Three-ring circus from one-man band Andrew Bird
The circus may have rolled into town today, but the real feat of amazing strength was on display Wednesday night in Asbury Hall at Babeville, where multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird rivaled every trapeze artist and acrobat.
See, when Bird strikes up the band he strikes up himself. Pizzicato notes on his violin are looped with a simple whistled ditty to form the backbone of his songs.
Then, Bird whips around from his back what appears to be a gorgeous sunburst Gretsch (like George Harrison used to play) and gives it a few quick forceful strums.
Meanwhile, the lanky Bird awkwardly sways like Professor John Nash in “A Beautiful Mind” and sings about effigies, dark matter and nervous tics. What it amounts to is beautifully orchestrated chamber pop that at times sounds like the overture to an epic Cecil B. De-Mille film. And all this from just one man flanked by huge twin Gramophone speakers.
In his return performance to Babeville from two years ago, the classically trained Chicago native gave us a fine selection from his catalog, including this year’s “Noble Beast.”
When recording the loops that would form a song, Bird looked like a painter focused on the blank canvas before him or a biology scientist in the laboratory.
Somehow every seventh chord for tension or minor chord for mood swing was highlighted to maximum effect.
This, of course, is the benefit of being your own boss on stage. You’re beholden to no one, can transform the song to fit your fancy and all eyes are on you, kid. The risk? All eyes are on you, kid. When things get a bit overwhelming, which they did for Bird at times, there’s no one to cover for you.
But there’s no denying the full sonic landscape constructed in songs such as “Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left” from 2005’s “Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs” and others.
It all held the rapt attention the audience, which likely included some young frequent Philharmonic-goers who truly appreciated Bird’s skill.
Supporting act St. Vincent packed the house early. Its shoegaze guitar assault (pioneered by the likes of My Bloody Valentine) may have caught by surprise some audience members there mainly for the sweet Bird-song but enraptured its many fans in attendance and probably won some new ones.
Catch the band’s Austin City Limits debut Saturday on PBS.
Was Andrew Bird’s set “The Greatest Show on Earth?” or is this all just hyperbole? Come one, come all and catch his next Buffalo gig to hear for yourself.
Concert Review
Andrew Bird
Wednesday evening in Asbury Hall at Babeville.
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