Does the delicate chirping sound of the morning sparrow excite you? Do you jump for joy at the whistling sound of the tea kettle? If you answered yes to either or both of these questions, then Andrew Bird (aptly named) would have clearly seduced you at the captivating evening this past Sunday night at Soma.
The show was a definite break away from the usual rowdy, under-age crowd that tends to flock to this unassuming venue. Even the bouncer's were complaining about the "interesting music" of the night, and that they doubted there would be anyone creating a ruckus...alas the mind of a bouncer is a complex one. But nonetheless, Andrew Bird proved to be a show unlike many.
From the moment he stepped on stage, he commanded the audiences' attention. He has a sort-of mystery about him that makes you wonder how he became such a master at whisting, and how he thought of a way to incorporate it with violin. It's a new technique, but intriguing quite the same. His songs have a hypnotizing effect, convincing the audience to sway side to side.
His unique sound is difficult to put into just any genre of music. Bird put it perfectly when he said, "We kinda fit in that melodramatic but mildly inspiring category." Inspiring indeed when watching the innovative way he plays the violin, such as utilizing his fingers performing the pizzicato method. A master of looping, Bird records sounds (or whistling), and by continuously playing them over one another, creates beats. He does this throughout the show, giving you the feel that you are in the studio with him recording his album. Yes, it sounds that good!
The stage was littered with what looked like musical relics from the 1950s such as Leslie speakers and two gramophones.
By the end of the show you feel as if you've been walking down a long narrow path near a babbling brook on a warm spring day; pretty relaxed and a bit tired. Bird proved to be a very talented musician with a distinctive style, but also a tad repetitive. Did I mention he whistles?
