The music of the spheres start to bounce and sing

That's when you know you're swinging
*****************

Three little words that bring such happiness to my heart:

Andrew Bird Concert.

Last night I found myself in a small venue, surrounded by the sounds of layers upon layers of violin and the voice that rocks my world. At the Old Town School of Folk Music, an awesome place in Chicago that offers musical training and tons of local talent performances, Andrew celebrated the release of his new solo album. I reserved tickets for the center of the balcony, which turned out to be a perfect view of the entire stage. The opening act was surprisingly fun and interesting to watch, a group called Jellyeye. We made it ten minutes into their act, smack dab in the middle of a song. A 30 something woman in a red dress was standing over a man sitting on the stage with a cymbal on his head, stroking it to the rhythm of her beatnik song about her man and how 'he is the sauce on spaghetti' with paintbrushy looking drumsticks. Her voice reminded me of Billy Holliday. Then the whole group came out- a sax player, a bongo drums player, a kettle drum player and two other guys playing snare drums with the woman in the red dress. Those three were lined up in the middle of the stage with two drums on either side of each, playing in unison with identical drumstick flips and crossing arms. So cool to watch them jam. They performed a 10 minute story song about the love lives of primitive man and for the encore, the woman played a song called Black Horses in which she played a special guitar and three of the guys backed her up on drums and stomped and danced at times like flamenco dancers.
During the setup for Andrew, I struck up a conversation with the guy to my right. Turns out he is a huge Andrew fan and was at the Globe show I went to last March. He was the annoying guy ballroom dancing around the already super cramped bar that I wanted to strangle! I didn't tell him that, of course. Finally, Andrew was introduced and all was right with the world. He was really nice and was gushing about Andrew and his new works and how refreshing it is to have an album that has nice packaging in the setup of the good ol days of vinyl when you have something to look at while you listen to the album. It is too. I love the fold out section. If only I could get my computer to play the 8 minute bonus movie that's on there. Anyhoozle. Back to Bird.
The whole show was very toned down compared to past shows with the whole bowl of fire/quality six crew. Very dark. Very bitter.
but very emotional and spine tingling and beautiful.
He started the show with three solo songs from his new album, Weather Systems. He did a lot of playing with the mixer pedals at his feet, looping layers of sound. I forgot to bring a notepad, so bear with me.
Then, out came the one and only Nora to play acoustic guitar and sing backup vocals. She skipped out onstage with an ear to ear grin in black chunky heeled boots. (no ducky scarf). They played Action/Adventure and First Song together and then were joined by Kevin O'Donnell, looking very professional in a button up blue shirt. He played the drums, keyboard and xylophone.
I have no idea what order this all was in, but they played:

Lull
Don't Be Scared
Capital I
Banking on a Myth
Skin
Why
Headsoak (during which the stupid guy next to me sang to really loud...)

and a new one written about current world events, I think was called XY Missileproof. He sang about Bush - "I thought you were a paper doll"

Then Andrew went off into a story about the circumstances leading up to writing 'Happy Birthday'. He was working - get this- at a RENAISSANCE FAIRE, playing around with patrons all day, when he was given a purple sticky note that said 'Privy duty. 2:30'. Which meant it was his duty to entertain the poor folk waiting in ungodly heat to use the privies. It was in the middle of his performance that his hands decided they didn't want to work anymore. Andrew was charmingly shy, a bit more than usual. He said that everything has gone so smoothly, and being a superstitious person, made him fear that everything would go terribly wrong. We all cheered and screamed and Andrew responded with that sweet smile that makes you melt.

They also played the Mad Scientist song (I STILL can't remember the title to that one. geesh)

And a new one called 'Measuring Cup', about the atrocities of school. Reminded me of the message of 'Another Brick in the Wall part II'. We don't need no education!!! I think the lyric was 'let's play a new game, come up to the front of the class, bring your measuring stick and we'll measure your brain' and 'if you're not going to do what you're supposed to do, you better make it look convincing' and 'you'll go through the same when you've grown'

for the encore, Andrew and Nora went unplugged and unmiked for a song called 'Someday' (i think...) a gorgeous song about trying to find happiness. a recurring theme with him. wishing for contentment. Maybe that's partly why his music means so much to me.

After the show, Randy and I chased down Andrew. He immediately asked him about faire. Andrew freakin Bird was at MY Bristol Renaissance Faire in Kenosha, Wisconsin in 1994-1995. Can you believe that???
I had him sign my Weather Systems. He wrote 'with affection' again. aaaawwwwwwwwwwwwww shucks. In his presence I immediately went into dumbfounded-lack-of-ability-to-speak mode, but managed to ask if he was coming back to the Chicago area. He said nothing was booked yet but probably in June. (YAY!) Then I found Nora and thanked her for coming and said it wouldn't be the same without her. She was so happy about the show going so well and how awesome the acoustics were in the auditorium. I couldn't find Kevin.
What a great night. Hope the shows in NY rock too. Just for you, Righty.

Peace out. daylight savings time is wearing me out.

