Whistling. Is there enough? Should we teach it to our young people – Higher whistling anybody? Andrew Bird can whistle! No, he really can! Although it’s more of a warble (perhaps he’s a twitcher when not on show?). He can also do a lot of other things. But the only ones I know anything about are his ability to play a manifold number of instruments, almost simultaneously, turning a one man show, into a big band performance!

I think I first really discovered I liked Andrew Bird whilst driving up Highway 7 to Ottawa, Canada. His latest release was playing on one of those satellite radio stations with many letters and numbers in it’s name, KCTRWX 109.8 or summat!

Leaving his band behind, somewhere in Englandshire, Dr Bird made his way to Oran Mor, Glasgow, a venue that has notably hosted some quality performances for me over the last few years. This was one of those gigs were I wasn’t really sure what to expect. But that was refreshing. Playing solo, we questioned how he would sound. We of little faith. He just has to be one of the scientist racing for the prize, in accordance with The Flaming Lips. The stage was his laboratory. The instruments his implements. Music his creation. Layer upon layer of live tracks were laid down as he fulfilled the duties of all band members himself. Then there was the whistling. The angst. The humour. The sarcasm. The depth, yet accessibility of lyrics, themselves containing layer upon layer of meaning. This dreamy conception was like a blackhole to another place, a good place, a place to dream, to explore. Yet, like your favourite desert, too much would be sickening.

With the gig wife, sch3pl and Miss Bliss all happy, we headed into the windy streets suitably impressed and somewhat inspired.

(image used under creative commons license: from gussifer)