Orpheo Looks Back
11. Sifters
12. Fatal Shore
13. Hole in the Ocean Floor
14. Belles
Stream it HERE
Saturday, December 31, 2011
My favourite albums of 2011
For me, this year was both good and bad for music.
Good because some of my favourite bands released new music, and I got to see loads of great concerts this year (The Strokes a couple of times, Arctic Monkeys, Delta Spirit, Arcade Fire, The National a couple of times, Beirut, Telekinesis, etc).
Bad because I didn't really get into any new bands this year. Partly because new music tended to bore me and partly because I've been swamped with life, law school and everything which falls in between.
So, without futher ado, here's my list of my favourite albums of 2011.
10. Foo Fighters - Wasting Light
4. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
3. Beirut - The Rip Tide
2. Arctic Monkeys - Suck it and See
1. The Strokes - Angles
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Andrew Bird announces new album + tour
Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself from Mom+Pop on Vimeo.
Break it Yourself will see a March 6th release in the US. and, to make things sweeter, Andrew Bird is offering the following goodies to anybody who purchases a ticket to a gig between March 15 and May 12:
Break It Yourself US Tour Ticket Bundle Exclusive
So check this out, when you purchase a ticket to one of the upcoming US tour dates from March 15 - May 12, you will receive a one-of-a-kind music & ticket bundle. Here’s what you’ll get:
1) the five-song live EP Fake Conversations delivered to your inbox in the next day or 3
2) a digital copy of the new album Break It Yourself one day before its release date
3) a second five-song live EP from the 2012 tour delivered next spring.
So check this out, when you purchase a ticket to one of the upcoming US tour dates from March 15 - May 12, you will receive a one-of-a-kind music & ticket bundle. Here’s what you’ll get:
1) the five-song live EP Fake Conversations delivered to your inbox in the next day or 3
2) a digital copy of the new album Break It Yourself one day before its release date
3) a second five-song live EP from the 2012 tour delivered next spring.
TOUR:
(tickets on sale Dec 9th)
| Date | City, State | Venue | Tickets |
| Jan 12 | Honolulu, HI | Hawaii Theatre | Tickets |
| Mar 5 | London, UK | Barbican Centre | Tickets |
| Mar 6 | Paris, FR | La Cigale | Tickets |
| Mar 8 | Brussels, BE | Cirque Royal | Tickets |
| Mar 9 | Amsterdam, NL | Paradiso | Tickets |
| Mar 15 | Dallas, TX | Majestic Theatre * | Presale |
| Mar 16 | New Orleans, LA | The Howlin' Wolf * | Presale |
| Mar 17 | Atlanta, GA | Tabernacle * | Presale |
| Mar 19 | Nashville, TN | Ryman Auditorium * | Presale |
| Mar 20 | Columbus, OH | Southern Theatre * | Presale |
| Mar 22 | St. Louis, MO | The Pageant * | Presale |
| Mar 23 | Kansas City, MO | The Uptown Theater * | Presale |
| Mar 24 | Milwaukee, WI | Riverside Theater* | Presale |
| Apr 9 | Seattle, WA | Paramount Theatre # | Presale |
| Apr 10 | Vancouver, BC | The Vogue # | Presale |
| Apr 11 | Portland, OR | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall # | Presale |
| Apr 13 | Oakland, CA | Fox Theater # | Presale |
| Apr 18 | Mesa, AZ | Ikeda Theater at Mesa Arts Center # | Presale |
| Apr 19 | Santa Fe, NM | Lensic Performing Arts Center # | Presale |
| Apr 20 | Tucson, AZ | Rialto Theater # | Presale |
| May 3 | Philadelphia, PA | Union Transfer ^ | Presale |
| May 4 | New York, NY | Beacon Theatre ^ | Presale |
| May 5 | New York, NY | Beacon Theatre % | Presale |
| May 6 | Boston, MA | House of Blues ^ | Presale |
| May 8 | Washington, DC | 9:30 Club ^ | Presale |
| May 9 | Baltimore, MD | Ramshead Live ^ | Presale |
| May 10 | Detroit, MI | The Fillmore Detroit + | Presale |
| May 12 | Chicago, IL | Auditorium Theatre + | Presale |
| June 6 | London, UK | Field Day 2012 | Tickets |
To Support
* Eugene Mirman
# Laura Marling
^ Patrick Watson
% Tift Merritt
+ Mucca Pazza
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Andrew Bird - Fever Year
as per Chicago's International Film Festival,
I saw Fever Year today.
