Birds of Chicago

I am an unashamed fan of JT Nero (Jeremy Lindsay) and his ‘Mountains/Forests’ album is one of the finest pieces of American music – of any form – I have heard in years. One of the things that made that album so fine was the collaboration with Allison Russell who I am also a huge fan of in her Po Girl incarnation. Birds Of Chicago is a formal declaration of their collaboration in the same band and the result is simple, complex and magnificent.

From the opener, ‘Trampoline’, to the last number, ‘The Wide Sea’ this is an album of rare quality with equal contributions from both performers and a sound that shows them to be completely sympathetic to each other’s style.
You could describe this as Americana or even as American Gothic but the images they paint are almost impressionistic, creating pictures in words that are at once vaguely familiar but on closer inspection hide depths of feeling and some more personal stories that instruct and impress you with the emotion and the heart.

Just listen to ‘Galaxy Ballroom’ to hear a story of a life both loved and wasted and of the love that was lost – a life in 5 minutes and 4 seconds and all you need to know is there.

‘Trampoline’ is a delightful and uplifting ditty, extolling the joys of the coming of spring and young love – Po Girl sounding like a sassy Maria Muldaur in response to JT Nero’s wide-eyed wonderment. ‘Before She Goes’ is a slow and deep tale while ‘Sans Souci’ has a bouncy and funky air with Russell on Ukulele and a great bass line from Chris Merrill. There is an understated accordion on ‘Sugar Dumpling’ played by Bart De Win that lifts the track to something very special but the reality is that the playing on every track is to such a high standard that it is difficult to find performances to pick out.

Every track tells its own tale and I could extol virtues all over but the album should be taken as a whole and on that basis it works brilliantly.

They will be touring in April and May:
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Birds of Chicago with Peter Mulvey UK Tour @ Grateful Fred's
Whitehouse Lane,, Liverpool, L37 3L
01704 877477 01704 877477 FREE
Set: 8:00 PM
Doors: 7:45 PM
All Ages Tickets: TBA
Also Playing: Peter Mulvey

Thursday, April 4, 2013
Birds of Chicago with Peter Mulvey UK Tour @ The Cluny 2
36 Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 2PQ
0191 230 4474 0191 230 4474 FREE
Set: 8:00 PM
All Ages Tickets: 12 GBP
Also Playing: Peter Mulvey

Friday, April 5, 2013
Birds of Chicago with Peter Mulvey UK Tour @ Caroline Social Club
Caroline Street, Saltaire,, Shipley, BD18 3JZ
01274 594021 07855164182 Set: 7:00 PM
All Ages Tickets: £12 (£10 Caroline Club members)
Also Playing: Peter Mulvey

Saturday, April 6, 2013
Birds of Chicago with Peter Mulvey UK Tour @ Globe Hall
The Globe Hall, Ireby, Cumbria, Ireby, CA7 1DX
01697 371645 01697 371645 FREE
Set: 7:30 PM
All Ages Tickets: 10 GBP
Also Playing: Peter Mulvey

Sunday, April 7, 2013
Birds of Chicago with Peter Mulvey UK Tour @ Diamond Jubilee Town Hall
Market Square, Kirton in Lindsey, North Lincolnshire, Kirton in Lindsey,
07947712316 Set: 7:00 PM
All Ages Tickets: £8 advance £10 on door
Also Playing: Peter Mulvey

Monday, April 8, 2013
Birds of Chicago with Peter Mulvey UK Tour @ The Brasenose Arms
Station Road, Cropredy, OX17 1PW
01295 750244 01295 750244 FREE
Set: 8:00 PM
All Ages
Also Playing: Peter Mulvey

Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Birds of Chicago with Peter Mulvey UK Tour @ Pull up the Roots present Birds of Chicago @ The Slaughtered Lamb, London
34 - 35 Great Sutton St. Clerkenwell, London, EC1V 0DX Set: 7:30 PM
All Ages Tickets: 11 GBP
Also Playing: Peter Mulvey

Thursday, April 11, 2013
Birds of Chicago with Peter Mulvey UK Tour @ Lewes Constitutional Club
139 Lewes High St, Lewes, BN7 1XS Set: 7:30 PM
All Ages Tickets: 8 GBP
Also Playing: Peter Mulvey

Friday, April 12, 2013
Birds of Chicago with Peter Mulvey UK Tour @ Whitstable Folk Nights
The Royal Native Oyster Stores, Horsebridge Road, Whitstable, Whitstable, CT5 1BU
07895 683567 Set: 7:00 PM
All Ages Tickets: £12/£10
Also Playing: Peter Mulvey

Saturday, April 13, 2013
Birds of Chicago with Peter Mulvey UK Tour @ The David Hall
Roundwell Street, South Petherton, Somerset, TA13 5AA
01460 240340 01460 240340 FREE
Set: 8:00 PM
All Ages Tickets: £14/£13
Also Playing: Peter Mulvey

