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This Week in Great Music: 2/6 – 2/12

Sarah — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:14:18 +0000

Monday, February 6
Jeff Mangum, Andrew Reiger, Laura Carter, Scott Spilane; Athenaeum Theatre. 6:30 pm, sold out
Robbie Fulks; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation
Deleted Scenes, The Hudson Branch; Subterranean. 8 pm, $10

Tuesday, February 7
Jeff Mangum, Andrew Reiger, Laura Carter, Scott Spilane; Athenaeum Theatre. 7:30 pm, sold out
Mar Caribe, Sally Timms; Hideout. 9 pm, $5 suggested donation
Craig Finn, Mount Moriah; Empty Bottle. 9:30 pm, $12-14

Wednesday, February 8
Meh?

Thursday, February 9
Jenny Owen Youngs, New Empire; Schubas. 8 pm, $12-14
Miri Ben-Ari, Lying Delilah; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, $45

Friday, February 10
Juno What?!, Dance Floor Plans; Martyrs. 9:30 pm, $10
Judson Claiborne, Eiren Caffal, the Counterpane; Hideout. 10 pm, $10

Saturday, February 11
The Shams Band, Elephant Gun, The Damn Choir, Architecture; Subterranean. 8:30 pm, $10
Rego, Elsinore, Algebro, MB; Lincoln Hall. 9:30 pm, $10
Derek Nelson & the Musicians, Daphne Willis, Jenny Dragon; Martyrs. 9:30 pm, $8

Sunday, February 12
Meh.

This Week in Great Music: 1/23 – 1/29

Sarah — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:37:38 +0000

I’ll be at Schubas on Wednesday for Cheyenne Marie Mize, and Lincoln Hall the next day for Kathleen Edwards. I’ll be the lady with a camera, looking very tired and surly. Say hi if you see me.

Monday, January 23
Meh.

Tuesday, January 24
Kevin Hearn & Thinbuckle; Schubas. 8 pm, $10-12
Kevin O’Donnell Quartet; Hideout. 9 pm, $5 suggested donation

Wednesday, January 25
Cheyenne Marie Mize; Schubas. 8 pm, $10-12

Thursday, January 26
Kathleen Edwards, Hannah Georgas; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, $20
Gringo Starr; Empty Bottle. 9:30 pm, $8

Friday, January 27
Joe Henry, Unloved; Old Town School of Folk Music (West; 4544 N Lincoln). 7:30 pm, $21-25
Los Campesinos!, Parenthetical Girls; Metro. 7:30 pm, $20
Strange Arrangement, Greensky Bluegrass; Park West. 8 pm, $15

Saturday, January 28
Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival, ft. Drive-By Truckers, Dawes, Joe Pug, Bailiff, Van Ghost, Jaik Willis, The Shams Band, Great Divide, Jon Drake and The Shakes, Ben Ripani Music Co., Go Long Mule, The Future Laureates, Band Called Catch, Paper Thick Walls and Michele McGuire; Congress Theater. 1 pm, $35
Christine Lavin; Old Town School of Folk Music (East; 4545 N Lincoln). 7 pm, $21-25
Devotchka, Elephant Revival, Danny Black & Nora O’Connor; Metro. 8:30 pm, $21
Mucca Pazza, Lasers and Fast and Shit, DJ Roma Soul; Double Door. 9 pm, $13-15

Sunday, January 29
Cass McCombs, Frank Fairfield; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, $15

This Week in Great Music: 1/16 – 1/22

Sarah — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:17:43 +0000

Hey! My band’s doing a show this Sunday night at the Double Door! You should come see me.

Monday, January 16
Robbie Fulks; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation

Tuesday, January 17
Akron/Family, Bad Weather California; Hideout. 9 pm, $14

Wednesday, January 18
Nicholas Barron Band, Chris Siebold & the Psycles; Schubas. 9 pm, $8

Thursday, January 19
Mike Mangione & the Union, Dave Tamkin; SPACE. 8 pm, $12-15
Dastardly, Brighton MA, Santah; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, $10
Jaymay, Alison Breitman; Schubas. 9 pm, $10

Friday, January 20
The Waco Brothers; Martyrs. 7:30 pm, $25
Martin Sexton; Park West. 8 pm, $27
Tea Leaf Green, Ha Ha Tonka; Lincoln Hall. 9 pm, $20