It's a documentary about Andrew Bird. The title comes from the unfortunate fact that he sustained a fever/illness/chills for basically an entire year of touring, nearly 170 shows' worth.
Anyway, the film was brilliant. There were plenty of concert clips, and features about his fascination with horns, but best of all, it focused a lot on Bird's songwriting process at the gorgeous Bird Family Farm. It traces back to his early, unknown roots until present day. He talked a lot about how important improvising on stage is, and why he now prefers writing simpler songs so that he can have more freedom in the live setting.
The movie made me have all that much more respect for him.
additional screenings are forthcoming.
Colorado Premiere
Denver Film Festival
SAT. NOV 5, 1:15 PM
SUN. NOV 6, 9:30 PM
Tickets Here
.
European Premiere
Copenhagen Intl Documentary Film Festival
In Competition
"Sound & Vision Award"
THURS. NOV 10, 22:30
.
Missouri Premiere
St. Louis International
Film Festival
SAT. NOV 19, 8:30 PM
West Coast/California Premiere
Confirmed for early 2012
Details TBA
.
Pacific Northwest Premiere
Seattle, Washington
FRI. FEB 17, 8:00 PM
Details TBA
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
free download: Andrew Bird - Hospital
why yes, Mr Bird, you may sign me up for your email list. wait, I'm already on that. a free mp3 you say? why, don't mind if I do.
this comes from the soundtrack to Norman
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Andrew Bird tour documentary to be released this fall
Anyhow, this fall, a movie will be released chronicling Mr. Bird's musical triumphs on stage and how they affected him personally. It's called Fever Year and will debut at the Vancouver Film Festival sometime between the September 29th and October 14th. I'll post more info as I get it.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Andrew Bird - Useless Creatures
Andrew Bird at his psychedelic best. the instrumental bonus album to Noble Beast
2. You Woke Me Up! [mp3]
3. Nyatiti
4. The Barn Tapes
5. Carrion Suite
6. Spinney
7. Dissent
8. Hot Math
9. Sigh Master
ZIP FILE
Monday, April 26, 2010
Monday, November 30, 2009
My Top Ten Albums of 2009
head on over HERE to find out how you could win any of these albums!
10. Cage The Elephant - Cage The Elephant
RECORD REVIEW // AMAZON // MYSPACE
9. Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures
RECORD REVIEW // AMAZON // MYSPACE
8. Arctic Monkeys - Humbug
RECORD REVIEW // CONCERT REVIEW // AMAZON // MYSPACE
7. Girls - Album
RECORD REVIEW // AMAZON // MYSPACE
6. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
RECORD REVIEW // AMAZON // MYSPACE
5. Franz Ferdinand - Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
RECORD REVIEW // CONCERT REVIEW // AMAZON // MYSPACE
4. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
RECORD REVIEW // CONCERT REVIEW #1; #2 // AMAZON // OFFICIAL SITE
3. Black Lips - 200 Million Thousand
RECORD REVIEW // AMAZON // MYSPACE
2. Julian Casablancas - Phrazes for the Young
RECORD REVIEW // CONCERT REVIEW // AMAZON // OFFICIAL SITE
1. Telekinesis - Telekinesis!
RECORD REVIEW // CONCERT REVIEW // INTERVIEW // AMAZON // MYSPACE
honourable mentions/albums that would have made the list if it were 20 and not 10:
Audrye Sessions - Audrye Sessions
Bombay Bicycle Club - I Had the Blues but I Shook Them Loose
Cut off Your Hands - You & I
The Dead Weather - Horehound
The Dodos - Time to Die
Peter Doherty - Grace/Wastelands
Morrissey - Years of Refusal
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Regina Spektor - Far
Patrick Wolf - The Bachelor
10. Cage The Elephant - Cage The Elephant
RECORD REVIEW // AMAZON // MYSPACE9. Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures
RECORD REVIEW // AMAZON // MYSPACE8. Arctic Monkeys - Humbug
RECORD REVIEW // CONCERT REVIEW // AMAZON // MYSPACE7. Girls - Album
RECORD REVIEW // AMAZON // MYSPACE6. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
RECORD REVIEW // AMAZON // MYSPACE5. Franz Ferdinand - Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
RECORD REVIEW // CONCERT REVIEW // AMAZON // MYSPACE4. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
RECORD REVIEW // CONCERT REVIEW #1; #2 // AMAZON // OFFICIAL SITE3. Black Lips - 200 Million Thousand
RECORD REVIEW // AMAZON // MYSPACE2. Julian Casablancas - Phrazes for the Young
RECORD REVIEW // CONCERT REVIEW // AMAZON // OFFICIAL SITE1. Telekinesis - Telekinesis!