Sunday, April 14, 2013
Birds of Chicago with Peter Mulvey UK Tour @ The Maze
257 Mansfield Road, Nottingham, NG1 3FT
0115 947 5650 0115 947 5650 FREE
Set: 7:30 PM
All Ages Tickets: £10 (until the 28th Feb) then £12
Also Playing: Peter Mulvey

Tuesday, April 16, 2013
The Green Note Songwriter's Circle Birds of Chicago, Peter Mulvey, Nels Andrews @ The Old Queens Head
44 Essex Road, Islington, London, N1 8LN Set: 7:30 PM
All Ages
Also Playing: Peter Mulvey, Nels Andrews

Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Birds of Chicago UK Tour @ The Bluebell Inn
High St, Hempstead, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 2PD
01799 599199 01799 599199 FREE
Set: 8:00 PM
All Ages Tickets: TBA

Thursday, April 18, 2013
Birds of Chicago UK Tour @ St. Bonaventure's
Egerton Road, Bristol, BS7 8HP Set: 7:30 PM
All Ages Tickets: £12


Friday, April 19, 2013
Birds of Chicago UK Tour @ Cotehele House National Trust,
St Dominick , Saltash, Cornwall, PL12 6TA
01579 351346 01579 351346 FREE
Set: 8:00 PM
All Ages Tickets: £10

Saturday, April 20, 2013
Birds of Chicago UK Tour @ Miss Peapods
Jubilee Wharf, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 8FG
01326 374424 01326 374424 FREE
Set: 8:00 PM
All Ages Tickets: 8.50 GBP

Other Info:
http://www.facebook.com/events/499842993379483/
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Birds of Chicago UK Tour @ Songs From The Shed Present @ 5 The Beach Café
5 The Beach, Clevedon, North Somerset, BS21 7QU
01275 341633 01275 341633 FREE
Set: 7:30 PM
All Ages Tickets: £30 (including set meal & glass of wine)

Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Birds of Chicago Ireland Tour @ Whelan's
25 Wexford St, Dublin, Dublin 2
+353 1 478 0766 +353 1 478 0766 FREE
Set: 8:00 PM
All Ages Tickets: TBA

Thursday, April 25, 2013
Birds of Chicago Ireland Tour @ Clonmel World Music
Raheen House Hotel Raheen Road,, Clonmel, TIP
+353 (086) 3389619 +353 (086) 3389619 FREE Set: 8:00 PM
All Ages Tickets: 15 euros
Other ticket outlets: Music Centre, O'Connell St, Clonmel, Ph. +353 (052)6129811 +353 (052)6129811 FREE

Friday, April 26, 2013
Birds of Chicago Ireland Tour @ The Ulster Museum
The Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens,, Belfast,
028-90-319601 028-90-319601 FREE
Set: 8:00 PM
All Ages Tickets: £10/£12

Saturday, April 27, 2013
Birds of Chicago Ireland Tour @ The Crane Lane Theatre
Phoenix St, Cork,
+353 21 427 8487 +353 21 427 8487 FREE
Set: 8:00 PM
All Ages Tickets: TBA

Sunday, April 28, 2013
Birds of Chicago Ireland Tour @ The Roisin Dubh
Dominick Street, Galway, GAL
+353 91 509960 +353 91 509960 FREE
Set: 8:00 PM
All Ages Tickets: TBA

Monday, April 29, 2013
Birds of Chicago Ireland Tour @ The Forum
The Glen, Waterford City,, Waterford City, Co Waterford,
+353 (0) 51 87 11 11 +353 (0) 51 87 11 11 FREE
Set: 8:00 PM
All Ages Tickets: TBA

Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Birds of Chicago Ireland Tour @ Balor Arts Centre
Main St., Ballybofey, Co. Donegal,
+353 74 913 1840 +353 74 913 1840 FREE
Set: 8:30 PM
All Ages Tickets: TBA

Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Birds of Chicago Ireland Tour @ Hawk's Well Theatre
Temple Street, Sligo, SLI
+353 71 916 1518 +353 71 916 1518 FREE
Set: 8:00 PM
All Ages Tickets: TBA

Friday, May 3, 2013
Wath Festival @ Montgomery Hall
Rotherham, Wath-Upon-Dearne, Set: 8:00 PM
All Ages Tickets: TBA

Saturday, May 4, 2013
Wath Festival @ Montgomery Hall
Rotherham, Wath-Upon-Dearne, Set: 8:00 PM
All Ages Tickets: TBA

Sunday, May 5, 2013
Wath Festival @ Montgomery Hall
Rotherham, Wath-Upon-Dearne, Set: 8:00 PM
All Ages Tickets: TBA