A Big Bird Show

photo by Joshua Mellin

So, I got to see this guy at Auditorium Theatre last weekend, and here's what I thought.

The Obligatory "Best Of" Posting

These are my favorite albums of 2009. The ones that were on repeat nonstop for sometime throughout the year, the ones I came back to when I wanted to be in a good mood or sing along. I started this list in January in a simple Google Doc where I noted when I could tell an album was beginning to pull on me in some way or another. Is it like I couldn’t remember later which ones supposedly stood out to me throughout the year? Frankly, yes. It’s like when someone comes up and asks you what’s good that’s new, or what they should be listening to right now, or what’s my favorite album right now… my mind goes completely blank.

This sort of list requires some thought, and this list is important enough to me that I didn’t want to accidentally leave out a single one (you know how when you’re packing for a trip and you get there and you realize you left out something really important like your underwear…), hence the Google Doc. I almost didn’t even do a year end list, though. When all the magazine, blog, radio best of lists started coming out, I get tired of reading slightly different versions basically the same lists, but it’s nice to reference back to the year as a whole, and be able to start anew in 2010.

So here it is… and when any of you ask me what my favorite albums/songs of ’09 were (or any of the above questions) I’m going to tell you to read my blog.

I decided to just list them here, in no particular order, without descriptions or reasoning of why I loved them so much—I’m fairly sure I did a pretty good job gushing about each one at some point on my blog in the past year, so if you need backup, click on through to the other side.


Andrew Bird - Noble Beast


Neko Case - Middle Cyclone


Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix


Bad Veins - Bad Veins


The Flaming Lips - Embryonic


Amazing Baby - Rewild


Peter Bjorn & John - Living Thing


Metric - Fantasies


White Rabbits - It's Frightening


Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures


*PS* I'm thinking of putting up a Favorite Songs of '09 list as well (since I just realized I started a best songs Google Doc, too, and there were some good ones!).

A Cold Winter Night, A Special Concert

Warning: this is long. But it's my blog and I can do whatever I want, and I wanted to write something more to remember the show rather than "review" it. So there.

My modest iPhone pictures from last night's concert.

Tankboy took me to see Andrew Bird play a special concert last night (an extension of my birthday celebration :)) at Fourth Presbyterian Church (which coincidentally is right across the street from my office and I had never been inside). It was the second of four Gezelligheid concerts--a dutch word loosely translating to “cozy” (ironic since that is the largest venue my boyfriend has seen him in… yes, we are incredibly lucky…).

The show was absolutely beautiful (I will have a hard time using any other word from here on out) musically and visually, the setting and lighting really added another dimension to the performance. Sometimes the entire height of the altar was lit up with color, and others the back was completely dark, essentially disappearing, leaving Bird on a modest looking stage at front. There was no PA, only the 4 huge horn speakers that Bird is known for having on stage, letting the accoustics of the church do the rest. Bird himself was dressed to the nines, wearing a suit for the occasion, and he was seated for the performance--which he pointed out he normally doesnt do (he injured his right heel backing into some equipment at last show in Minneapolis), but it actually added another bit of intimacy to the show. (He also donned a long past 5 o'clock shadow, which along with his wiry frame unfortunately made him look like a little elderly or homeless man when he limped across the stage--eek!)

Watching Andrew Bird play is so entrancing. He is like a scientist of music, mixing a little of this here a little of that there, building orchestras of sound and melodies; you can just picture him alone in the western Illinois barn playing with melodies and instruments and looping all alone in a desolate place for no one to hear but himself. Must be beautiful solace.

This was not a typical concert where an artist would play songs from their new album, or even the most popular songs from their catalog. This was an intimate performance featuring new melodies and the birth of old songs. I only knew about ten percent of the music he played, but it was enthralling to watch/hear development of melodies. I think I may have even liked it better when I didn’t know the songs or the melodies… It's like the first time you see a movie, the first viewing is sometimes better than all subsequent ones.

"Scythian Empires" and "Natural Disaster" were the only two songs that I remember actually knowing before the show. There was a new song near the beginning I enjoyed, which he said had words, but that he wasn't ready to share them with us quite yet. It is so interesting to hear him play a beautiful melody that he says popped up just within the past month--to hear it so seemingly perfect and practiced.

