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January 18, 2007

Andrew Bird @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC 1/17/07

Andrew Bird is cooler than you. Well, cooler in that tall, distracted, mad genius way, the sorta character that can have nervous tics of personality and head motions and still seem like the guy you need to know. Last night's Bird show at Bowery Ballroom was a sell-out, and despite songs mostly from his forthcoming release, Andrew kept our attention on him and off the inevitable, frigid walk home. (Someone please explain global warming again, this shit's confusing.)

Unlike last time we saw him at Bowery (with French-singing chanteuse Keren Ann), he wasn't alone; Andrew brought frequent collaborator Martin Dosh (composer/performer of last year's crazy-good Last Take) to handle drums, loop triggers, and keyboards, along with a third man on guitars and bass. Martin takes a writing credit on the awesome, new Bird tune "Simple Exercise." Look out for it.

If you've seen Andrew, you know he needs nothing more than his loop pedals, a naked foot (crowd kids had to remind him to peel off his fancy kicks when he was having pedal-tapping issues), a guitar, a violin, a glockenspiel, and those whistling lips to create full symphonies out of single-phrased melodies. Dosh's deep-pocket, ghost-noted drumming only sweetened the deal. Mad geniuses tend to sound good together.

Even without much Mysterious Production, the deeply-in-love expressions of the girls up front were proof enough that, as long as Andrew continued mumbling tangential anecdotes, conducting himself with swinging arms mid-whistle, and singing those Rufus-meets-Buckley larynx stretchers, he'd have the crowd's full support and loving gazes. Thing is, the new stuff does sound great, virtuoso performing and charming head bobs aside. Expect an expansion on the course plotted over the past few records, with a dash of Dosh for good measure.

Armchair Apocrypha is out 3/20 on Fat Possum.

Posted at 3:02 PM in
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18 Comments

Andrew Bird has the best voice I've ever heard. Not his singing voice, just his voice period; it has that whole wavy sorta "I'm too cool for school" beatnik tone to it that automatically makes me want to be him.

Posted by: Allen at 01/18/07 3:58 PM  | Reply
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It's true. Real men want to be Andrew Bird. Real men play violin. And whistle. Glockenspiel makes the ladies swoon.

Posted by: trackeightytwo at 01/18/07 4:06 PM  | Reply
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Definitely talented. Lookin' forward to his next album

Posted by: dudeasincool at 01/18/07 6:36 PM  | Reply
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it's true. my ideal man is andrew bird.

Posted by: faith at 01/18/07 6:47 PM  | Reply
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I am so glad the new album is not on Ani Difranco's label. Now maybe some non-bloggers will get a chance to hear his music!

If there were any marketing or publicity behind his last record he might've given Sufjan some serious competition for the consensus "best album of '05."

Posted by: aaron.spacemuseum at 01/18/07 6:51 PM  | Reply
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i can attest to his greatness....i saw him open up for devotchka for new year's weekend a couple of weeks ago....i have a live show here

http://julioenriquez.blogspot.com/2007/01/andrew-bird-black-session-live-03-21-05.html


for those that weren't able to catch him live....

Posted by: julio enriquez at 01/18/07 7:41 PM  | Reply
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I was wondering what media outlet you represented, as you typed notes into your crackberry. I was next to you, taking notes with my fountain pen in a red moleskine. (;

Posted by: cindy hotpoint at 01/18/07 8:09 PM  | Reply
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I posted some of Bird's new songs taken from the Live Music Archive at this url: http://staergetaleht.blogspot.com/2007/01/diggin-thru-live-music-archive-so-you_18.html Check it out to hear some of the new material. Which sounds excellent.

The Duke

Posted by: Duke of Straw at 01/18/07 9:21 PM  | Reply
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damn it, I am so insanely jealous every time someone talks about getting to see andrew bird live. I missed his last round of cali shows, and even though my favorite group is the bowl of fire, I have never seen him live! Curse you, stereogum!

Posted by: Figment at 01/18/07 10:16 PM  | Reply
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i'll admit, i was one of the girls up front with a "deeply-in-love expression". but i won't apologize, that man is magical.

Posted by: andrea at 01/18/07 11:42 PM  | Reply
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playlist for Andrew Bird http://www.seeqpod.com/music/?plid=0b0304153e909c6d4af1708fb328c59cfa9f3c43

Posted by: birdwatcher at 01/19/07 2:07 AM  | Reply
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I saw him open for the Magnetic Fields and he blew them off the stage.

Posted by: austin at 01/19/07 7:31 AM  | Reply
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He blew them off the stage? Then how did you see it?

Posted by: KissyKissy at 01/19/07 11:00 AM  | Reply
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I've been seeing Bird live since the Bowl of Fire days, and every single show has never been less than incredible.

If you get the chance to see him live, take it. Unless, of course, it means you'll sell the show out and I can't go.

Posted by: Casey at 01/19/07 11:34 AM  | Reply
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Global warming has disrupted the jet stream that normally controls "typical" weather. While there are extended stretches of warm weather, which we recently expereinced, the "typical" weather still emerges (for now, one day it will global warming will win out and Jimmy Buffet will be enjoyed by ALL!)

What... you asked.

Posted by: Jack at 01/19/07 1:33 PM  | Reply
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A friend of mine hooked me up with the new album.. and I can so far attest that it is truly amazing. Not sure whether I can say if it's better than Eggs. Too early. But it is very cohesive and smooth as usual, with a bit more of Dosh's keys and such.. plus that girl that sings on some of his older stuff is back ( i think it's the same one), and the harmonies are stunning.

Album artwork is nifty as well, might I add.. and Jay Ryan wasn't even involved (as far as I know).

Posted by: bob saget at 01/19/07 2:17 PM  | Reply
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the Dosh song is called "Simple X", and yes, the new record is absolutely stunning, better than Eggs (which i didn't think possible)

and it's not Nora on this record, it's Haley Bonar

Posted by: kj at 01/21/07 8:40 AM  | Reply
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ah, yes. i pushed my way up to the front when he played at SXSW this past year, and was totally swooning. i have an acquaintance who is a friend of his and she told me he is happily attached (clutches heart)... he IS the perfect man! and it was easily the best show i saw at SXSW.

Posted by: rachel at 10/10/07 6:16 PM  | Reply
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