Gig review: Andrew Bird, Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow

By Fiona Shepherd
Published on 11/06/2012 03:25

Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird is the whistling bloke. Also that violin dude. Most recently, the glockenspiel guy. Which makes a change from guitar or drums, though his bandmates had that covered all right.

Andrew Bird

Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow

****

And who knows, maybe the bifurcated horn contraption at the back of the stage was not just for decoration either.

Bird is not your average indie folk musician. His opening number encompassed oriental, classical, Indian and jazz influences, built up into a mini-string symphony using a loop pedal as a prelude to some characterful crooning over samples of his own Latin-flavoured pizzicato playing.

If he could do all that himself, what did he need a band for? For an intuitively loose-limbed Afrobeat groove teamed with a Celtic folk melody among other things, it quickly transpired. An Andrew Bird set is a fluent, non-tokenistic trip around the world and across traditions – so much so that he felt it appropriate to mention that new single Eye On Eye was not a Rastafarian reference; indeed not – it was actually an exuberant indie rocker.

A playful rendition of It’s Not Easy Being Green was invested with some chanson soul. Then it was back across the Atlantic for the simple bluegrass pleasures and heartsore harmonies of an oldtime interlude, the highlight of which was a cover of The Handsome Family’s So Much Wine. Bird’s own compositions rarely made such a direct emotional plea, but a sincere solo encore rectified that.

There was birdsong of sorts from support act Woodpigeon, aka Canadian troubadour Mark Hamilton, who also used a loop pedal to whistle in harmony with himself. This was more impressive in itself than any of his fey, breathy songs, which, despite the layering of vocals and guitar, often sounded under-powered.