Andrew Bird's Entrancing Gezelligheid
By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 16, 2009 5:40PM
O.K., we'll admit we've been spoiled rotten by Andrew Bird this year. We've seen multiple times in tiny clubs in both Chicago and D.C. We've seen him so much we were actually worried we were going to suffer Bird burnout, and then he goes and draws us back in with night two of his stunning Gezelligheid solo shows at Fourth Presbyterian Church last night.
With a stunning background provided by the majestic room's altarpiece, and surrounded by large custom made Specimen Products Horn Speakers, Bird cut a dramatic figure illuminated by dramatic but subtle light changes. His set consisted of mostly instrumental pieces constructed of loop built upon loop, ofttimes taking on the surreal air of Bird conducting an otherworldly orchestra. Sound filled the room to a crescendo and then Bird would manipulate the sound waves by spinning the Little Horn speakers set up behind him onstage. He nimbly moved between grand sonic experiments, hushed covers with violin doubling as ukulele, and tenderly naked admissions, as when he admitted before his cover of Sesame Street's "I in the Sky" how lyrically perfect he thought the beginning of the tune was.
Bird allowed the audience a brief peek into his interior world to hear the music that he creates when he's alone for the sheer joy of it, and we were all blessed to be there, sharing in that moment.