RECORD REVIEW // CONCERT REVIEW // INTERVIEW // AMAZON // MYSPACEhonourable mentions/albums that would have made the list if it were 20 and not 10:
Audrye Sessions - Audrye Sessions
Bombay Bicycle Club - I Had the Blues but I Shook Them Loose
Cut off Your Hands - You & I
The Dead Weather - Horehound
The Dodos - Time to Die
Peter Doherty - Grace/Wastelands
Morrissey - Years of Refusal
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Regina Spektor - Far
Patrick Wolf - The Bachelor
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Andrew Bird to score film: "Norman"
more than Where the Wild Things Are and 500 Days of Summer combined, this will be the ultimate I'm-going-to-see-this-film-because-of-the-music-featured-within-it flick.
Bird says of the film:
"It could do quite well. It’s got a fairly well known cast and it’s really well written and everything. It is more of a drama, it tackles high school drama without being lame...This is the first legitimate full length film that I did. I had the monitor of the film in the studio and I’m playing. It’s a lot of work. I don’t know if I ever want to do it again."
read more HERE
the premise of the film sounds cool enough:
"A troubled high-school kid (Byrd) pretending to be dying of cancer encounters problems with his new girlfriend (VanCamp) and others when he's exposed as a fraud"
it stars the guy from Aliens in America and the chick from Everwood. someone shoot me now for knowing that just by looking at a photo on IMDB. can I redeem myself by saying that I love Adam Goldberg? 'cause I do.
on a slightly related note, I was listening to Andrew Bird and the Mysterious Production of Eggs as I was tweezing my eyebrows this morning
Andrew Bird - Being Green (cover, en Francais!) [mp3]
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
must watch video: Andrew Bird - Route du Rock, Saint-Malo, France (ACOUSTIC GOODNESS!)
I can't figure out how to embed this, click HERE to watch.
holy crap, this is amazing. the first song, "Headsoak" (from his Bowl of Fire days), channels 60's Dylan like nobody's business. I fucking love it. then, brace yourself, as the performance of "Anonanimal" is staggering, especially because it serves as a forceful reminder that the more that TALENTED artists play their "hits", the better the songs sound! good quality never gets tiring.
I love Andrew Bird. the only thing that bothers me about the page is the bit that says "sounds like M.Ward". no offense to Mr Ward, but he aint got nothing on my main man Andrew.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
must watch video: Andrew Bird - Anonanimal (acoustic)
this gave me shivers and I just had to share it. I love Andrew Bird so much.
"I will become this animal, perfectly adapted to a music hall"
he needs to get home to his farm house and take a break.
Monday, July 13, 2009
concert review: Ra Ra Riot, Andrew Bird, Death Cab for Cutie @ Greek Theatre (Berkeley), 11 July 2009
Saturday’s concert was, hands down, one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to (and I go to a ton of shows).The evening was simply magical.
Ra Ra Riot opened with a short but solid set drawing from their debut The Rhumb Line. Although they faltered at first, they gained confidence with each song, culminating with a spectacular rendition of "Oh, La" that was ringing in my head all night.
They were clearly comfortable, and their interaction on stage showcased deep bonds of friendship. Although their intimate, string driven songs would be better delivered at a small venue, the Greek Theatre's vast size did not hinder their enthusiasm, nor their strong deliveries.
Andrew Bird came on stage next and the crowd quickly broke into song wishing him a happy birthday (we did this again midway through his set). Bringing along his signature spinning gramophone and stuffed monkey, Mr. Bird awed the audience with his highly improvisational, technically magnificent songs.
My theory that this man possesses magical powers was cemented as it started raining during "Anonanimal", a beautiful rainbow emerging in the sky. The strongest song of the set was the closer, "Fake Palindromes". I was nearly in tears when he left the stage, and although I had only heard about an hour of music, I was satisfied. Death Cab was the frosting on the cake.
Death Cab for Cutie, or Taxi De La Muerta Para Mamasita (as a pair of Columbian boys translated for me) were simply stellar. I've been a fan of the band for four years now, but I had never seen them in concert. That was a big, big mistake on my part. Their live performance is much needed nourishment for the soul in an age where Rolling Stone gives the Jonas Brothers not one but two covers.