It's also interesting to hear the stories behind the writing of songs, the development and where they began, like another new song, "Lusitania," which was actually an old lyric that started out in "Natural Disaster," but wasn't used. After more research on sunken Naval ships, “I’m the one who sank the Lusitania” became it's own song. He referred to the demise of a romantic relationship when he talked about the meaning, which is the first time I remember ever hearing him refer to personal relationships like that.

Another intesting story came from the "Capital I" song from Sesame Street (“We all live in a capital I…") developed into the song Imitosis after lawyers from the children's program said he couldnt use the lyrics. Bird played the first verse from the alphabet song, then added that he bet that if Jim Henson were still around he would have let him use it. Another bit of fun came in when Before "Scythian Empires" he asked the crowd to provide the percussion by clapping along during the chorus, but then said that if someone said clap along during a song he'd be like "I'm not your monkey." (Really it's his delivery that made it so hilarious).

[Here I will mention one more song that I enjoyed, it had menacing swells and contained lyric “he is a diamond maker.” This guy seems to think it's called "You Woke Me Up." He also has a setlist from one of the Minnesota Gezelligheid concerts which was similar to ours last night.]

The setting of the show, being in a church (a rare concert for us with no booze) felt seasonally appropriate. There were distinct moments when I felt completely relaxed, despite sitting in church pews, suddenly aware of how tense my muscles were in the cold winter air. We even stopped for hot chocolate afterwards. The temperatures outside were bitterly cold though, we ran from building to building even though we were covered from head to toe--any bit of skin that was exposed was bit with pain from the freezing air.

I could tell that Tankboy was upset that my elation from the concert did not carry through our commute home and seeing him sad made me sad! - Damn you Chicago Winter!! (*shakes fist*) - I decided to write for a bit when we got home and I started to feel a little better (I've been feeling more inspired to write the week or so, just need to find make the time and a place in the new house that I like).

So thank you Tankboy, thank you for taking me to the concert (I know that you wouldn't have gone, but you knew that I would love it). It was a nice break in the hubub and chaos and cold of the holiday season to sit in a beautiful scene and watch and listen to beautifully crafted music. I think that sometimes it's just that set-up that makes us appreciate moments like these even more.

What do you want for your birthday? A month full of your favorite concerts? Done.

Here we are... December. While it marks the beginning of a cold, snowy winter (which I hate), it's also turning out to be a month full of concerts from some of my favorite bands, which is perfect because it's also the month of my birthday! Happy birthday to me!

It all started with the announcement of the Flaming Lips/Phoenix/Pete Yorn show at Allstate on the 11th; you'd be hard pressed to find a more Mich-perfect bill.

Then, Andrew Bird announced that he would be playing a bunch of "Gezelligheid" (that means "cozy," i.e. small) concerts at Fourth Presbyterian Church. I didn't go for any of those tickets bc I would have felt greedy after getting to see him at The Hideout last year, the Black Cat DC show AND Schubas, but a special someone nabbed a couple guest list spots for us :)

And then last week, there was this curious announcement of Metric playing, of all places, Cubby Bear. They were just here in June, playing a sold out Metro, and did I mention Cubby Bear is a sports bar across from Wrigley Field??? But, the myth has been verified by Tankboy--apparently the show is a part of Q101 partnership with the bar called "Q-Up" and it's serving as the station's official after-party for their "Twisted" holiday concert. Whatever, I get to see Metric at a bar.

Lets see, what else... Tonight we start the month with one of my favorites of '09, Winter Gloves (luckly) returning to Chicago after playing to a nearly empty room in May. And on top of it all, local friends Hey Champ and Tom Schraeder are playing this month too. (I keep telling Tankboy that the only way this month could get any better is if Spoon announced a last minute Chicago show).

So here's to December. It's going to be busy between concerts, holiday parties and unpacking a new home, but hey, I can breathe in January.

Whatta Week!

It's been a busy week already and it's going to get even busier as Lollapalooza looms on the horizon.

Monday night, Tankboy and I went to see Pete Yorn at Park West (review can be read here) and what I thought would be an early night ended up with us meeting Tom Schraeder for drinks at High Dive (where I learned what it means to get "Yorned").

