Birds of Chicago
Open Chord Music
8502 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37919
Dec 13, 2019
8:00 PM EST
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About this concert
Birds of Chicago
Friday, December 13th
All Ages | 8pm
$15 ADVANCED
$18 Day of Show
“Nero and Russell play folk-rock with impressionistic flourishes and gospel warmth, lent unexpected extravagance by Russell’s singing…” —NPR
Following their incendiary set at Third Man Records, NPR Music named Birds of Chicago one of the Best of Americanafest 2018. The band continues to ride a swell of good mojo that they’ve enjoyed in the Americana world since their inception, with live shows that alternate between moments of hushed attention and wild, rock and soul abandon.
Birds of Chicago have been riding a swell of good mojo in the American world since their inception in late 2012. With their new album, Love in Wartime, they are set to both confirm that roots world buzz, and break on through to a wider audience across the world.
Recorded in Chicago against a backdrop of bewilderment, deep-divide and dread, Love in Wartime is a rock and roll suite with a cinematic sweep. Co-produced by Nero and Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars), it evokes epic efforts of the 60’s and 70’s, with love as the undeniable throughline. As Russell puts it, “Any act of love is an act of bravery. These songs are snapshots of covenants, big and small, of trust and understanding. We want to give people some good news, and we want them to be able to dance when they hear it.”
When BOC released it’s last album, the Joe Henry produced Real Midnight, in 2016, critics scrambled to find the right terminology to describe the deep lyricism, gut-punch singing and fevered musicality. . . “Secular gospel” Was one phrase that caught some traction. That fervor is evident in Love in Wartime as well: “Roll Away the heavy stone/roll away the heavy hours/roll on in the summer mon/who’s alive who’s alive who’s alive?” The invitation is joyous, but urgant. . . call it “secular gospel,” or call it what they used to call poetry intoned over roots music mash-ups: rock n roll. The Birds consider themselves a rock and roll band first and foremost, and Love in Wartime doesn’t leave any doubt about that.
All Ages
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What fans are saying
Steph
March 10th 2020
See them, buy their albums, CD’s, tapes, stream them. Birds as a band are part of the recent renaissance of Americana cum folk music cum No Depression style. Allison Russell is a singing treasure.
Bonus was my introduction to the Wood Brothers. Fantastic songs! A great show.
Los Angeles, CA@Regent Theater DTLA
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Birds of Chicago Biography
Birds of Chicago, "This year's biggest roots surprise" - L.A. Times, is a collective built around husband and wife duo JT Nero (Chicago, IL) and Allison Russell (Montreal, QC). Since forming in 2012, they’ve toured internationally 10+ months of the year.
Their brand of rock and roll poetry can be a little hard to categorize, for people that insist on categorizing... their voices are undoubtedly the centerpiece - Nero's fractured country soul croon is wrapped in Russell's silver and gold tones for a harmony blend that is like nothing else in music today. Fired by the band it’s a full tilt revival - streamlined poems, deep grooves, sharp hooks and joyful singing straight from the gut.
Birds of Chicago’s self-titled debut album, released at the beginning of 2013, was a critics' darling – with glowing praise rolling in from both sides of the Atlantic for Nero and Russell's evocative poetry and simmering vocals. The decision to put their respective bands (JT’s “JT & The Clouds” & Allison's "Po' Girl") on hiatus and tour together was a pivotal move, applauded by their fans, and growing numbers of new listeners.
After a year of hard touring, and much buzzed about appearances at summer festivals (Strawberry, High Sierra, Kerrville, Hillside, Delfest, Vancouver Island among others) the band decided to record a live album in front of their hometown fans. The result "Live from Space," released January 2014, captures this rising band in absolute top form. By turns raw, raucous, whispered and hushed, it revealed the bands full dynamic range. Americana UK says, "'Live From SPACE’ leaves no genre unaccounted for, no touchstone unturned. A Cappella spiritual, soul, acoustic balladry, driving country rock - it’s all there. And that’s only the first four tracks."
Russell and Nero are most at home on the road, zigzagging across North America and Europe in their family band van, with their new baby daughter, Ida Maeve, in tow. Coming soon to some festival, theater, pub, VFW hall, roller rink or living room near you - dovetailing their voices in songs of hope, despair, love.... and electric seahorses. It's familiar and strange stuff - the everyday and the magical - light and shadow, shadow and light.
