Andrew Bird – Tables and Chairs:

if we can call them friends then we can call them on their telephones
and they won’t pretend that they’re too busy or that they’re not alone
and if we can call them friends then we can call
holler at them down these hallowed halls
just don’t let the human factor fail to be a factor
at all

don’t, don’t you worry, about the atmosphere
or any sudden pressure change
cause i know
that it’s starting to get warm in here
and things are starting to get strange

and did you, did you see how all of our friends were there
and they’re drinking roses from the can?
and how, how i wish i, i had talked to them,
and i wish they fit into the plan

and we were tired of being mild
we were so tired of being mild
and we were tired…

i know we’re going to meet some day
in the crumbled financial institutions of this land
there will be tables and chairs
there’ll be pony rides and dancing bears
there’ll even be a band
cause listen, after the fall there will be no more countries
no currencies at all, we’re gonna live on our wits
we’re gonna throw away survival kits,
trade butterfly-knives for adderal
and that’s not all
ooh-ooh, there will be snacks there will
there will be snacks, there will be snacks.

and we were tired of being mild,
we were so tired of being mild,
and we were (we were so) tired…

so don’t you,
don’t you worry
about the atmosphere.

[audio:http://naveenium.com/stream/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/13-tables-and-chairs.mp3]

I went to see Andrew Bird last night at the Beacon. I’ve been listening to his latest, Armchair Apocrypha, non-stop this year. I’d never seen him live before and I’d learned from a few of my friends that he puts on a very fun show. Their stories turned out to be very true. He gives off a big presence on stage and really takes over all parts of it. He makes it seem like a big band production when, in fact, there are only three people on stage: Andrew, the bass player and the drummer. He switched instruments after nearly every song. He used a multi-track system to sample and loop pieces. For example, he’d play a small violin part and loop that in the background while playing the next part. Everything was operated via foot pedals and he did this all in socks – I guess to make it easier to control and hit the pedals. Oh, and on top of all this he’s a great whistler, too.

I wanted to link the song “Armchairs” here but can’t find a suitable version online. It’s by far my most favorite track – it’s had more listens this year than any other song.