The Bird Man cometh to Kalamazoo

By Kalyn Golland
Western Herald

Photo courtesy of Andrew Bird

He has been called “a poet and a science geek” by critics. He uses classic instruments to make music that resonates with contemporary audiences, and has graced the stage of both Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo.

On Sunday, singer and musician Andrew Bird will bring his voice and all the trappings to the Kalamazoo State Theatre for a 7:30 p.m. performance.

The Chicago based musician is known for his folk, indie rock style. Bird plays multiple instruments including violin, guitar and glockenspiel — to name a few. Along with his instruments and vocals, Bird’s songs also feature his uncommonly musical whistling ability.

“I like Andrew Bird because of his musicianship,” said Kalamazoo College student Elyse Durham.

“I like that he was classically trained. He learned by playing all the greats by ear. It’s much more creative to me… his songs are so intricate and layered. Melodies that come from his own head, and that’s what sets him apart from other classical musicians.”

Bird has toured with other bands for over a decade, but it is his unique style that has lead to a rising solo career in the last several years. In 2008, he played before a crowd of some 15,000 people in Chicago’s Millennium Park, wrote a music based blog for the New York Times and kicked off his 2009 tour at Carnegie Hall. Not bad for a man whose first instrument was a Cracker Jack box with a ruler taped across it, serving as an imaginary violin at the age of four.

Bird is known for switching up his performances, giving each audience a slightly different “Andrew Bird experience,” but for his gig at the State Theatre, the audience can expect to hear tunes from his latest album, “Noble Beast,” released earlier this year on Fat Possum Records.

It is this trademark style and talent that keeps people coming back for more of Bird and causes the London Independent to profess that, “Bird could do for independent American music what Tarantino did for independent American cinema.”

“I am excited beyond words,” Durham said of Bird’s Kalamazoo appearance. “I bought tickets before they went on sale to the general public.”

This Sunday promises to be another night when the talented songster will deliver on his classical stringed instruments with the carefree ease and charm of a man loving what he does.

Opening the show will be fellow indie-star-on-the-rise, St. Vincent, who’s unique voice has been tossed in conversation among the likes of Regina Spektor and Feist.

Reserved tickets are $27.00 and are available at the State Theatre box office or via Ticketmaster.

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Posted by HeraldAdmin on Oct 15 2009. Filed under Weekend Scene. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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