Andrew Bird

Andrew Bird is captivating. There’s simply no other way to describe a performer with so many eccentricities, talents and musical capabilities. He’s like the Willy Wonka of the musical world — extraordinary enough to justify the bizarre trademarks that characterize his live performances and songs. The Chicago native, hailed for his whistling, violin and vocal mastery, wowed a sold-out crowd at Tipitina’s Oct. 3, as he joined opener St. Vincent for a truly captivating show.

St. Vincent (Annie Clark), with her halo of dark curly hair and petite frame, was earnest and endearing. She opened her set by giggling how she was “super psyched” to be in New Orleans, and “tickled pink” to be on the road with Andrew Bird. But then the fantasy broke and she burst into a monstrous guitar line, shredding and sliding her way into listeners’ ears. Genius and virtuoso do not even begin to explain the ways her fingers moved along the neck of the guitar. Backed by swelling strings, a saxophone and a flute, her fantastical flair and knack for dark, twisted lyrics made it difficult to decide whether to indentify her as adorable or terrifying. She’s a bit Sufjan Stevens (she actually was a member in his backing band before she broke out on her own), a bit acid pop and a bit avant-garde. As a whole, she was the perfect complement to the headliner.

The city welcomed Andrew Bird back with open arms, after he performed here this spring. As usual, he walked on stage with his sock monkey stuffed animal, unlaced his shoes, put his violin under his chin and launched into the music. He covered a lot of material from his January release Noble Beast, including “Oh No,” “Masterswarm” and “Anonanimal.” And appreciating the loyalty of his fanbase, Bird polled the audience to recall what he had played during the spring concert.

What’s exceptional about Bird’s music is the integrity of his live material. He amplifies silences, hyperbolizes instrumental sounds and gets lost in his own improvisation. You just cannot recreate the Andrew Bird live experience with iTunes alone. There’s just something purely enchanting about his seductive whistling, lyrical aptitude and supple vibrato-laced melodicism. Bird’s a powerhouse, in the most neo-folk and unobtrusive of ways.

The pairing of Bird with St. Vincent, a poster child for humility and innovation, made for a remarkable show. And for the first time on tour, both Bird and Clark came on stage and performed together. As if the concert couldn’t have been more personal — with Bird making multiple New Orleans allusions and commenting on his latest recording to benefit New Orleans public schools — the two musicians treated the crowd to incredible renditions of “Tables and Chairs” and “Scythian Empires.”

Let’s hope that Bird’s double dip in New Orleans this year wasn’t some scheduling mistake. Instead, let’s pray it was because he loves us just as much as we love him and that the memory of the sold-out and satisfied crowd at Tipitina’s will tempt him to never forget the city that care forgot.