Their twenty song set list (which I jotted down as the night progressed) was superbly crafted; it reminded me a bit of what Rob from High Fidelity says about mix tapes (about turning it down a notch and then back up). Best of all, they relayed the songs equally. By this I mean they didn't seem any less enthused about playing their singles than their lesser known songs. I really hate it when bands make it seem like it's a burden to play their hits. Ben Gibbard did the opposite, and the result was amazing.
Best of all, the concert made me want to go home and play their records over and over again. The best concerts are the ones that remind you why you love the band in the first place, strengthening your resolve to shun the radio and revel in the glory that is quality music.
Set List:
Marching Bands of Manhattan
Your Heart is an Empty Room
The New Year
We Laugh Indoors
Crooked Teeth
No Sunlight
My Mirror Speaks
President of What?
Summer Skin
Grapevine Fires
I Will Possess Your Heart
I Will Follow You Into the Dark
Little Bribes
Cath
A Movie Script Ending
Soul Meets Body
What Sarah Said
Long Division
The Sound of Settling
Transatlanticism
Ra Ra Riot: 3.5/5
Andrew Bird: 4.9/5 (my only complaint is that his set should have been longer)
Death Cab for Cutie: 5/5
videos will be uploaded to my YOUTUBE page shortly
Death Cab for Cutie - Cath (Craig Ferguson) [mp3]
Ra Ra Riot opened with a short but solid set drawing from their debut The Rhumb Line. Although they faltered at first, they gained confidence with each song, culminating with a spectacular rendition of "Oh, La" that was ringing in my head all night.
They were clearly comfortable, and their interaction on stage showcased deep bonds of friendship. Although their intimate, string driven songs would be better delivered at a small venue, the Greek Theatre's vast size did not hinder their enthusiasm, nor their strong deliveries.
Andrew Bird came on stage next and the crowd quickly broke into song wishing him a happy birthday (we did this again midway through his set). Bringing along his signature spinning gramophone and stuffed monkey, Mr. Bird awed the audience with his highly improvisational, technically magnificent songs.
My theory that this man possesses magical powers was cemented as it started raining during "Anonanimal", a beautiful rainbow emerging in the sky. The strongest song of the set was the closer, "Fake Palindromes". I was nearly in tears when he left the stage, and although I had only heard about an hour of music, I was satisfied. Death Cab was the frosting on the cake.
Death Cab for Cutie, or Taxi De La Muerta Para Mamasita (as a pair of Columbian boys translated for me) were simply stellar. I've been a fan of the band for four years now, but I had never seen them in concert. That was a big, big mistake on my part. Their live performance is much needed nourishment for the soul in an age where Rolling Stone gives the Jonas Brothers not one but two covers.
Their twenty song set list (which I jotted down as the night progressed) was superbly crafted; it reminded me a bit of what Rob from High Fidelity says about mix tapes (about turning it down a notch and then back up). Best of all, they relayed the songs equally. By this I mean they didn't seem any less enthused about playing their singles than their lesser known songs. I really hate it when bands make it seem like it's a burden to play their hits. Ben Gibbard did the opposite, and the result was amazing.
Best of all, the concert made me want to go home and play their records over and over again. The best concerts are the ones that remind you why you love the band in the first place, strengthening your resolve to shun the radio and revel in the glory that is quality music.
Set List:
Marching Bands of Manhattan
Your Heart is an Empty Room
The New Year
We Laugh Indoors
Crooked Teeth
No Sunlight
My Mirror Speaks
President of What?
Summer Skin
Grapevine Fires
I Will Possess Your Heart
I Will Follow You Into the Dark
Little Bribes
Cath
A Movie Script Ending
Soul Meets Body
What Sarah Said
Long Division
The Sound of Settling
Transatlanticism
Ra Ra Riot: 3.5/5
Andrew Bird: 4.9/5 (my only complaint is that his set should have been longer)
Death Cab for Cutie: 5/5
videos will be uploaded to my YOUTUBE page shortly
Death Cab for Cutie - Cath (Craig Ferguson) [mp3]
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
video: Andrew Bird - "Oh No" on Conan
holy crap! two nights in a row, two-thirds of the fantastic lineup for Saturday!
sososoosososossosoosososo excited.
he is so spastic and bloody talented, I adore him with every fibre of my being.
Andrew Bird - Oh No (Conan) [mp3]
sososoosososossosoosososo excited.
he is so spastic and bloody talented, I adore him with every fibre of my being.
