You know that look that people get at shows? When you glance at the kid next to you in the crowd and he's got his eyes closed, completely blissed out? We call that particular expression "having a moment," as in "Everywhere I looked at Yeasayer, there was some bearded guy having a moment." Well, last night at the Croc, That Guy was Patrick Watson. Playing with his band The Wooden Arms, Watson delivered a set completely in line with his beguiling new album of the same name. There he was, with his Nick Drake voice and his eyes wide shut, making some lovely music and having a moment all night long. On the keyboard? Having a moment. Singing into a megaphone and using a plunger as a mute? Having a moment (see above). Doing his encore in the midst of the crowd, amplified by only a handmade megaphone tree strapped to his back? Having a moment. And so were we. Come back soon, Patrick.
Having a Moment with Patrick Watson
An Interview with Sweden's Loney Dear
Sweden is a country like no other. Somehow, its disparate raw ingredients, a few of which include a rich history of inclement weather, rule by Vikings, close-knit communities, and welfare states, have created some of the most affable, accomplished, and worldly people on the planet. Melding influences as varied as those that shaped his homeland, Emil Svanängen (under the pseudonym Loney Dear) creates some of the most beautiful and epically arresting music found anywhere on the globe. Like his fellow Scandinavian brethren Sigur Ros and fellow countryman Jose Gonzales, Loney Dear brings the world intricately crafted emotive music on a larger-than-life yet incredibly personal level.
Fits and Dizzyspells Abound at Andrew Bird Show
We've been to a lot of concerts in our lifetime and there have been some pretty epic shows for sure, but it's not often that we're completely blown away by a single performer. Well, Andrew Bird's performance Monday night at the Moore Theatre left us completely in awe. It's that simple really. We literally found our mouths hanging open after nearly every song. He wasn't up there alone, mind you. He had a full band, including the talented Martin Dosh on percussion and electronics. All eyes were on Bird, however, who mesmerized the crowd with the staggering range of his musicianship, his lyricism, and his much talked about whistling chops.
Get Out: Andrew Bird at The Moore Theatre
Tonight, the Moore Theatre welcomes Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist and lyricist Andrew Bird as he tours in support of his latest album, the fantastic and critically-acclaimed Noble Beast.

