It’s been years—years!—since I fell in love with Bobby
Birdman. It was 2002 when I first saw him, and he was standing alone on
the stage at the Vera Project back when the Vera Project was on Fourth
Avenue. In between playing poignant pop songs with recurring themes of
blood, hearts, and love, he was making the most of his curly mop
of hair by doing Pauly Shore impersonations. Can you blame me for
swooning?
The next year, Birdman (real name Rob Kieswetter) released Born
Free Forever, a perfect experimental-pop record that’s as
emotional as it is lighthearted. Droning keyboards and samples make a
dramatic base for Birdman’s romantic croon on songs like “Demon Heart”
and “So the Blood.” On other tracks, like “All Right” and “The
Flood/the Blood,” the mood lifts a little with gentle, airy
harmonies.
Since then, Birdman has continued to make quite a name for himself,
releasing poignant pop records on labels like Hush and Not
Not Fun, and collaborating with artists like YACHT. This week, he
brings it back to where it all began—for me at least—by
playing the Vera Project on Friday, August 14, with YACHT. The show’s
$11 ($10 with club card), and it starts at 7:30 p.m. I’ll be there.
Probably swooning, still.
Fri Aug 14: the Dodos, Army Navy at the Mural
Amphitheatre, Seattle Center, 6 pm, free.
Fri Aug 14: Ghost Lobby, Please Do Not Fight,
theZim & Arock at Piecora’s, 10 pm, $6.
Tues Aug 18: the Cave Singers at Easy Street
Records, Queen Anne, 7 pm, free.
Wed Aug 19: Kevin Atkins, 1985, Anna Gordon at the
Old Fire House, 6:30 pm, free.
