Following an afternoon bike ride back in his home town, Andrew Bird took the stage at Martyrs’ packed with XRT faithful for music and conversation. He’s a one-man orchestra, but last month Bird surprised us, bringing his full band along to give it away for free at this a very special Live from Studio X performance!

His last album, Noble Beast was top ten in the 2009 XRT Listener Poll. Now Break It Yourself, released earlier this month and maybe his most personal work is already a fan favorite. Recorded in his well-furnished barn, the orchestral pop songsmith engages some loopier ideas on the album.

Andrew’s instrument starts with violin, but loops and layers and leaps into his singing, whistling, glockenspiel, guitar and electronics, including an amazing speaker system of hornlings and hornlets. Not only did he soar through an hour-long set last night, but he talked with us about the mysterious production of his new disc.

With a flourish and pizzicato violin he was off!

“Eyeoneye” is one of Andrew’s more straightforward melodies and combines all of his musical styles and instrumentation. You wouldn’t know he’s on the mend after a rough cold. Andrew has been on a tornado-style tour in support of the album from Colbert Report to SXSW the Chicago-based musician is on the march.

Not to get all Drew Barrymore about it, but Andrew Bird's Studio X tonight was *magical* #93xrt #therewillbesnacks—
Lindsay McMenamin (@seeleyavenue) March 22, 2012

Andrew returns to Chicago to play an XRT show on May 12 at The Auditorium Theatre. Break It Yourself is now available (including a deluxe vinyl package and digital set that with live material) and is the featured $5 album of the Week on Amazon MP3.

Live from Studio X is presented by Coors Light.

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