Andrew Bird - Oh No (Conan) [mp3]
Monday, March 16, 2009
Death Cab for Cutie to play Greek Theatre with Andrew Bird and Ra Ra Riot
wow.
I just got shivers.
damn. good. lineup.
a new EP is in the works.
The Open Door is scheduled to be released online via all digital retailers on March 31st , and physical CDs will be available at venues starting at the April 7th Philadelphia show. The EP will be available in retail stores on April 14th.
Tracklist:
1. "Little Bribes"
2. "A Diamond And A Tether"
3. "My Mirror Speaks"
4. "I Was Once A Loyal Lover"
5. "Talking Bird (Demo)"
new shows added:
Sunday, July 5th @ Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl
w/ Tegan & Sara, The New Pornographers
Fan club tickets on sale April 16th | General tickets on sale May 2nd
Saturday, July 11th @ Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre
w/ Andrew Bird, Ra Ra Riot
Fan club tickets on sale March 18th | General tickets on sale March 22nd
Tuesday, July 14th @ Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
w/ Andrew Bird, Ra Ra Riot
Fan club tickets on sale March 18th | General tickets on sale March 20th
Thursday, July 16th @ Vancouver, BC - Pacific Coliseum
w/ The New Pornographers, Ra Ra Riot
Fan club tickets on sale March 25th | General tickets on sale March 27th
Friday, July 17th @ Troutdale, OR - Edgefield Amphitheater
w/ The New Pornographers, Ra Ra Riot
Fan club tickets on sale March 18th | General tickets on sale March 21st
Saturday, July 18th @ Redmond, WA - Marymoor Park
w/ The New Pornographers, Ra Ra Riot
Fan club tickets on sale March 25th | General tickets on sale March 28th
Death Cab for Cutie - What Sarah Said [mp3]
DCFC's OFFICIAL WEBSITE
DCFC ON AMAZON
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Band of the Week + concert review: Andrew Bird
When I took a class on Social Factors in Design (with Professor Galen Cranz, the best thing ever to happen to Berkeley's College of Environmental Design), I learned that you can really tell a lot about a place by the people who occupy the space.
This was very pronounced Thursday night (19 February 2009) at the Fillmore, when Andrew Bird played the first of his two sold out shows in San Francisco.
Before the show started, I busted out The Guermantes Way, and got a good 40 pages read. When I sat down, I realized that the girl behind me was also reading. And the group to my right were having a conversation that included someone exclaiming "and I couldn't do that to the library's copy!"
Yeah, we're a literary group.
The show commenced with a set from Emil Svanängen, under the pseudonym Loney Dear (much in the vein of "Dashboard Confessional" as another name for Chris Carrabba, which later evolved into a band).
The band gained more of the audience's attention with each consecutive song. Emil got the audience to sing along with one of the songs, acting as the conductor with universal hand signals. I love that music can transcend all linguistic barriers (although he did sing in English). The Stockholm native sounded a bit like Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody, although his music had a much wider range, including some electronica provided by a somewhat androgynous looking keyboardist whom I finally decided was a dude.
visit Loney Dear on MYSPACE, they're playing a handful of more shows with Mr. Bird, and then will proceed to continue the tour on their own.
AH, now I can move on to the main attraction. The ever effervescent Andrew Bird, multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire.
Each description I've ever read about this guy is always fixated with his "shyness", but I didn't get that at all during the set. He was grinning and thoroughly enjoying himself throughout the set, which commenced with "Master Sigh" (off of the bonus disc of Noble Beast), and Andrew throwing his shoes off.
He quickly got comfortable and played a mix of songs primarily from his newest record but the encore gave fans a treat with "Why" (off of the live record Fingerlings) and "Don't Be Scared", off of his first solo record, Weather Systems.
Andrew enthusiastically fluctuated between his violin (which he played both with a bow and as percussion with his fingers), his guitar (often tweaked with the help of his loop pedals) and a glockenspiel (a percussion instrument similar to a xylophone, but with a different range). The sound was extraordinarily powerful, even for his music. The intricate complexity of his songwriting really shined in the live rendition of the songs. I never knew anyone could whistle so loud. It was incredible.
