Something apropos

As I expected, I enjoyed Thursday night's Wisconsin Union Theater Andrew Bird show in Madison a good deal more than I enjoyed his set a couple of weeks ago at the Hideout Block Party. The crowd was, for the most part, perfect - silent during the quiet parts, cheering loudly between songs. (Except for the girl who kept yelling "Andrew, you're HOT!" But even she waited for opportune breaks.)

Andrew noted early on that he's played Madison fifteen times or so in the past, and - he meant this affectionately, he assured us - mostly in shitholes. So he wasn't quite sure what to do with the pristine Union Theater. He did a good job of figuring it out, though - he suggested a rock 'n roll dance party. Though the crowd remained seated for the show, Andrew (along with Martin Dosh and Jeremy Ylvisaker) delivered with the more upbeat numbers. With a couple of additions, I think they played a very similar set to the one they did at the Hideout. Everything just sounded a little better to me in Madison.

There were other differences, of course. Andrew brought along some toys, including a large sock monkey who sat on an amp during the latter part of the show, and a See 'n Say that he used to augment the performance of "Spare-Ohs." He talked to the audience more as well, which was reminiscent of the last time I saw him in Madison at the Orpheum Stage Door. The videos that accompanied a few of the songs were also present on Thursday, projected behind the band rather than off to the side as they were at the Hideout. Visually it was very striking, and made for some nice photos. In fact, I had such an excellent seat and the lighting was so good that I took way too many pictures.

This is going to sound suggestive, but I noticed that the socks Andrew wore on Thursday matched my bedroom. They had stripes of brown and cream and pink. If only they'd had some green stripes too, I might have had to ... um ... yeah, so I guess I don't really have a satisfactory conclusion for that sentence. Ask him where he bought them?

Now that I've seen Andrew in a variety of situations, it's become pretty clear what makes for my own personal optimal enjoyment. I prefer the violin to the guitar. I prefer seated theaters to GA festivals. And as much as I enjoy what Martin and Jeremy add to the songs, both live and on the latest album, I think I prefer Andrew solo. I was glad he did a few songs that way at the Union.

Martin Dosh opened the show, accompanied by Mike Lewis and, for a song or two, Jeremy Ylvisaker. (Whom Martin referred to as the Electric Platypus.) Very enjoyable, very jazzy. They kept my complete attention for the whole set, which is more than I can say for a lot of openers. (And even some headliners, actually.)

Setlist:

Instrumental [Glancing at a setlist on the stage, something like Anonanimalia?]
Fiery Crash
Opposite Day
Why? [Andrew solo]
Nervous Tic
Spare-Ohs (preceded by a story about the song's origin and Andrew's chickens)
Plasticities
Simple X
IMitosis
Armchairs
Dr. Stringz > Fake Palindromes
Skin Is, My
Scythian Empires
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Wait [Andrew solo]
Tables and Chairs [Andrew promises there will be not just snacks, but salty snacks]

More photos here.