The music of the spheres start to bounce and sing

That's when you know you're swinging
*****************

Three little words that bring such happiness to my heart:

Andrew Bird Concert.

Last night I found myself in a small venue, surrounded by the sounds of layers upon layers of violin and the voice that rocks my world. At the Old Town School of Folk Music, an awesome place in Chicago that offers musical training and tons of local talent performances, Andrew celebrated the release of his new solo album. I reserved tickets for the center of the balcony, which turned out to be a perfect view of the entire stage. The opening act was surprisingly fun and interesting to watch, a group called Jellyeye. We made it ten minutes into their act, smack dab in the middle of a song. A 30 something woman in a red dress was standing over a man sitting on the stage with a cymbal on his head, stroking it to the rhythm of her beatnik song about her man and how 'he is the sauce on spaghetti' with paintbrushy looking drumsticks. Her voice reminded me of Billy Holliday. Then the whole group came out- a sax player, a bongo drums player, a kettle drum player and two other guys playing snare drums with the woman in the red dress. Those three were lined up in the middle of the stage with two drums on either side of each, playing in unison with identical drumstick flips and crossing arms. So cool to watch them jam. They performed a 10 minute story song about the love lives of primitive man and for the encore, the woman played a song called Black Horses in which she played a special guitar and three of the guys backed her up on drums and stomped and danced at times like flamenco dancers.
During the setup for Andrew, I struck up a conversation with the guy to my right. Turns out he is a huge Andrew fan and was at the Globe show I went to last March. He was the annoying guy ballroom dancing around the already super cramped bar that I wanted to strangle! I didn't tell him that, of course. Finally, Andrew was introduced and all was right with the world. He was really nice and was gushing about Andrew and his new works and how refreshing it is to have an album that has nice packaging in the setup of the good ol days of vinyl when you have something to look at while you listen to the album. It is too. I love the fold out section. If only I could get my computer to play the 8 minute bonus movie that's on there. Anyhoozle. Back to Bird.
The whole show was very toned down compared to past shows with the whole bowl of fire/quality six crew. Very dark. Very bitter.
but very emotional and spine tingling and beautiful.
He started the show with three solo songs from his new album, Weather Systems. He did a lot of playing with the mixer pedals at his feet, looping layers of sound. I forgot to bring a notepad, so bear with me.
Then, out came the one and only Nora to play acoustic guitar and sing backup vocals. She skipped out onstage with an ear to ear grin in black chunky heeled boots. (no ducky scarf). They played Action/Adventure and First Song together and then were joined by Kevin O'Donnell, looking very professional in a button up blue shirt. He played the drums, keyboard and xylophone.
I have no idea what order this all was in, but they played:

Lull
Don't Be Scared
Capital I
Banking on a Myth
Skin
Why
Headsoak (during which the stupid guy next to me sang to really loud...)

and a new one written about current world events, I think was called XY Missileproof. He sang about Bush - "I thought you were a paper doll"

Then Andrew went off into a story about the circumstances leading up to writing 'Happy Birthday'. He was working - get this- at a RENAISSANCE FAIRE, playing around with patrons all day, when he was given a purple sticky note that said 'Privy duty. 2:30'. Which meant it was his duty to entertain the poor folk waiting in ungodly heat to use the privies. It was in the middle of his performance that his hands decided they didn't want to work anymore. Andrew was charmingly shy, a bit more than usual. He said that everything has gone so smoothly, and being a superstitious person, made him fear that everything would go terribly wrong. We all cheered and screamed and Andrew responded with that sweet smile that makes you melt.

They also played the Mad Scientist song (I STILL can't remember the title to that one. geesh)

And a new one called 'Measuring Cup', about the atrocities of school. Reminded me of the message of 'Another Brick in the Wall part II'. We don't need no education!!! I think the lyric was 'let's play a new game, come up to the front of the class, bring your measuring stick and we'll measure your brain' and 'if you're not going to do what you're supposed to do, you better make it look convincing' and 'you'll go through the same when you've grown'

for the encore, Andrew and Nora went unplugged and unmiked for a song called 'Someday' (i think...) a gorgeous song about trying to find happiness. a recurring theme with him. wishing for contentment. Maybe that's partly why his music means so much to me.

After the show, Randy and I chased down Andrew. He immediately asked him about faire. Andrew freakin Bird was at MY Bristol Renaissance Faire in Kenosha, Wisconsin in 1994-1995. Can you believe that???
I had him sign my Weather Systems. He wrote 'with affection' again. aaaawwwwwwwwwwwwww shucks. In his presence I immediately went into dumbfounded-lack-of-ability-to-speak mode, but managed to ask if he was coming back to the Chicago area. He said nothing was booked yet but probably in June. (YAY!) Then I found Nora and thanked her for coming and said it wouldn't be the same without her. She was so happy about the show going so well and how awesome the acoustics were in the auditorium. I couldn't find Kevin.
What a great night. Hope the shows in NY rock too. Just for you, Righty.

Peace out. daylight savings time is wearing me out.