Thats quite a way to start out the week, especially when we should be resting up for a mammoth weekend. The celebration offically starts tonight as Andrew Bird takes over (the under 200 capacity) Schubas. This show was near impossible to get tickets to, but Tankboy managed to get two tickets for us (winning the best boyfriend ever award) and then just yesterday I got on the list for the show!! So we went from "no way we're going" to "who are we going to take with us?"!

Now down to business: If you're going to Lolla you should definitely get your buns there bright and early on Friday to see my Hey Champ buddies at 12:15 on the "Chicago 2016" stage. (Thats right, they're on the big stage!) As for the rest of my picks for the weekend, you can see my "custom schedule" here. Also, on Transmission, we are running features all week in a versus fashion to help you choose between bands playing on opposite ends of the park at the same times (I know, it sucks). My match ups were Andrew Bird/of Montreal/Peter Bjorn & John, Neko Case/Vampire Weekend and Jane's Addiction/Killers.

With all the aftershows, afterparties and other events happening this weekend, I'm sure there will be plenty of stories to share next week!

New Andrew Bird Video: "Fitz and the Dizzy Spells"

I was there for the awesome secret show when they filmed part of this video at The Hideout.  And don't think I wasn't looking for myself on my first run-through...

Andrew Bird with Mucca Pazza - "Fitz & The Dizzyspells”

Ted Leo Goes To Washington

Barack Obama's Presidential Inauguration in DC is fast approaching, and that also means that The Hideout presented Big Shoulders Ball is coming up as well! The lineup was already stacked, but since the initial announcement, there have been some big additions: Andrew Bird (who will likely be playing material from his much anticipated Noble Beast--out on Inauguration Day) was added shortly after the announcement, and now Ted Leo (on Chicago's Touch and Go label) has joined the party. The Hideout is calling him their "ambassador" to DC since they say The Black Cat his "home club." Author and U of C alum Thomas Frank ("The Wrecking Crew," "What's the Matter with Kansas," The Baffler) has also been added as a special guest, and The Hideout promises that there's still more to come. If you're even thinking about going to the Capital for the Inauguration, I'd get my hands on these tickets fast because they're bound to sell out.

The Big Shoulders Ball takes place the night before the inauguration (Monday, January 19) at The Black Cat in Washington DC (1811 14th St. NW WDC 20009). Tickets are $50. You can get them from The Black Cat's website, or pick them up in person at The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, 773-227-4433.

Year End List(s)

Okay, so I didn't get my year-end list in before the end of the year, but since it is a "year-in-review" it shouldn't be evaluated until the year is actually over, right? Anyway... To be honest, I didn't read one year-end list (except Tankboy's, which I really just scanned) and I assume that not many people will read mine, but it's an opportunity for me to look back at the year and appreciate the albums that still hold my attention months later, and that played the soundtrack for significant times in my life.

For Transmission's year-end feature, each writer picked their favorite album and favorite local live show of 2008, so I included my picks here, but it was near impossible to pick just one to represent the whole year, so I've listed my top five for both.


Auf Wiedersehen 2008!




Mich's Favorite Albums of 2008:


The Black Keys - Attack & Release

Attack & Release was produced by Danger Mouse and I'm beginning to think anything he touches turns to gold. I listened to no other album for about a month this spring; at work, at home, on my iPod, on the bus... It has a down home feeling you could just wrap yourself in; raw 70s style rock that makes me feel like it really is sometime in the 70s and there are no cell phones, no email, no google chat--nothing to pull you out of the feeling that you're totally stoned and totally lost in the music. It's almost surprising how much emotion goes into some of those songs, especially "Lies" and "Things Ain't Like They Used To Be." And that's just the slower psychedelic tunes! Then there are the grittier tracks like "Strange Times" and "I Got Mine" (which contains one of my favorite rock lyrics ever: "when I roll, I roll deep"-- is there any other way?) that shine with Dan Auerbach's guitar riffs and gritty vocals. I love the new poppier songs and dance bands of 2008, but sometimes I wish there was a little more stripped down rock and roll (seriously, you can't get much more stripped down than simply drums and guitar...)



Rounding out the top 5:

Girl Talk - Feed the Animals
Party in a box.

Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
Another party in a box.

Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Just beautiful.

Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords
Just hilarious.








Mich's Favorite Live Shows of 2008:



Girl Talk @ Congress Theater
11/8/08

(Photo by Tankboy)
I was lucky enough to see Gregg Gillis twice this year, first at Lolla and just last month at Congress. I reviewed the Congress show for Transmission, so you already know how much I loved it, but here I'll tell you why it was the best of the year. You know those party pictures you see where everyone looks like they're having the time of their lives, but you know that it couldn't have been that fun the whole time? Or that one part where that one song played and the energy just blew up? Well, Girl Talk was like that one part, but stretched out for 3 straight hours. I was part of a music video once that was set at a party and everyone told me, "it looks like you're having so much fun!" In reality we were getting sprayed down with water and dancing for three seconds at a time--not even long enough to finish a musical phrase! Girl Talk live is basically the party that that music video would be if it were real.


Battles @ Double Door
8/2/08

Last year, I started to look forward to the Lollapalooza after-shows more than seeing the artists at the fest. Prime example: Battles. I'd been digging their last album, Mirrored, nonstop since stumbling on the end of their set at Pitchfork appearance in 2007. Compare seeing them in the middle of the day on a side stage to being front and center for Tyonadi's keyboards. I danced my face off.


Spiritualized @ Metro
9/8/08

I saw Spiritualized at the Pitchfork Music Festival in July, but it was daylight and I was, well, not sober. So I wasn't sure that the show was actually as amazing as I thought it was. The Metro show was on a Monday, after a weekend of partying, and it was raining; needless to say we were exhausted, but we went anyway. We were stone sober and guess what--it was every bit as incredible and moving as I thought it was.


Wilco @ The Riviera
2/16/08

This was the Saturday night show of Wilco's five-night residency where they played their entire catalog over the duration. It took me some time to fall in love with Wilco, at first I thought "Alt-country" was too country for me. When I finally tested the waters, I jumped into their most recent release, Sky Blue Sky. This night though, I fell in love with their entire back catalog (I was especially struck by the encompassing sound of "Via Chicago" in that room). I went on to spend a significant amount of time with Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and Summerteeth.


Andrew Bird @ The Hideout
12/15/08

I've already blogged about how much I loved this show, and the opportunity to see him play such a small venue.




Mich's Favorite Songs:
Songs I loved or for one reason or another was crazy about in 2008
(I'm sure I'll add to this as I think of more...)

Hey Champ - Cold Dust Girl
Z-Trip - Party For Change
Peter Bjorn & John - Inland Empire
of Montreal - For Our Elegant Caste
Justice - D.A.N.C.E.
The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name
Santogold - L.E.S. Artistes
Miley Cyrus - See You Again
Rachael Yamagata - Accident
Lettuce - Blast Off

Andrew Bird @ The Hideout 12/15

I was bummed that there were no hometown Chicago dates when Andrew Bird announced his tour beginning in January, but then last week I found out about a "secret" show at The Hideout, which ended up being two shows, and I was lucky enough to be at the one on Monday. It was in a word, amazing. Even my boyfriend, who didn't understand the hype, but still respected him as a musician, told me half way through the night that he finally gets it.

Andrew started the set with "Oh No," the only track being previewed from his new album, Noble Beast (scheduled for release in January on Fat Possum). Self described circus-punk marching band Mucca Pazza was there, which at first I didn't understand, because there was no way that entire band would fit on the tiny Hideout stage with Andrew and crew, but then he revealed that that they were filming a music video for one of the new songs, "Fitz and the Dizzy Spells." He explained that the video would be something along the lines of him shooting a flaming arrow from the top of The Hideout as a call for people to leave their jobs and congregate there for a party. He went through the song twice, and Mucca Pazza positioned themselves throughout the audience and danced with their instruments in the air. It was surreal from the middle of the room and I can't wait to see how cool it looked from outside the mob!

