Under The Rotunda

Indie music via Chicago and Boston
from a Berklee College Of Music student.

Black Session: Andrew Bird

4 Comments Published by Keith on Wednesday, July 02, 2008 at 6:07 AM.

French Public Radio Network station France Inter has a feature called "Black Sessions," where they invite bands and musicians to perform for a live radio broadcast. Since it's inception in 1992, many alternative and indie bands have performed on the show, including Andrew Bird. Since I shared the National's set a few months back, I thought it was time to throw Mr. Bird's performance out there. Andrew Bird is always phenomenal live, especially when he performs alone. His solo show at Northwestern last spring remains one the best shows I've ever been to. His compositions take on new life, featuring revamped layers of rolling violin. The sound he creates solo is amazingly dense thanks to looping, allowing him to create an orchestral wash of sound, all by himself. And he gets to take as many liberties as he wants with the songs, since he doesn't have to stay in time with anyone else. This makes for an exciting, musical, performance -- that pause in "Why?" always kills me live. The Black Session is a great recording of him solo, and you'll soon understand why I am so enamored of live Andrew Bird.

Full download: Andrew Bird - The Black Session

Andrew Bird - Why? (from Black Session)
Andrew Bird - Intro (from Black Session)

4 Responses to “Black Session: Andrew Bird”

  1. # Blogger Kevin 7/02/2008 5:35 PM

    When I tried to go to the site to download the full session, it took me to a dating website. There may be error in the link or my computer could just be crazy.  

  2. # Blogger Will 7/02/2008 7:37 PM

    Hells yes! Thanks for hosting this Keith. I've been looking around to find a recording of this broadcast. And now we finally have a sweet live version of "Why?"  

  3. # Blogger Will 7/02/2008 7:41 PM

    Oh and Kevin, that's most likely a pop-up that your browser is opening in the same window for some reason. But I'm not sure how to help you. Think happy thoughts, I guess. Or try opening the link in a different... manner...  

  4. # Blogger Joshua Holt 7/02/2008 8:22 PM

    Brilliant Keith. I'm looking forward to listening. Andrew Bird is simply phenomenal live as you said and I always get excited whenever I see him. It's a rare chance to see songs built live in front of your eyes as he loops himself into a frenzy.

    --
    Fear Not!
    http://mel.opho.be/  

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Chicago Shows Of Note


12/18 Cold War Kids@House Of Blues
12/27 My Morning Jacket@Chicago Theatre
12/28 My Morning Jacket@Chicago Theatre
01/09 Mucca Pazza@Empty Bottle
01/15 Department Of Eagles@Schubas
01/15 The Hold Steady@House Of Blues
01/20 The Killers@UIC Pavilion
01/22 Animal Collective@Metro
01/24 Frightened Rabbit@Empty Bottle
01/24 Kings Of Leon@House Of Blues
01/27 Passion Pit@Schubas
02/12 Antony & The Johnsons@Vic Theatre
02/17 The Submarines@Schubas
02/27 The Appleseed Cast@Bottom Lounge
03/12 Maserati@Empty Bottle
03/18 Tokyo Police Club@Metro
03/25 A.C. Newman@Logan Square Auditorium
04/10 Andrew Bird@Civic Opera House


Boston Shows Of Note


01/08 Occidental Brothers@Middle East Down
01/15 Illinois@Great Scott
01/18 Frightened Rabbit@Great Scott
01/18 Department Of Eagles@Brattle Theatre
01/22 Via Audio@T.T. The Bear's
01/27 This Car Up@Great Scott
01/30 Andrew Bird@Orpheum
02/05 Illinois@Great Scott
02/13 The Submarines@Middle East Up
02/21 Ryan Adams@Orpheum
02/22 Antony & The Johnsons
           @Berklee Performance Center
03/14 A.C. Newman@Paradise


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