In honor of Friday…let’s take a break from politics. There is something which I would very much like to share with you.
Isn’t the world awfully small? Follow along with this fantastic chain of events:
1) When performing an online search for local music events, I stumble across a notice that a musician named Andrew Bird will be performing at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville this October.
2) I note with interest a search result that states that he also played at Bonnaroo, the music festival held in Manchester, TN.
3) I also note, with increased interest, that my internet search ALSO pulled back a Wikipedia entry…to my own high school: Lake Forest High School, in Lake Forest, Illinois.
4) I scan through the Wiki entry to the section where it lists famous graduates of my alma mater: Dave Eggers (artist, writer)…Alan Benes (MLB pitcher)…Vince Vaughn (actor)…just to name a few (no harm meant to those not mentioned).
…and it also lists, Andrew Bird (musician). And that’s when I remember him.
Everyone knew that Andrew was special…that he had a musical gift. He could most often be seen in orchestra room, working with the teacher. In fact…I’m not sure if I ever saw him anywhere else. He played violin: constantly, and beautifully. The rumor had it that he’d been playing since age 4, when he was started on the Suzuki method. For those unfamiliar, this musical education method is EXTREMELY rigid, and essentially involves the rote memorization of complex pieces, learned entirely by ear. Perhaps this strict, classical method explains why Andrew’s later “methods” are so beautifully unconventional…read on.
If recollection serves, Andrew was nice…and very reserved. I seem to remember that some of my peers thought of him as a bit arrogant…but that wasn’t my take on him. To me he was always friendly in a bit of shy/awkward way…he was just “operating at a slightly different frequency.” Maybe I just liked him because after the school talent show, where my band played a song we had written, Andrew walked up to me and told me that he really liked the song and that he had it stuck in his head…and then he walked down the hall, whistling the melody. I guess my point is, if you asked me who his friends were, I’d have to say that I don’t recall him hanging out with anyone besides the other orchestra students. But I do remember his generally laid back manner, and his dedication to music. All of this, I suppose, is why I am so glad to have found out that Andrew Bird is a success. I mean, isn’t it wonderful, when it’s the quiet, talented guy (and not the loud, untalented boor) that succeeds? Isn’t it nice to see that kid who you thought was gifted…grows into the adult who is acknowledged as gifted?
I was even happier, when I took the time to listen to some of his online offerings. I had read a few reviews and bios which indicated that his music was a form of “Folk or Americana” music, that he was “multi-instrumental” (he plays the violin, guitar, glockenspiel, and he sings and whistles), and that his style is very “inventive and unconventional.” They had me at the whole violin/guitar/glockenspiel/whistling thing. Then I looked on YouTube and found the clip of “Imitosis“…
…WOW…
I take great joy in finding a new musical artist whose work consistently appeals to me…so you can imagine that learning that I really like Andrew’s music (the music of someone I watched play the violin in school concerts) truly elates me.
Anyway…without further introduction here are some clips of my favorites, followed by some related links. The first is the video for “Imitosis” that blew me away:
And here’s “Anonanimal,” performed live at the Guthrie Theater (the song starts easy and then REALLY builds…love it):
This song, “Lull,” is simply beautiful in a particularly haunting way:
I mentioned Bonnaroo…here’s Andrew performing “A Nervous Tic Motion” live:
And again from the Bonnaroo stages, here’s “Measuring Cups:”
Here’s Andrew Bird’s official website…
Here’s his YouTube channel…
Here’s the Wikipedia entry…
And should anyone care…here’s the Wikipedia entry for my high school…
Have a wonderful weekend…oh, and if you like good folk-type music, you might also want to check out these guys: The Joiners. They’re here in Nashville…just met them recently at a downtown bar. They’re cool…bright…and I’m digging their sound.