It was a comfortable show, Hideout co-owner Tim Tuten himself said that they didn't over sell it (how could they with all the members of Mucca Pazza mulling about!) and to make yourself at home, and that we did. It felt more like a house party, a gathering of friends than a typical concert, especially given the humble surroundings of The Hideout and Andrew's missteps, dialogue and equipment malfunctions. We even went out to the bar for a drink midway through the show, and then ran back in when I heard the opening beats of "Imitosis." He played for almost 2 hours, playing every song from the new album and treating us to a couple of my older favorites including "Fake Palindromes" and "A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left." I was also especially struck by the new song "Effigy," I don't really know why; maybe it was because he told us it was about the man that sits at the end of the bar writing poetry, and wondering what his story is.

After hearing the entire album, I'm excited for the release of Noble Beast next month. I'll probably even get the Deluxe Edition so I can get that bonus instrumental album that includes collaborations with another favorite artist of mine, Glenn Kotche.

**Tankboy took the photo above, and some great others you can view on Chicagoist. Although I didn't see any of the unicorn sweater...

**PS--Andrew is also going to be at The Hideout's Big Shoulders Ball in DC for the Presidential Inauguration!

The Hideout Brings Chicago to the Inauguration

If you've got plans to go to DC (and a place to stay...) for Obama's Presidential Inauguration, you can celebrate the night before with the folks from The Hideout at The Black Cat where they, with Interchange, present The Big Shoulders Ball, a Chicago concert celebrating change. Hideout co-owner and staunch Obama supporter (as is evident by the ENORMOUS picture of Obama hanging on the front of The Hideout), Tim Tuten, has chartered two buses to take the bands and company on the cross country trip. Why am I getting a feeling of America ala 60s full of VW buses, hippie braids and peace signs... Anyway, the lineup is stacked; Tortoise, Waco Brothers, Ken Vandermark and Icy Demons are among the local artists already slated to play. Tickets go on sale today at 4pm and are $50. You can get them from The Black Cat's website, or pick them up in person at The Hideout (1354 W. Wabansia). The exact date of the show is Monday, January 19 (just in case you've been living under a rock and hadn't heard when Obama would take over as Commander in Chief). The Black Cat is located at 1811 14th St. NW WDC 20009.


**UPDATE** Andrew Bird has been added to the line-up as well!

Noble Beast out earlier than expected, now in Deluxe Edition!

Andrew Bird has pushed the release date of his new album, Noble Beast, up one week from January 27 to January 20. What I thought was to be released as two different albums, one instrumental, has been pressed into a special-edition two-CD set. This Deluxe Edition will come with different artwork by Diana Sudyka, extra photos, a fold out poster, and a 24-page illustrated lyric book and will only be available through pre-order at Fat Possum and on release date at record stores.

The hook? You can only get the extra instrumental CD, Useless Creatures, (which by the way includes another hometown guy--Wilco's Glenn Kotche--on percussion) with the Deluxe-Edition (although I'm sure it will eventually be released on it's own...). Otherwise you'll just have to settle for the Standard Edition.

(Album art above is from the Standard Edition)

There is more to Glenn Kotche than Wilco

Glenn Kotche is the drummer for a little Chicago rock band you might have heard of called Wilco. What you may not know, is that Wilco is just one of Kotche's many projects.

Kotche joined Wilco in 2001, right before the band went rogue (sound-wise and label-wise) with Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Its no surprise that Wilco took an innovative turn at that time, when you consider Kotche's background and other projects. He was in the experimental rock trio Loose Fur with Jeff Tweedy and Jim O'Rourke when Tweedy asked him to join Wilco. Currently, he makes up half of the jazz experimental duo On Fillmore with Darin Gray. He also recently collaborated with fellow local Andrew Bird for one of Bird's upcoming albums. And on top of all this, right now he is busy recording a new album with Wilco.

As if that wasn't enough to keep your plate full, Kotche has a burgeoning solo career of his own. In 2006 he released his third solo album, Moblie (Nonesuch Records). His creative exploration of rhythm and the space between is nothing you would expect and incredibly intriguing. It's also diverse, from the ambient title track "Mobile Parts 1 & 2" to the intense jam beats on "Projections of (what) Might."

Tonight "indie classical meets indie rock" when he appears with classical group eighth blackbird at Harris Theater. They will perform works from Mobile, and Kotche himself will perform a solo set. What can you expect? Lots of unorthodox percussion instruments and a departure from rhythm you're used to hearing.