Saturday, January 21
Chicago Blues and Bluegrass Festival, ft. Del McCoury Band, David Grisman, Joe Purdy, The Bluegrass Ball featuring The Travelin’ McCourys, The Giving Tree Band,Henhouse Prowlers, Majors Junction; Auditorium Theatre. 2 pm, $39.50-59.50
Todd Snider; SPACE. 8 pm, $25-30
Vintage Blue, Ty Stone, Elisa Grace; Subterranean. 8:30 pm, $10

Sunday, January 22
Jungle of Cities, Brandon Harrod, Rob Scallon, Mike Murawski; Double Door. 8 pm, $1
Gaberdine, Conrad Plymouth Parker, Jim & Jen; Subterranean. 8 pm, $8

This Week in Great Music: 1/9 – 1/15

Sarah — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:39:36 +0000

We are getting back in the swing of things here with the weekly calendar. It’s the beginning of the year, cut me some slack.

We’ve got some great local artists on bills this week, plus some very diverse acts coming in as part of the Tomorrow Never Knows festival, spread out at Schubas, Lincoln Hall, Metro, and the Hideout. And, the Old Town School of Folk Music is kicking off a 55-day celebration of not only its 55th anniversary, but also the grand opening of its new building this week, with various classes, concerts, and other events.

Monday, January 9
Robbie Fulks, Don Stiernberg; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 Suggested Donation

Tuesday, January 10
Gabe Dixon, Leila Broussard; SPACE. 8 pm, $10-14
The Black Willoughbys; Hideout. 9 pm, $5 Suggested Donation
Creepy Band, Jon Drake & the Shakes, Johnathan Young, Ryley Walker; Empty Bottle. 9 pm, $8

Wednesday, January 11
Koo Nimo & The Occidental Highlife Association; Old Town School of Folk Music (West; 4544 N Lincoln). 8:30 pm, free ($5 suggested donation)

Thursday, January 12
Drake Bell; SPACE. 7 pm, $25-30
Tycho, Active Child, Ant’lrd, Abstract Science DJs; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, sold out

Friday, January 13
Filligar, Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes, Save the Clocktower; Subterranean. 9 pm, $10

Saturday, January 14
Alejandro Escovedo, JT Nero, Allison Russell; Old Town School of Folk Music (West; 4544 N Lincoln). 7 pm & 10 pm, $24-28
Too Hot To Handel: The Jazz Gospel Messiah; Auditorium Theatre. 7:30 pm, $30-72
The Walkmen; Metro. 10 pm, $26

Sunday, January 15
The Pickin’ Bubs; Schubas. 12 pm, free
Too Hot To Handel: The Jazz Gospel Messiah; Auditorium Theatre. 3 pm, $30-72
Vance Gilbert; Old Town School of Folk Music (East; 4545 N Lincoln). 7 pm, $16-20
Nina Ferraro, The Parlour Suite, Bad Bad Meow, Natalie Grace Alford; Beat Kitchen. 8 pm, $10
Freakers Ball: A Tribute to Shel Silverstein, ft. Jon Langford, Sally Timms, Nora O’Connor, and others; Hideout. 8 pm, $20

This Week in Great Music: 12/19 – 12/25

Sarah — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:46:15 +0000

For it being Christmas, there are still a handful of great shows going on. I’ll be at both of the Andrew Bird performances at the Museum of Contemporary Art… that is, if I can find where in the world I put my tickets when I packed up to move into my new apartment. Uh oh.

Monday, December 19
Do-It-Yourself ‘Messiah’; Harris Theater for Music and Dance. 7 pm, $10
Robbie Fulks, Kelly Hogan; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation
Josh Caterer, Cory Branan, Dave Hause, Curtis Evans; Schubas. 8 pm, $12

Tuesday, December 20
Do-It-Yourself ‘Messiah’; Harris Theater for Music and Dance. 7 pm, $10
The Black Willoughbys; Hideout. 9 pm, $5 suggested donation

Wednesday, December 21
Andrew Bird and Ian Schneller: Sonic Arboretum; Museum of Contemporary Art. 7:30 pm, sold out
Eastern Blok; Schubas. 9 pm, $8

Thursday, December 22
Andrew Bird and Ian Schneller: Sonic Arboretum; Museum of Contemporary Art. 7:30 pm, sold out
Santah, In Tall Buildings, Elephant Gun, The Island of Misfit Toys; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, $8-12
Ximena Sarinana, Graffiti 6; Schubas. 9 pm, $12
Scott Lucas & The Married Men, Purple Apple; Hideout. 9 pm, $8

Friday, December 23
Gold Motel, Deserters, Chaperone; Lincoln Hall. 7 pm, $12

Saturday, December 24
Christmas Eve!

