Andrew Bird throws in with Barack Obama at fund-raising concert
As Barack Obama's bandwagon grows, so does the trail of bands and artists supporting the senator in his presidential run. In Chicago’s musical stable alone, Wilco, OK Go and now Andrew Bird have (literally) sung the senator’s praises.
Tonight at the Hideout, singer-songwriter Bird plays a benefit show to raise funds for Obama for America. Joining him on this capital bill is veteran Chicago band Dianogah.
(Sun-Times file)
For Bird, it's a chance to lend his voice to movement that he thinks will improve his country.
"He's the candidate that I feel the best about and I want to represent me," he said. "I'm really looking forward to watching a State of the Union address with some hope.
"That's the job, to chose someone who will represent you personally and people you care about. What we really need is an articulate and intelligent voice."
Bird joins an ever-expanding catalog of national artists who have played shows in support of Obama, from the Grateful Dead to hip-hop’s Will.I.Am. While it's yet to be seen what type of effect this injection of sound has on the campaign, Obama has aligned himself with a younger musical sect more than any candidate before him. That enthusiasm may be why so many have signed on to use their talents to drum up support in his quest for the White House.
"I've done some work with non-partisan awareness campaigns, but never been this directly supporting a candidate," Bird said.
What Bird has done is craft intuitive folk rock, reinventing the sound of American music with every new project he takes on. His prowess on the violin gives him an added dimension, one that he's managed to interweave seamlessly into his indie-rock sound.
It's no secret that Obama is counting on the young vote, and events like this further underscore the grassroots method of fundraising his camp has employed. The suggested contribution is $100, but Bird says he expects to see a wide range of ages at the concert.
"Over the last 12 years I've seen a completely wide range of ages at any show," he said. "One thing that a lot of kids have said to me is that my music is something my folks and I can be into together."
And that sense of togetherness extends behind just family lines. It's about being part of a larger force, one that is united in a cause.
"It's really important to play out and be part of a cultural community and a group of people acting as one," Bird said.