Andrew Bird – Union Chapel, 11/11/09

Anyone standing on the platform of Highbury and Islington tube station at around 11pm last night must have had a shock. A shrill noise filled the air as at least 20 people on the platform are whistling. This is what an Andrew Bird show will do to you. Tonight was the second night of Bird’s two night stand at the Union Chapel, which is surely one of the most beautiful settings for live music in the world. Indeed, it seems Bird too is slightly in awe of the building, observing that the building “sings for you”, and opening his set with an improvised piece that soars and loops and weaves a spell over the audience. “I’m not quite sure what that was” he says, before suggesting the room made him do it.

Playing without a band, Bird bristles with a nervous energy that feeds in to the music that seems to pour out of him as he scuttles across the stage, looping his violin, strumming his guitar, whistling and playing the xylophone, often all at the same time. Although he takes his shoes off in order to use his toes to control his looping pedals, it also feels like the act of someone who feels at home. After a few songs Bird’s initial shyness melts away, and he regales the audience with tales of catching the victorian disease pleurisy while cycling into any alleyway full of kittens in his native Chicago. The relaxed feeling continues as he pays tribute to the anniversary of Sesame Street, with a quick run through of “Capital I” and also turns in a moving cover of The Handsome Family’s “Don’t Be Scared”. While the set heavily features tracks from this years “Noble Beast”, there is also time for a new track inspired by the sinking of the Lusitania- before which he explains that he figured that incidents that drew the US into major conflicts could be a good metaphor for a relationship. It is the first of two duets that he performs with tonights support act Jesca Hoop whom he had met just four hours before. Despite this the pair hit the songs harmonies and there is every reason to believe it will go on to be one of the highlights of Bird’s next record. The pair duet again to close the show with a beautiful version of Dylan’s “Oh Sister” delivered into a shared microphone in true “Johnny and June” style. Tonight, Bird’s virtuosity and propensity to go off script were provided with the perfect setting, creating a truly engaging and involving gig going experience.