Chicago’s Most Eclectic Independent Music Publication

Latest News

  • Legendary Mask Maker, Zagone Studios, Approaches Fifty-Years Of Innovation Right Here In Chicago
  • Wilmette Illinois’ Own, Music Theater Works, Launches Into 43 Year With A Signal Grant By The Bayless Family Foundation
  • Photo Gallery: Naked Raygun In Store Event at Quimby’s: Broken Things 7” With Comic And Wax Trax! Records Pop Up
  • Photo Gallery: Black Label Society @ Radius Chicago 2023
  • Photo Gallery: Anthrax @ Radius Chicago 2023
  • Live Review: Anthrax Bring 40 Years of Metal Thrashing Madness To Chicago
  • Home
  • Music News
    • Breaking News
    • Features
    • This Just In
    • Interviews
    • Reviews
    • ITLM OTRS
    • Local Loop
    • Musical Theatre
    • ChiBluesBro’s Jukebox Reviews
  • Media
    • Photos
    • Videos
    • Streaming Live
  • Events
  • Festivals
  • Promotions
  • About
  • Contact
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Youtube

Andrew Bird New Album and Concert In The Park

Sep 10, 2016 James Currie Features, Music News, Reviews 0


Andrew Bird New Album and Concert In The Park

By Vern Hester

It has take him nearly five years but Andrew Bird has finally released an album of new music. As one of this towns favorite sons, it is big news since his music is a highly individualized mix of jazz, baroque pop, art rock, and symphonic elements that belong entirely to him. As a multi-instrumentalist (violin, guitar, and xylophone), vocalist, and whistler (he has single handedly made whistling cool again) he has taken his education at The Northwestern School of Music to new heights. The New Are You Serious? is hardly a departure but on September 7  at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park he showed it off with a show packed with virtuosity and dazzling skill with a minimum of fuss  or his tendency toward cuteness (No, “It’s Not Easy Being Green” from Sesame Street was not on the set list).

After an adventurous set from opener Margo Price (a highlight of which was a brazen rip through Loretta Lynn’s “Rated X”), Bird opened his set with the new “Capsized.” The nights only nod to goofiness came with a frolicsome reading of “A Nervous Tic of the Head to the Left” which had him constantly demonstrating said condition. It was a touch of humor which amused the packed house but that was beside the point. The song “Are You Serious” seemed to lightly slap those jokey bits in place.

If Bird stopped the goofiness (No, he did not take off a shoe to show the world his cool rainbow socks as he has in the past) he replaced it with an element of elegant grandeur. Fronting a three piece band (Alan Hampton on bass, Ted Moore on drums, and Blake Mills on guitar) and with  uncharacteristic dramatic lighting, this concert was rigged to overwhelm the senses. “Effigy” and the chestnut “Heretics” soared while the new “Truth Lies Low,” “Puma,” and “Roma Fade” benefited from this setting.

Hearing Bird is always a delight but watching him perform is to witness pure, unadulterated joy. Still wiry, nerdy, handsome, and skinny though he won’t break out any killer steps, he inspires a certain childlike giddiness that is hard to pinpoint. Waving his  bow like an oversized magic wand and strumming his violin like a Stratocaster he manages to make all that sweet goofiness hypnotic. Flinging his head to the music like a six year old caught in a tantrum or dancing/sliding to the groove (he stayed in a four foot center stage space surrounded by two microphones and stands, a xylophone, and guitar stands), he displayed a wiggly slickness.

“Left Handed Kisses,” a duet with Price came with plenty of good natured twang, but “3 White Horses,” “Plasticities,” and the new “Valleys of the Young” were aimed at the heavens. The kicker was a re-investigation of “Pulaski At Night” which has found new life as a video in support of Everytown,  an anti-gun initiative. It says a great deal about how the performance went over being that before Bird came onstage several mothers who had lost sons to gun violence came on and spoke. “Pulaski At Night” became not only wistful and nostalgic but the nights big heartbreaker.

Bird closed his set proper with a chiming, haunted reading of “Scythian Empires,” but the encore was particularly light hearted. With Mills and Hampton surrounding him, Bird rattled through a ramshackle version of “Give It Away” followed by a careful reading of Neil Young’s “Harvest.” The nights close came with a patient and otherworldly take on “The New St. Jude” and “Fake Palindrones.”

For more on Andrew Bird, click here

For photos from the Millennium Park performance, click here

Setlist, Andrew Bird, Millennium Park, Chicago, IL – September 7th, 2016

Capsized
Nervous Tic of the Head to the Left
Tenuousness
Are You Serious?
Effigy
Heretics
Truth Lies Low
Puma
Left Handed Kisses (with Margo Price)
Roma Fade
3 White Horses
Plasticities
Valleys of the Young
Pulaski At Night
Scythian Empires
Tables and Chairs

encore
Give It Away
Harvest
The New St. Jude
Fake Palindrones

Share this:

  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Related


  • tweet
Classic Albums Live: David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust @ Ravinia Andrew Bird @ Millennium Park

James Currie

Related Articles
  • Legendary Mask Maker, Zagone Studios, Approaches Fifty-Years Of Innovation Right Here In Chicago
    Legendary Mask Maker, Zagone Studios,...