Sunday, December 25
Christmas!

This Week in Great Music: 12/12 – 12/18

Sarah — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:51:59 +0000

Hey, everyone, it’s Wilco week! I’m not going to any of the shows, but I’m sure plenty of you are.

I’ll be at Schubas on Saturday night for Noam Pikelny and friends. Banjo!

If you’re not doing anything on Sunday night, my band, Jungle of Cities, is playing at the Abbey Pub. We go on at 9, and there’s no cover. You should definitely come out.

Monday, December 12
Wilco; Civic Opera House. 7:30 pm, sold out

Tuesday, December 13
Wilco; the Riviera. 8 pm, sold out
Harper Blynn; Schubas. 8 pm, $8-10

Wednesday, December 14
Tim Reynolds and TR3; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, $20
The Joy Formidable; Metro. 8:30 pm, $17-20
Josh Caterer, Rainbow Rhythms; Schubas. 9 pm, $12
Kathryn Calder, Himalayan Bear; Double Door. 9 pm, $10

Thursday, December 15
Graham Colton; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, $14
Wilco; the Vic. 8 pm, sold out
Alabama Shakes, the Lawrence Peters Outfit; Hideout. 9 pm, $10

Friday, December 16
Wilco; Metro. 8 pm, sold out

Saturday, December 17
Noam Pikelny and friends; Schubas. 10 pm, $15-18
The Sea and Cake; Empty Bottle. 10 pm, $18-20

Sunday, December 18
Apollo Chorus of Chicago: Handel’s ‘Messiah’; Harris Theater for Music and Dance. 3 pm, $15-75
Wilco; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, sold out

This Week in Great Music: 10/24 – 10/30

Sarah — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:40:36 +0000

I haven’t been to a show all month. Maybe I’ll change that this weekend.

Monday, October 24
Robbie Fulks; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation

Tuesday, October 25
The Damned, Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers, The Pirate Twins; Metro. 8 pm, $26
honeyhoney, Joshua James, Levi Lowrey; Schubas. 8 pm, $10-12

Wednesday, October 26
meh

Thursday, October 27
Stolen Silver, Go Long Mule; Hideout. 9 pm, $8

Friday, October 28
Widespread Panic; Chicago Theatre. 7 pm, sold out
Ollabelle, Dom Flemons; Old Town School of Folk Music. 7:30 pm, $18-22
Shelby Lynne; Lincoln Hall. 9 pm, $30-40
Rebirth Brass Band, Tin Tin Can; Martyrs. 9:30 pm, $25

Saturday, October 29
Widespread Panic; Chicago Theatre. 7 pm, sold out
Eleanor Friedberger; Subterranean. 9 pm, $12
Rebirth Brass Band; Martyrs. 9:30 pm, $25
These United States, Paleo, Brown Bird; Schubas. 10 pm, $10
Hayes Carll, Caitlin Rose; Lincoln Hall. 10 pm, $15-18

Sunday, October 30
Joan Baez; Symphony Center. 7:30 pm, $25-70

This Week in Great Music: 10/17 – 10/23

Sarah — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:45:52 +0000

A bit of a quiet week this week. All sorts of things I want to see, on nights or times that I can’t do. Such is life.

If you’re near a movie theater on Friday, you should hunt down somewhere that’s playing Norman. A list of theaters it’s debuting in on Friday can be found at the movie’s Facebook page. Andrew Bird did the score/soundtrack, but the movie stands on its own feet as something I’d want to see anyway. Really. I promise.

Monday, October 17
Robbie Fulks; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation

Tuesday, October 18
Meh

Wednesday, October 19
Uh Huh Her, Fences; House of Blues. 6:30 pm, $20-22
Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Lubriphonic; Park West. 7:30 pm, $20

Thursday, October 20
Rhett Miller; SPACE. 10 pm, $20-35

Friday, October 21
Alice Peacock and Danny Myrick, Mark Dvorak; Old Town School of Folk Music. 8 pm, $16-20
Judson Claiborne, Leaf Bird; Hideout. 9 pm, $8

Saturday, October 22
Bess Rogers and Alison White; Martyrs. 7 pm, $10
Rhett Miller; Schubas. 7:30 pm, $20

Sunday, October 23
Ellis Paul, Peter Case; Old Town School of Folk Music. 7 pm, $18-22
Hemmingbirds, IS/IS, David Seume; Reggie’s. 8 pm, $5

This Week in Great Music: 10/3 – 10/9

Sarah — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:40:13 +0000

Busy week of shows! Don’t forget, you can win tickets to see Those Darlins on Wednesday or Thursday! See this post for information on how to win.

