I saw Andrew Bird perform yesterday, and his CD’s had not prepared me for what an amazing performer he is. If you ever have a chance to catch this cat live, do yourself a favor and go. It’s quite an experience.
Now, if there are Bird fans on board, I wonder if you can help me out. I loved this one song he did which begins something like “When I was a boy, I through out all my action toys…” I can’t seem to figure out what the title of the song is or what album it’s on, but I really want a copy. Incidentally, it is NOT “action/adventure” (which he also performed).
Can’t help you, but considering this is an Andrew Bird thread, I can’t let it go by without recommending his great album, The Swimming Hour. I especially like the song “How Indicreet”… it has some of my alltime favourite drumming on it.
Agreed. My only disappointment about the show was, he didn’t play “Satisfied.” Apparently there were technical problems and he couldn’t play some of the songs he wanted to.
I’m a fan; I’ve got all his albums and I’ve seen him live I think four times, the first time being back in 2000 when he was still with the Bowl of Fire.
I can’t help you there, I’m afraid; I’ve looked through his albums (and I know them all by heart) and don’t know what song that might be. Did he say anything about it? He often tries out new stuff in his live shows, so it might have been a new work in progress, or maybe he was tweaking/changing something old.
And I’ll second the recommendation to catch his shows; he’s incredible. I would never have suspected that such music could come from one guy with a violin, a glockenspiel, a guitar (sometimes), and his own voice and world-class whistling. Well, and that computer looping-device he uses.
I really don’t think there’s a genre for the kind of music he’s making now; it’s not like anything I’ve heard before. A mix of folk, chamber music, jazz, and “Sesame Street” is about the best description I can come up with.
It is a song he said he wrote in Minneapolis, and performed first here… I think he said it was called “Dark Matter,” but when I found a song by that name (on the MPR website), it was different. I think he’s still working on it and changing the lyrics, which apparently he’s infamous for… changing songs around.
Anyway, I noticed when I listed his songs in iTunes just about every genre is listed – alternative rock, jazz, blues, even new age. It’s funny.
I became a fan of Bird’s when I was deep into the Squirrel Nut Zippers. He played violin on their albums when they needed it.
His first album, with Bowl of Fire, “Thrills”, is amazing. I love it top to bottom.
I saw him in 98 (i think?) in a small club in Cleveland and was just blown away. He is just about the most handsome man alive. Also very tiny man with an AMAZING voice (think Chet Baker with more oomph). I spoke with him for quite a while and he is soooo quiet and shy.
My buddies from SNZ agree that he’s really quiet and reserved. The two guys I know, being the more “boisterous” Zippers, say that he didn’t like them too much. I am sure they scared him
Andrew sang and played on BOF drummer Kevin O’Donnell’s album “Heretic Blues” (Kevin O’Donnell’s QUality Six) and his performance on that may out-do that of “Thrills”.
“Oh, The Grandeur!” was even more powerful and amazing than “Thrills” and “Heretic Blues.” I was so stoked when it came out. Got my copy the first day and everything. I saw them live again. Wheeee!!!
Since I was such a fan of his jazz stuff, I wasn’t too into “Swimming Hour” or “Weather Systems” which have him going in a more folk-like direction. Consequently, “Music of Hair” which was his first non-label album (before “Thrills”) was alot more folk-y than I was used to. I have a copy of it, which I mentioned on my Andrew Bird web page (yup just one page!) and a ton of people asked me for a copy. I ended up directing them toward’s BOF’s manager, who eventually got it re-released due to Andrew being so popular - just from people seeing him live and wanting more.
So yeah, Bird is an absolute gem. A quiet “evil genius” I think. He’s interested in ALL sorts of music and does them ALL well. I hope this thread gets more people into him. Such a talent!!!
