Andrew Bird's Auditorium Theatre Homecoming
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on May 15, 2012 7:00PM
Andrew Bird was happy to be in Chicago Saturday night after a couple of years,as he put it, "scarce from the impressive city," and the crowd at the majestic Auditorium Theatre was happy to welcome him back for the homecoming performance.
As Bird’s hometown, we’ve been treated to a lot of unique shows from the violinist slash indie star over the years, like the holiday Gezelligheid concerts at Fourth Presbyterian Church, last year’s Sonic Events at the Museum of Contemporary Art, and even relaxed shows at his old stomping ground, the Hideout. But Saturday’s performance was the real deal. The full band, complete with stage décor (by horn speaker designer, and friend of Bird, Ian Schneller) and of course all the plucking, whistling and looping strings. Before the rest of the band joined Bird on stage, though, he kicked things off with an old Bowl of Fire tune--a steamy song called “Why?” Between belting the accusatory lines, things got comfortable quickly as he sidestepped and said, “man, I just came here to catch a show.”
Being part of the tour supporting Break It Yourself, the nearly two hour set was heavy with songs from the new album. He at one point thanked the audience for checking out all the new songs, but it was a safe bet that most were already at least familiar with the new material. Throughout the night Bird served up anecdotes to bring us even closer to the music. In one, he name checked the old Hot House jazz club with a story about a dance party where the only one on the floor was a woman “dancing like a cancer survivor,” ultimately inspiring the song “Near Death Experience Experience.”
Memorable moments were many throughout the evening including a medley of lesser known songs “Dear Dirty” and “The Crown Salesman,” and a few songs played as a four-piece (plus drummer Dosh behind them) around a single “old time” microphone. A recent staple on Bird’s setlists, “Bein’Green” also made an appearance in a nod his contribution to The Muppets. The goosebump moment of the night came over an hour in, just as those auditorium seats might have started to get uncomfortable, with the song “Plasticities.” Music and lights swelled at the end, casting a shadow of the now signature double spinning horn speaker on the walls of the theater. The moving display was just another moment made by Ryan Murphy, whose lighting design was compelling throughout the show.
A bow-shredding rendition of the popular “Fake Palindromes” closed the show, along with a couple of covers, including a requisite Handsome Family cover.