Monday, October 3
Jens Lekman, Geoffrey O’Connor; Lincoln Hall. 9 pm, $20

Tuesday, October 4
Zee Avi; Schubas. 8 pm, $12
The Mekons; SPACE. 8 pm, $18-30
The Besnard Lakes, Malajube; Lincoln Hall. 9 pm, $14
Mar Caribe; Hideout. 9 pm, $5 suggested donation
The Head and the Heart, Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, The Devil Whale; Metro. 9 pm, $19-21

Wednesday, October 5
Foster the People, Cults, Reptar; the Riviera. 7:30 pm, sold out
Bandallamas, Brice Woodall; Martyrs. 8 pm, $10
Jaron And The Long Road To Love, Joe Firstman; Joe’s Bar. 8:30 pm, $10
St. Vincent; Metro. 9 pm, $18
The Mekons, Brokeback; Lincoln Hall. 9 pm, $20
Those Darlins, Peelander-Z, Birthday Suits; Empty Bottle. 9:30 pm, $12-14

Thursday, October 6
Those Darlins, Peelander-Z; Schubas. 7 pm, $12-14
Cameron McGill, Matt Hopper; SPACE. 8 pm, $10-18
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Holy Sons; Metro. 8 pm, $22.50
Keb’ Mo’; House of Blues. 9 pm, $32.50-35

Friday, October 7
Esperanza Spalding; Symphony Center. 8 pm, $20-70
Imelda May; Park West. 8 pm, $20
Pieta Brown, Nora O’Connor, Liam Davis; SPACE. 8 pm, $12-22
The Naked and Famous, The Chain Gang of 1974, White Arrows; Metro. 8 pm, $19-21

Saturday, October 8
Priscilla Ahn; SPACE. 8 pm, $12-15
The Shams Band, Go Long Mule; Fitzgeralds. 9 pm, $15
Wild Flag, YellowFever; Empty Bottle. 9:30 pm, $15

Sunday, October 9
Wild Flag, YellowFever; Empty Bottle. 9:30 pm, $15

Concert Review: Hideout Block Party, 9/24/11

Sarah — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:41:10 +0000

The Hideout Block Party returned this year after a two-year hiatus. Taking over the stretch of Wabansia outside of the Hideout, as well as a large parking lot — Jon Langford joked that Mayor Emanuel came down and personally moved each and every Streets & Sanitation truck out of the lot, just for the Hideout – the Block Party was a celebration of the Hideout’s 15th anniversary. It was also a celebration of Chicago’s vibrant music scene, with many of the artists on the line-up being Chicago natives, or with deep ties to our windy city. It also happened to be probably one of the last truly nice days of the year. I’m guessing the weather largely cooperated because it was afraid to anger the Hideout and its army of staunch supporters. I don’t blame you, weather.

I started my Block Party out with Chicago’s own Kids These Days. The members are all products of Chicago’s public schools, as Hideout owner and education enthusiast Tim Tuten pointed out in his enthusiastic intro. The group of recent high school grads effortlessly blends hip hop, jazz, R&B, soul, rock… you name it, there’s a hint of it in their music. Led by Vic Mensa on rap vocals, Liam Cunningham on lead vocals and guitar, and Macie Stewart on vocals and keyboards, Kids These Days wowed the assembled crowd. The blend of genres made their set accessible even to people who aren’t well-versed in what’s going on in hip hop. The group has been getting the attention they deserve lately, with a set at Lollapalooza, performances at SXSW, and a stint as support for Trombone Shorty.

Like I said in a snarky Tweet, If there’s going to be a conversation about young people making hip hop music which challenges genres and expectations, Kids These Days should be a part of it. Yes, that’s sort of a dig at Odd Future, who were in the spotlight this summer for being young and ambitious and adventurous with their music, but also for being wildly offensive to many listeners. Kids These Days seem to occupy a different part of the musical spectrum: their raps are still punctuated with curses and the n-word at times, but I also didn’t hear any lyrics about rape or murder. (I could be wrong.) There’s room for both groups to exist; I just hope that Kids These Days could become media darlings, too, and show the world that there’s more to youth and rap that what they’d previously thought.

