By Matt SpectorThe Daily Northwestern
Singer and songwriter Andrew Bird is as well known for his whistling as he is for his vocal and violin skills, all of which he will showcase May 14 at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall as part of the A&O Productions Alumni Speaker Series.
Bird, Music ’95, released his newest album, “Armchair Apocrypha,” last month.
The multi-instrumentalist performed Friday night in a packed auditorium at Chicago’s Riviera Theatre, and made his television debut last week on “Late Night with David Letterman.”
A&O Chairman and SESP junior Alex White said next month’s solo performance will be followed by a question-and-answer session. White said A&O is excited to bring alumni such as Bird to campus because “it isn’t something we often have the chance to do.”
“People who have heard of him are going to be beside themselves,” he said. “Anyone who’s in touch with the indie music scene will be excited to see him perform.
“It ended up being great timing because he just had this huge show downtown and now we’re going to have him for a solo and more intimate set at Pick-Staiger.”
Bird will give a unique “VH1 Storytellers-style” performance that will give fans an opportunity to “see inside a songwriter’s mind,” White said.
A&O Concerts Committee member Forrest Wickman said he is a fan of Bird’s unique style. Bird performs solo, but imitates the sound of a band by looping instruments.
“It’s a unique performance because you feel like you’re watching him compose the song in front of you,” the Weinberg sophomore said.
Wickman said Bird will be “a very interesting speaker as well as an interesting performer.”
Weinberg freshman Carolyn Goldschmidt said she is excited to see Bird perform because of his music’s distinctive appeal.
“It’s really relaxed and pure – it’s just him, his guitar and not a lot of electronic distortion, and that’s what I like,” she said.
Tickets to the performance are free and will be available at the Norris Box Office on April 30.
White said A&O will also be announcing the headliner for their “signature event,” the annual A&O Ball, at the end of the week. The ball will be held on May 11.
Reach Matt Spector at [email protected].
