Andrew Bird: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

May 31, 2016 by BOB BOILEN • It's been a joy to hear the music of Andrew Bird shift and change. Bird's early music, from the late '90s, was steeped in hot jazz and blues music from the early days of the phonograph, then later shifted to new technologies using loop pedals to layer voice, whistling and violin. His lyrics often have a calculated quality, filled with abundant wordplay and observations.

This year, Bird made one of his most personal albums, Are You Serious. So it felt appropriate that he would play some of his most personal work in this most intimate of settings, the Tiny Desk.

For this performance of three new songs, Bird came with a stripped-down acoustic band: just drums, upright bass and acoustic guitar, with Bird himself on violin. It functioned something like a hot jazz ensemble, with no effects pedals; just the songs, front and center, sounding perfect.

Are You Serious is available now:

Set List:
"Are You Serious"
"Roma Fade'"
"Capsized"

Credits:
Producers: Bob Boilen, Niki Walker; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Niki Walker, Kara Frame, Colin Marshall; Production Assistant: Jackson Sinnenberg; Photo: Brandon Chew/NPR.

[Klaahu]

Story-time: I work in a little cafe in Budapest, and I was listening to Andrew Bird all day, and then a cute family came in... and they just said me surprised: "AH! That's Andrew Bird!" and I was happy someone else listens to him... but it turned out the father know Andrew, they played together in concert and Andrew was his violin teacher. And the man! Just randomly sent him a video message about the cafe shop and me working and the music!!! AND HE RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY! "Thank you, my friend, to show me! I was thinking about to stop writing music, but now I know there is someone in a little cafe who still plays my music, makes me happy, so maybe I won't stop it today. :)" It was so kind and funny!!!! So thank you NPR and this video to show me his wonderful music years ago! <3

[scottsheehan]

The only gripe I have with Tiny Desk Concerts is that I become a fan of so many great artists from here, but I end up preferring these versions more than their original recordings!

[davidroberts]

Can we give it up for the sound guy? This is easily studio quality. With whistling. Well done.

[SonicSeraphim]

His whistling is so pitch-perfect that actual birds use him for reference

[D-OveRMinD]

Can we all just take a moment to appreciate Alan Hampton on the bass. That dude is killing it on both the bass and vocals.

[simoncox]

His whistling game is on point. Really living up to that last name there.

[LookHereFilms]

This music feels like a really nutritious and delicious home-cooked meal in a world of high-fructose corn syrup. More please.

[flowleopard]

Its been YEARS and this concert does just not get old. Countless listens and views. 5 stars!

[ikepayne]

Wow the level of musicianship between Andrew and his crew is unbelievable.

[NickSquaredTV]

His delivery on the obtuse/abstruse line is so cool

[RuleOfThum]

Forget Mr. Bird for a second, I think the whole band is fantastic. They play so well together.

[cj]

The thing I love/hate about NPR is that often these live performances sound better than the album version of each song. It was true in the case of The National and it's again true here. Thanks Andrew for putting yourself out there~

[brotherlymud]

Andrew Bird and Wes Anderson should do something together...They'd totally vibe out on one another.

[MinhazMuhammad]

Andrew Bird while whistling looks like someone who knows all the secrets in the world.

[ChurdleBurdle]

seriously it is so hard to find a sound guy that can balance the violin well in a band it is SO FREAKING DIFFICULT. i play violin for non-classical occasions and it's always either too quiet or too loud and too high on the treble man n n n n n this is great. it's got the nice organic sound of an acoustic violin. i'm just rly happy.

[ArdalanHamann]

I just gotta say it once more
He is brilliant
the band is absolute professional
the melody is so novel and touching
It is so good

[boym]

00:00 - Are You Serious
05:08 - Roma Fade
09:53 - Capsized

[britmod]

Whenever I hear Andrew Bird riffing on that fiddle I just have this feeling he really wanted to be a guitarist but his Mom bought him a fiddle and he rocked out anyway!!!

Immensely talented, always a pleasure to listen and watch him perform...

Peace

Am I the only one who has discovered Andrew Bird from this video, went to listen to his songs on Spotify and come back to this video over and over again because they are so much better than studio recordings?

[lzblz]

A fly landed on my glasses while I was watching this, and I didn’t even swat at him, because I knew he just wanted to listen too.