Kids These Days: Official Website | Facebook | Twitter

I skipped the next band, The Eternals, in favor of finding food and meeting up with friends, but made it back to the stage in time to catch blues legend Booker T. Jones. Despite being woefully undereducated on blues, I found his set to be thoroughly enjoyable, from songs from newer releases to old classics like “Green Onions”, and yes, even a quirky cover or two, with Jones appearing back onstage to encore with an instrumental cover of Outkast’s “Hey Ya”. (Regular readers of How’s My Living will be well aware of my long-standing affection for quirky covers of all kinds.) The all-ages crowd seemed into his set, as well, helped along by Jones’ very dynamic backing band. Who knew the bopping sounds of an organ could be so cool?

Booker T. Jones: Official Website | MySpace | Store

Until Jon Langford opened his mouth, I could have sworn that he was a born-and-raised Chicagoan. Shows what I know. Langford is a Welshman who might as well be a Chicagoan, though, especially given the fact that I think he may be in just about every band that calls the city home. (Only a slight exaggeration.) At the Block Party, he was joined on stage by fellow other-Jon-Langford-projects alums Sally Timms and Alan Doughty, and, oh yeah, the Burlington Welsh Male Chorus. Langford’s set was full of sea shanties, murder ballads, high kicks and viking hats and a little bit of punk rock. Not many artists would have the guts to slow their set down with a choral shanty, sung all in Welsh, accompanied solely by guitar, but Langford did, and it worked.

Jon Langford: Official Website | Facebook
The Burlington Welsh Male Chorus: Official Website

There’s no way around it: Mavis Staples is a legend. She’s not just a legend, but she’s our legend. You wouldn’t think that gospel would have a home at the Hideout, but it does. Tim Tuten and company were so intent on getting Mavis for this year’s Block Party that they agreed to every last request in her concert rider, including a request for “a big ass throne”. The Hideout made her one, and it was glorious, every bit befitting the 72-year old Grammy winner.

Staples’ set didn’t differ all that much from when I saw her at Lollapalloza in 2009; she even brought the same backing band with her, all of whom performed on her live album recorded at the Hideout several years ago. Staples is such a captivating performer that her charm, humor, and intense passion are hard to ignore. Crowded at the side of the stage watching her set were many of the other performers from the day: I spotted the White Mystery kids, some guys from Booker T. Jones’ band, Andrew Bird and Nora O’Connor, in addition to numerous Hideout friends and personnel. Her set was full of old Staples family standards like “I’ll Take You There”, as well as offerings from her newest album, “You Are Not Alone”, which brought Nora O’Connor out for a spin on guest vocals. Staples usually covers The Band’s “The Weight”, and this time around, she brought out Andrew Bird to play along and pick up a verse. Even the un-religious among us couldn’t help but be moved by Staples’ triumphant return to the Hideout.

Mavis Staples: Official Website | MySpace | Facebook | Store

Martin Dosh, who also serves as Andrew Bird’s drummer and collaborator, played a brief ambient set before Bird took the stage. I enjoy his albums, and it definitely takes a lot of skill to be the one man band/looping machine/drummer/keyboardist that he is, but am always left a bit cold by the live performance. I guess I just like having something to look at. His instrumental set was a bit of a mood-changer after the high-spirited show put on by Mavis Staples, and most of the crowd was eager for Bird to take the stage.

If the day belonged to classic acts like Booker T. Jones and Mavis Staples, though, the night belonged to Andrew Bird, one of the many artists who called the Hideout home at the start of a career. (In Bird’s case, that’s not just a metaphor: he mentioned that he literally lived above the Hideout for a while.) Bird performed at one of the last Block Parties before its hiatus, (an event that I’m still kicking myself for missing) so it was only fitting that he return here as the night’s last act.

Bird kicked his set off with some moody instrumental pieces, as he usually does. As he played, a gigantic fabricated whale, lofted high above the assembled people, made its way through the crowd. The whale, courtesy of visual arts group Opera-matic, came with its own keening whale noises, seemingly conversing with the wail of Bird’s violin. Does that make sense? Probably not. Just watch the video; it will enlighten you.