My only complaint was that the reverb kind of overpowered his voice for the songs not found on Noble Beast, as if he didn't bother focusing on elocution with the songs which he expects his fans to know by now. Nonetheless, each song was done beautifully and I was still dumbstruck the next day, especially by "Effigy", which was wonderfully reinvented during the set. He explained that the lyric "like the words of a man who's spent a little too much time alone" is about "that guy sits alone at the end of the bar whom we secretly fear that we'll become...you know, write one too many sci-fi novels...". Whew, that's a relief, I thought he was talking about himself when I first heard it.
Andrew Bird is known for his improvisation skills and his unique shows; each set is distinct, with slight tweaks in the songs and various substitutions with musical instruments. He also tours with a monkey and an elaborate gramophone, which spins during his higher energy songs.
If you have the chance to see this guy live, please do it. He's bridging the gap between classical and rock/pop music. He's been a classically trained violinist since he was four, he studied music at Northwestern's prestigious music program and and he only just learned how to play guitar a few years ago (he taught himself). I adore this man.
Andrew Bird - Effigy [mp3]
off of Noble Beast
Andrew Bird - Don't Be Scared [mp3]
off of Weather Systems
Andrew Bird - Opposite Day [mp3]
off of Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs
(that album was my first taste of Andrew Bird. genius stuff)
Set List:
This was very pronounced Thursday night (19 February 2009) at the Fillmore, when Andrew Bird played the first of his two sold out shows in San Francisco.
Before the show started, I busted out The Guermantes Way, and got a good 40 pages read. When I sat down, I realized that the girl behind me was also reading. And the group to my right were having a conversation that included someone exclaiming "and I couldn't do that to the library's copy!"
Yeah, we're a literary group.
The show commenced with a set from Emil Svanängen, under the pseudonym Loney Dear (much in the vein of "Dashboard Confessional" as another name for Chris Carrabba, which later evolved into a band).
The band gained more of the audience's attention with each consecutive song. Emil got the audience to sing along with one of the songs, acting as the conductor with universal hand signals. I love that music can transcend all linguistic barriers (although he did sing in English). The Stockholm native sounded a bit like Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody, although his music had a much wider range, including some electronica provided by a somewhat androgynous looking keyboardist whom I finally decided was a dude.
visit Loney Dear on MYSPACE, they're playing a handful of more shows with Mr. Bird, and then will proceed to continue the tour on their own.
AH, now I can move on to the main attraction. The ever effervescent Andrew Bird, multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire.
Each description I've ever read about this guy is always fixated with his "shyness", but I didn't get that at all during the set. He was grinning and thoroughly enjoying himself throughout the set, which commenced with "Master Sigh" (off of the bonus disc of Noble Beast), and Andrew throwing his shoes off.
He quickly got comfortable and played a mix of songs primarily from his newest record but the encore gave fans a treat with "Why" (off of the live record Fingerlings) and "Don't Be Scared", off of his first solo record, Weather Systems.
Andrew enthusiastically fluctuated between his violin (which he played both with a bow and as percussion with his fingers), his guitar (often tweaked with the help of his loop pedals) and a glockenspiel (a percussion instrument similar to a xylophone, but with a different range). The sound was extraordinarily powerful, even for his music. The intricate complexity of his songwriting really shined in the live rendition of the songs. I never knew anyone could whistle so loud. It was incredible.
My only complaint was that the reverb kind of overpowered his voice for the songs not found on Noble Beast, as if he didn't bother focusing on elocution with the songs which he expects his fans to know by now. Nonetheless, each song was done beautifully and I was still dumbstruck the next day, especially by "Effigy", which was wonderfully reinvented during the set. He explained that the lyric "like the words of a man who's spent a little too much time alone" is about "that guy sits alone at the end of the bar whom we secretly fear that we'll become...you know, write one too many sci-fi novels...". Whew, that's a relief, I thought he was talking about himself when I first heard it.
Andrew Bird is known for his improvisation skills and his unique shows; each set is distinct, with slight tweaks in the songs and various substitutions with musical instruments. He also tours with a monkey and an elaborate gramophone, which spins during his higher energy songs.
If you have the chance to see this guy live, please do it. He's bridging the gap between classical and rock/pop music. He's been a classically trained violinist since he was four, he studied music at Northwestern's prestigious music program and and he only just learned how to play guitar a few years ago (he taught himself). I adore this man.
Andrew Bird - Effigy [mp3]
off of Noble Beast
Andrew Bird - Don't Be Scared [mp3]
off of Weather Systems
Andrew Bird - Opposite Day [mp3]
off of Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs
(that album was my first taste of Andrew Bird. genius stuff)
Set List:
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