I am all for artists workshopping their songs in concerts. It's kind of like how comedians need to put in their stand up time before the big HBO special or holiday themed laugh fest. We loved seeing Sufjan Stevens last fall as he worked through The Age of Adz and All Delighted People material, with just enough banjo to appease the masses. Andrew Bird did much the same last Friday night at Boston's Tremont Temple, a venue more used to hosting the Black Nativity pageant than a shoeless, violin looping, Leslie speakers spinning, one-man-band. Bird is no stranger to sneak previews of his creative process, even eliciting critiques and revisions for the song "Oh No" through a New York Times blog.
The set pulled from work for an eventual album and even a soundtrack to a video staring Zach Galifianakis as a pollinating bee. With gracious humor, Bird charmed the crowd, offering anecdotes on how songs came into being or the wonders of the Handsome Family's songwriting. The dark opulence of a red velvet theater chair, the high arched balconies, and whistle clear acoustics all made for a beautiful setting for Bird's sonic explorations.
Opening for Bird, local artist Marissa Nadler offered shadowed folk songs punctuated with twelve-string guitar and vocal layering. UK touring seemed to weigh heavily on Nadler, who had just performed at All Tomorrow's Parties, but her confident voice more than filled the magisterial space.
