Singer
Andrew Bird

Andrew Wegman Bird (born July 11, 1973) is an American musician, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Trained in the Suzuki method from the age of four, Bird graduated from Lake Forest High School in 1991 and Northwestern University with a bachelor's degree in violin performance in 1996. That same year he self-released his first solo album, Music of Hair. Vastly different from his later work, this album showcased his violin skills and paid tri ... bute to his fascination with both American and European folk traditions, as well as jazz and blues. Following this, his initial commercial exposure came through collaborative work with the band Squirrel Nut Zippers, appearing on three of their albums (Hot, Sold Out, and Perennial Favorites) between 1996 and 1998. Taking on the role of bandleader, Bird released Thrills on Rykodisc in 1997 with his group Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire, shortly followed by second album Oh! The Grandeur in 1998. Both albums were heavily influenced by traditional folk, pre-war jazz, and swing, with Bird relying on the violin as his primary musical instrument, as well as providing vocals along with his trademark verbose lyrics. The Bowl of Fire featured musicians from Bird's home town of Chicago, including Kevin O'Donnell, Joshua Hirsch, Nora O'Connor, Andy Hopkins, Jimmy Sutton, Colin Bunn, and Ryan Hembrey. During this period, Andrew Bird was a member of the jazz group Kevin O'Donnells Quality Six, for which he was the lead singer and violinist and contributed to arrangements and songwriting for the albums Heretic Blues (Delmark 1999) and Control Freak (Delmark 2000) (both Delmark albums were produced by Raymond Salvatore Harmon). In 2001, the Bowl of Fire released their third album, The Swimming Hour, a dramatic departure from their previous recordings. It featured a mixture of styles, from the zydeco-influenced "Core and Rind" to more straightforward rock songs such as "11:11". Due to this eclectic nature, Bird has often referred to it as his "jukebox album". Although gaining critical praise (The Swimming Hour received a 9.0 from indie music website Pitchfork), the band failed to attain commercial success or recognition, playing to audiences as small as 40 people. In 2002, Bird was asked to open for a band in his hometown of Chicago, but fellow Bowl of Fire members were unavailable for the date. The reluctant Bird performed the gig alone, and the surprising success of this solo show suggested potential new directions for his music. See more [+]

Candy Shop |||||

Well, piece by piece and nail by nail it'll all come down so...

1111 |||||

Standing on the corner Plastic cup in her hand Standing on ...

Are You Serious |||||

Used to have just one foot out the door Yeah, I always wante...

Pulaski At Night |||||

Half empty, half full Cup runneth over Horns of plenty, coff...

Mx Missiles |||||

Those that would judge would say you're aloof But you know t...

Lusitania |||||

If you loosen liable lips You keep sinking all my ships Oh a...

Imitosis |||||

His keeping busy, yeah he's bleeding stones, With his machin...

Left Handed Kisses |||||

I don't believe everything happens for a reason To us romant...

Roma Fade |||||

See her light, how it reigns So hard on your high plains So ...

So Much Wine |||||

I had nothing to say On Christmas day When you threw all you...

If I Needed You |||||

If I needed you would you come to me Would you come to me, f...

Give It Away |||||

Did you give it away Did you give it away for free Don't you...

Far From Any Road |||||

From the dusty mesa the looming shadow grows Hidden in the p...

Danse Caribe |||||

You were a shameless child Bandied by stiff cross currents A...

Capsized |||||

Now when you wake up Night's falling someone is by your side...

Fixed Positions |||||

When your position remains fixed, my dear e E 0 0 2 2 3 3 3 ...

A Woman's Life And Love |||||

Since I first saw him, I think myself blind I look around me...

Sisyphus |||||

Sisyphus peered into the mist A stone's throw from the preci...

Orpheo Looks Back |||||

There are places we must go to To bring these hollow words o...

Railroad Bill |||||

Railroad Bill, Railroad Bill Never worked and he never will ...

Sifters |||||

Sound is a wave like a wave on the ocean Moon plays the ocea...

So Much Wine Merry Christmas |||||

I had nothing to say On Christmas day When you threw all you...

Something Biblical |||||

Take your apples from the earth And your fingerlings from th...

Souverian |||||

The bells will ring, church steeple's catching fire And if y...

The New Saint Jude |||||

Come on, all you stand-up men You self-empowered beginners A...

The Sad Milkman |||||

Above the dark house On a black tar roof Stood the sad milkm...

Tin Foiled |||||

Late new years eve Paper hat on your head It was hard to bel...

Too Long |||||

Tooooooo long you waited too long to come home Now your dad...

Two Way Action |||||

I've been driving all night Bathing in florescent light Of a...

Valleys Of The Young |||||

Do you need a reason We should commit treason And bring into...

Case In Point |||||

I'm a breather, mail receiver And I don't know where I stand...

Cathedral In The Dell |||||

The cathedral in Cologne looks like a spaceship Like the ha...

Chemical Switches |||||

Whistling Bit Verse I keep hearing a vicious rumor From the ...

Darkmatter |||||

When I was just a little boy I threw away all of my action t...

Desperation Breeds |||||

Beekeeper sing of your frustration In this litigious breeze ...

Drunk By Noon |||||

There once was a poodle who thought he was a cowboy He lived...

MENU