Saatchi LA may celebrate the holidays by playing Nogpong, but over in the Midwest Energy BBDO saw the Christmas season as an opportunity the continue their monthly Creative Salons. In recent months, Energy BBDO has hosted talks with Chicago-area creative talent like Punk Planet publisher and Cell Stories founder Dan Sinker and author, poet, actor and artist Tony Fitzpatick. Today, indie singer-songwriter Andrew Bird played an intimate performance in the Energy BBDO lobby overlooking the Chicago Loop and Lake Michigan.
Bird’s rather long resume features a violin degree from Northwestern University, appearances at festivals like Cochella, Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza and a famous performance that shut down Chicago’s Pritzker Pavilion after 15,000 people showed up. Instead of playing more popular older songs, Bird introduced unfinished and unrecorded newer material, explaining in great detail his songwriting process musically, lyrically and technologically, going so far as improvising a densely layered violin loop to show how his elaborate effects pedal system works. In explaining some of his more esoteric lyrical passages, Bird touched on memories ranging from falling off a pier as a child to seeing a garbage can memorial in front of a Chicago high school.
Finishing with a fan request, Armchair Apocrypha‘s “Imitosis,” Bird ended to fanatic applause. As these Creative Salons seem to get better every month, credit is due to Energy BBDO planner Jani Westcott, who’s strong lineup of guests fills the agency every time. AgencySpy also thanks communications director Katrina Cabrera for inviting us to such a magnificent and inspiring exhibition of creativity.