From there, Bird launched into a set of old favorites from throughout his career. The setlist held few surprises in way of song choice — the biggest surprises were “Dark Matter”, which I’m not sure I’ve seen him do before live, and his rendition of “Bein’ Green”, which recently appeared on the Muppets tribute album. His delivery of the song is downright perfect: enough whimsy to fit right in to the Muppets universe, but with just a hint of questioning or vulnerability, perfect for our good friend Kermit the Frog.

There were plenty of treats along the way, aside from the gigantic whale. Paloma Carrasco, a high school student who is the recipient of the Rock for Kids scholarship named after Bird, came out to sing a mariachi song, accompanied by Bird and original Bowl of Fire member Colin Bunn on guitar. The crowd seemed unsure what to make of the girl at first, and there was a lot of talking which she was introducing herself. But then she opened her mouth and silenced everyone. Carrasco has a huge voice, perfect for the type of song she chose to perform. I believe she’s only a sophomore in high school, but her voice is much older and much richer than her years.

Much like his recent show in Ann Arbor, the bulk of the set was devoted to new songs from Bird’s forthcoming album, which he said should be released in March 2012. It’s a bold move: you’ve got a couple thousand people gathered, many of whom are there mostly to see you, and you play material that most of them are unfamiliar with. I felt some of the attention of the crowd waning during the latter half of the set; people wanted to hear songs they already loved. For my part, these songs are already well-worn treasures that are getting better with age. Granted, that comes with the territory whenever you follow an artist with the same sort of fervor that I follow Bird’s work, but still. Hearing the newer songs with the full backing band — in some cases with two drummers, as Bowl of Fire member Kevin O’Donnell came out to join in on several songs — was an absolute joy to me. Hearing how the songs have evolved, how the rest of the band came together to contribute to the songs that Bird had already constructed, has given me a greater idea of just what the new album is shaping up to be.

And I’m excited, folks. I’m very excited. With Nora O’Connor stepping in to provide backing vocals on many of the new songs, and with the always creative guitar work of Jeremy Ylvisaker, the songs feel fuller, more fleshed out. They’re still songs about growth, survival, moving on, only now they’re louder, more intricate, more alive, all befitting the themes that are populating Bird’s newest works. The trio of “Breeding Desperation” (about “an era without bees”), nearly seamlessly transitioning into a cover of Alpha Consumer’s “Crown Salesman”, and “I on I” (or perhaps “Eye on Eye”) was a particular highlight for me. “Crown Salesman” was absolutely a rock song compared to the previous times I’ve heard Bird do it. The song pushed along into near anthemic territory by the contributions of O’Donnell on drums and Ylvisaker, a member of Alpha Consumer. With its cryptic lyrics, it’s always felt like an Andrew Bird song, and I am secretly hoping that it’s made it onto the new album.

The night wouldn’t be complete without some post-apocalyptic snacks, and Bird closed out his main set with “Tables and Chairs”, a song which has taken on increasing relevance over the years, with its talk of crumbling financial institutions. Despite my cramped position, pressed up against the railing separating the masses from the photo pit, I danced and sang along as best I could. At this point, I’m just waiting for the collapse of our government and society as we know it, so we can get on with the snacks and pony rides and dancing bears. It’s got to be true; Andrew Bird promised that’s the way it would be.

It also wouldn’t be an Andrew Bird show without a Handsome Family cover, as he returned to the stage with the band and Nora O’Connor for a stunning encore of their song “So Much Wine”. The lyrics, like most Handsome Family songs, read like a short story, and Bird and O’Connor’s voices lend themselves perfectly to it. The night ended on that quiet note as the sound booth signaled from offstage that there wasn’t time for one more. While I’d been hoping for concert favorite “Fake Palindromes”, “So Much Wine” proved for a perfect send-off, albeit a bit of a sobering one, if you bothered to listen to the words.

Andrew Bird: Official Website | MySpace | Twitter | Store

Setlist
Instrumental
Instrumental (with effects from Operamatic)
Dark Matter
A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left
Effigy
Bein’ Green
Plasticities
La Cigarra (ft. Paloma Carrasco on vocals, Colin Bunn on guitar)
Fitz and the Dizzy Spells
Give it Away (with Nora O’Connor)
The Lusitania
Breeding Desperation
Crown Salesman (Alpha Consumer cover)
I on I
Danse Caribbe
Fatal Shores (with Nora O’Connor)
Tables and Chairs
Encore
So Much Wine (with Nora O’Connor; Handsome Family cover)