"Near perfect Americana”- No Depression
"Simply gorgeous. On the verge of breaking big time"
- Chicago tribune
“This year’s biggest roots surprise.” L.A. Times
“10/10. ‘Live From SPACE’ leaves no genre unaccounted for, no touchstone unturned. If you want acappella spiritual – it’s here (‘Barley’), you want ‘soul’- it’s here (‘All The City Girls’), you want acoustic balladry – it’s here (‘I Have Heard Words’), you want driving country rock – it’s here (‘Sugar Dumplin’’). And that’s only the first four tracks. (Americana UK, April 2014)
“[Birds of Chicago] have discovered a power in their collective that creates some truly spine tingling moments. Mix a little gospel, a little soul, plenty of country attitude and you get the semblance of the forces at play here. Heard live, this couple display a spirit in performance that is really special and conjures up the celebratory feel of a revival meeting.” (Lonesome Highway – May, 2014)
“I Have Heard Words – Top Ten Songs Of The Week” (The Alternate Root – May 29, 2014)
“The band brings alive the big fat Birds of Chicago sound, topped off by two of the most distinctive voices on the Americana scene. 5 Stars” (Northern Sky, May 2014)
“Impeccable harmonies, warm voices and beautiful accompaniment.” (R2-Rock ‘N Reel Magazine, May 2014)
“Birds of Chicago are a sound buffet, and the band members are master chefs serving cabaret twang, dark folk blues, rock heavy alt country, and Mediterranean beach bar band. They are a gypsy band, knowing that their sound should be felt and seen as much as heard.” (The Alternate Root, May 2014)
“[Live From SPACE] is a contender for live record of the year.” (House of Mercy Radio, May 2014)
“I can’t recommend their album highly enough, but if you get the opportunity to see Birds of Chicago play live; make the effort to see them. You won’t regret it. (No Depression – Newcastle concert review – April 4, 2013)
Twenty Bands Pushing The Envelope – The Alternate Root; March, 2013.
“These two will become an ‘It’ act in Americana circles for years to come.” (Portland Tribune; Jan. 10, 2013)
http://waxwingfilms.com/birds/c2credits.mov
Read MoreTheir brand of rock and roll poetry can be a little hard to categorize, for people that insist on categorizing... their voices are undoubtedly the centerpiece - Nero's fractured country soul croon is wrapped in Russell's silver and gold tones for a harmony blend that is like nothing else in music today. Fired by the band it’s a full tilt revival - streamlined poems, deep grooves, sharp hooks and joyful singing straight from the gut.
Birds of Chicago’s self-titled debut album, released at the beginning of 2013, was a critics' darling – with glowing praise rolling in from both sides of the Atlantic for Nero and Russell's evocative poetry and simmering vocals. The decision to put their respective bands (JT’s “JT & The Clouds” & Allison's "Po' Girl") on hiatus and tour together was a pivotal move, applauded by their fans, and growing numbers of new listeners.
After a year of hard touring, and much buzzed about appearances at summer festivals (Strawberry, High Sierra, Kerrville, Hillside, Delfest, Vancouver Island among others) the band decided to record a live album in front of their hometown fans. The result "Live from Space," released January 2014, captures this rising band in absolute top form. By turns raw, raucous, whispered and hushed, it revealed the bands full dynamic range. Americana UK says, "'Live From SPACE’ leaves no genre unaccounted for, no touchstone unturned. A Cappella spiritual, soul, acoustic balladry, driving country rock - it’s all there. And that’s only the first four tracks."
Russell and Nero are most at home on the road, zigzagging across North America and Europe in their family band van, with their new baby daughter, Ida Maeve, in tow. Coming soon to some festival, theater, pub, VFW hall, roller rink or living room near you - dovetailing their voices in songs of hope, despair, love.... and electric seahorses. It's familiar and strange stuff - the everyday and the magical - light and shadow, shadow and light.
"Near perfect Americana”- No Depression
"Simply gorgeous. On the verge of breaking big time"
- Chicago tribune
“This year’s biggest roots surprise.” L.A. Times
“10/10. ‘Live From SPACE’ leaves no genre unaccounted for, no touchstone unturned. If you want acappella spiritual – it’s here (‘Barley’), you want ‘soul’- it’s here (‘All The City Girls’), you want acoustic balladry – it’s here (‘I Have Heard Words’), you want driving country rock – it’s here (‘Sugar Dumplin’’). And that’s only the first four tracks. (Americana UK, April 2014)
“[Birds of Chicago] have discovered a power in their collective that creates some truly spine tingling moments. Mix a little gospel, a little soul, plenty of country attitude and you get the semblance of the forces at play here. Heard live, this couple display a spirit in performance that is really special and conjures up the celebratory feel of a revival meeting.” (Lonesome Highway – May, 2014)
“I Have Heard Words – Top Ten Songs Of The Week” (The Alternate Root – May 29, 2014)
“The band brings alive the big fat Birds of Chicago sound, topped off by two of the most distinctive voices on the Americana scene. 5 Stars” (Northern Sky, May 2014)
“Impeccable harmonies, warm voices and beautiful accompaniment.” (R2-Rock ‘N Reel Magazine, May 2014)
“Birds of Chicago are a sound buffet, and the band members are master chefs serving cabaret twang, dark folk blues, rock heavy alt country, and Mediterranean beach bar band. They are a gypsy band, knowing that their sound should be felt and seen as much as heard.” (The Alternate Root, May 2014)
“[Live From SPACE] is a contender for live record of the year.” (House of Mercy Radio, May 2014)
“I can’t recommend their album highly enough, but if you get the opportunity to see Birds of Chicago play live; make the effort to see them. You won’t regret it. (No Depression – Newcastle concert review – April 4, 2013)
Twenty Bands Pushing The Envelope – The Alternate Root; March, 2013.
“These two will become an ‘It’ act in Americana circles for years to come.” (Portland Tribune; Jan. 10, 2013)
http://waxwingfilms.com/birds/c2credits.mov
Americana
Christian/gospel
Christian
Gospel
Rock N Roll Poetry
Folk
Roots
Christian-gospel
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