    Oct 25, 2021 0

  • Wilmette Illinois’ Own, Music Theater Works, Launches Into 43 Year With A Signal Grant By The Bayless Family Foundation
    Wilmette Illinois’ Own, Music...

    Feb 06, 2023 0

  • Photo Gallery: Naked Raygun In Store Event at Quimby’s: Broken Things 7” With Comic And Wax Trax! Records Pop Up
    Photo Gallery: Naked Raygun In Store...

    Feb 06, 2023 0

  • Photo Gallery: Black Label Society @ Radius Chicago 2023
    Photo Gallery: Black Label Society @...

    Feb 02, 2023 0

  • Photo Gallery: Anthrax @ Radius Chicago 2023
    Photo Gallery: Anthrax @ Radius Chicago...

    Feb 02, 2023 0

More in this category
  • Wilmette Illinois’ Own, Music Theater Works, Launches Into 43 Year With A Signal Grant By The Bayless Family Foundation
    Wilmette Illinois’ Own, Music...

    Feb 06, 2023 0

  • Live Review: Anthrax Bring 40 Years of Metal Thrashing Madness To Chicago
    Live Review: Anthrax Bring 40 Years of...

    Feb 02, 2023 0

  • LONG STORY SHORT: WILLIE NELSON 90 A STAR-STUDDED CONCERT CELEBRATING WILLIE’S 90TH BIRTHDAY
    LONG STORY SHORT: WILLIE NELSON 90 A...

    Jan 25, 2023 0

  • Chicago Premiere: Raven Theatre Presents the Chicago Premiere of RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN
    Chicago Premiere: Raven Theatre...

    Jan 23, 2023 0


Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories

CALENDAR

February 2023
S M T W T F S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728  
« Jan    

Archives

  • February 2023 (5)
  • January 2023 (9)
  • December 2022 (4)
  • November 2022 (5)
  • October 2022 (12)
  • September 2022 (28)
  • August 2022 (27)
  • July 2022 (37)
  • June 2022 (21)
  • May 2022 (20)
  • April 2022 (13)
  • March 2022 (33)
  • February 2022 (21)
  • January 2022 (22)
  • December 2021 (11)
  • November 2021 (15)
  • October 2021 (16)
  • September 2021 (36)
  • August 2021 (21)
  • July 2021 (26)
  • June 2021 (27)
  • May 2021 (13)
  • April 2021 (12)
  • March 2021 (12)
  • February 2021 (4)
  • January 2021 (2)
  • December 2020 (7)
  • November 2020 (4)
  • October 2020 (3)
  • September 2020 (10)
  • August 2020 (6)
  • July 2020 (7)
  • June 2020 (3)
  • May 2020 (5)
  • April 2020 (3)
  • March 2020 (10)
  • February 2020 (22)
  • January 2020 (10)
  • December 2019 (8)
  • November 2019 (30)
  • October 2019 (30)
  • September 2019 (27)
  • August 2019 (41)
  • July 2019 (33)
  • June 2019 (27)
  • May 2019 (36)
  • April 2019 (25)
  • March 2019 (41)
  • February 2019 (22)
  • January 2019 (11)
  • December 2018 (17)
  • November 2018 (13)
  • October 2018 (34)
  • September 2018 (43)
  • August 2018 (25)
  • July 2018 (34)
  • June 2018 (23)
  • May 2018 (31)
  • April 2018 (24)
  • March 2018 (49)
  • February 2018 (48)
  • January 2018 (25)
  • December 2017 (10)
  • November 2017 (30)
  • October 2017 (10)
  • September 2017 (26)
  • August 2017 (25)
  • July 2017 (42)
  • June 2017 (37)
  • May 2017 (49)
  • April 2017 (54)
  • March 2017 (44)
  • February 2017 (39)
  • January 2017 (14)
  • December 2016 (22)
  • November 2016 (20)
  • October 2016 (20)
  • September 2016 (35)
  • August 2016 (46)
  • July 2016 (51)
  • June 2016 (23)
  • May 2016 (15)
  • April 2016 (18)
  • March 2016 (22)
  • February 2016 (27)
  • January 2016 (11)
  • December 2015 (8)
  • November 2015 (17)
  • October 2015 (21)
  • September 2015 (30)
  • August 2015 (54)
  • July 2015 (49)
  • June 2015 (44)
  • May 2015 (16)
  • April 2015 (6)
  • March 2015 (9)
  • February 2015 (9)
  • January 2015 (2)
  • December 2014 (2)
  • November 2014 (2)
  • October 2014 (1)
  • September 2014 (2)
  • August 2014 (5)
  • July 2014 (1)
  • June 2014 (4)
  • May 2014 (5)
  • April 2014 (1)
  • March 2014 (1)
  • February 2014 (2)
  • January 2014 (2)
  • December 2013 (1)
  • November 2013 (2)
  • October 2013 (1)
  • September 2013 (1)
  • August 2013 (2)
  • July 2013 (3)
  • June 2013 (2)
  • May 2013 (5)
  • April 2013 (3)
  • March 2013 (1)
  • February 2013 (1)
  • May 2012 (2)
  • January 2012 (3)
  • September 2011 (1)

Facebook

Instagram

Photo Gallery: @nakedraygunofficial In Store Event at @quimbysbookstore: Broken Things 7” Single With Comic And @waxtraxchicago Trax! Records! Pop Up.
Photo Gallery: @blacklabelsocietyofficial @radiuschicago 2023. @zakkwyldebls #zakkwylde #blacklabelsociety #doomcrew #doominccrew #hardrock #heavymetal #chicago #radius #concertphotography #concertphotographer 📸 by #jamescurrie
Live Review: @anthrax Bring 40 Years of Metal Thrashing Madness To Chicago. By Christopher David When it comes to sustaining a career, forty years is a long time. And when that career involves constant touring, it becomes one hell of a long time. But you’d never know that it’s been forty years since thrash titans Anthrax landed and broke the mold for what a thrash band could be if you were basing it on Sunday’s raging performance at Chicago’s @radiuschicago club. ... #anthrax #Radius #40thanniversary #thrashmetal
Sad news today. @lin_brehmerxrt always a positive force for Chicago radio @93xrt and beyond. A champion of live events, Chicago life and rock n roll. A legend gone too soon. You will be sadly missed on air, on stage and in our lives. #LinBrehmer #93xrt #WXRT #Chicago
TOMORROW! Chicagoland, Illinois, Joliet, check out our states first and only Rock n Roll Hall of Fame! Friday, January 20th, 2023 at 5PM, @cheaptrick @cheaptrickrick Rick Nielsen will light up "Gigantar" at the Rt 66 roadstop rock shop @Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66 located at 9 W. Cass St. Joliet, IL 60432. Come by and help launch the opening of this soon to be legendary music business. #irrm #illinoisrockandrollmuseum #ILRR66 #ilrr66gigantar #route66 #rocknroll
2023 LIVE RUN BEGINS JANUARY 30 IN NEW YORK CITY, WITH HEADLINER TO CHANGE EACH NIGHT BOTH BANDS TO PERFORM CLASSIC ALBUMS IN FULL – THE The @thecharlatans UK PERFORMING 1992’S BETWEEN 10TH AND 11TH, @rideox4official PERFORMING 1990’S NOWHERE – ALONG WITH GREATEST HITS, FAN FAVORITES, AND MORE TICKETS FOR ALL ANNOUNCED DATES ON SALE THIS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, AT 10 AM (LOCAL)... #charlatans #rideband https://beintheloopchicago.com/?p=49473
Today, multi-talented and genre-bending artist @chiiild releases his latest track “Good For Now” featuring @recordingacademy Award-winning R&B powerhouse Lucky Daye via Avant Garden/4th & Broadway/Def Jam Recordings. The track will appear on Chiiild’s forthcoming album Better Luck in the Next Life, due out March 3, 2023. #chiiilds
Hey Chicago! Special Event this Sunday: @amctheatres River East 21 To Screen @elvis The 2022 Movie For Free In Honor Of The Kings 88th Birthday. #elvispresley #theking #elvismovie #amctheaters #freeshowing #chicago
Breaking: Kings of Thrash Announce First Leg of Tour With Opening Night Right Here in Chicagoland @forge_live #davidellefson #jeffyoung #killingismybusiness #sofarsogoodsowhat #megadeth #megayears #kingsofthrash https://beintheloopchicago.com/?p=49460
Happy New Year from In The Loop Magazine! Here's to an amazing 2023 filled with great music and events from Chicago to around the globe. #happynewyear #intheloopmagazine #beintheloopchicago #musicnews #ringinginthenewyear

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Tag Cloud

Blues on the Fox (2) Bobby Broom Organi-sation (2) Brian Wilson (2) Can't You Hear Me Knocking (1) Chicago (5) Dap-Kings (1) Doyle Bramhall II (1) Farm Aid (3) Farm Aid 30 (3) FirstMerit Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island (3) Heavy Metal (1) Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre (2) Jamboree (2) Jukebox Pick of the Week (2) Live and Let Die (1) Lollapalooza 2021 (1) Lollapalooza Chicago Grant Park (2) Mavis Staples (1) Moreland & Arbuckle (1) North Mississippi Allstars (1) Otis Taylor Band (1) Paul McCartney (1) Q101 (2) Rattle That Lock (2) Ravina (2) Ravinia (11) RiverEdge Park (2) Rodríguez (2) Rolling Stones (2) Royal Southern Brotherhood (1) Santana (2) Sharon Jones (1) Steely Dan (2) Sticky Fingers (1) Summerfest (1) Tedeschi Trucks Band (1) The Rockabye Gollie Angel Tour (2) Toto (2) Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue (1) United Center (2) Veruca Salt (2) Wheels of Soul Tour (1) Wings (1) Yes (2) ZZ Top (2)

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Stats

  • 177,457 Page Views
© 2023 In The Loop Magazine / All Rights Reserved.
  • Music News
  • Media
  • Festivals
  • Promotions
  • Venues
  • About
  • Gallery