The Bird and The Bee: What the Buzz Is All About
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Finally, after two years of trying, I managed to see my current Numero Uno musical act The Bird and The Bee in concert. And it was as satisfying as I could have hoped.
Trusted MOGgers, lurkers, and accidental visitors to my MOG page might've noticed my fondness for this Los Angeles techno-cabaret duo comprised of singer Inara George and instrumentalist Gerg Kurstin - an affection that was triggered when I first saw the fanciful video of their song "Again and Again," a breezy mix of SoCal pop, Brazilian bossa nova, and French yé-yé music. Friends are probably sick of hearing me proselytize on behalf of Inara and Greg. Sorry, but their show at the Echoplex on Monday night was too good to ignore. So here we go again…and again.
There's more than one good reason why I've written more than a couple of posts about TBATB. It could be Greg's sophisticated song structures and ahead-of-the-curve production techniques (he's particularly hot right now after producing and co-writing It's Not Me, It's You, the wondrous new album from savvy, au courant Brit singer Lily Allen). Or it could be Inara's dryly witty yet unabashedly romantic lyrics and breathy/sexy/cool vocals. Or it could be their carefully-concocted retro-future air, reinforced by the soignée Inara's quasi-space-age couture and geometric brunette bob, as well as their sleek stage show, which relies on her singing (and plucking on a bass guitar now and then), three or four brightly-clad female back-up singers prancing about, and Greg playing keyboards to intricately-assembled backing tracks. Or it could simply be that songs such as "I'm a Broken Heart" and "Love Letter to Japan" are lovely, catchy, dreamy, and wear well with repeated listening.
As a singer, Inara has found a comfort zone that puts her somewhere between Astrid Gilberto's ethereal bossa nova chanteuse and Julie London's misty, seductive lounge siren. I doubt that Gilberto and London ever sprinkled their onstage patter with the occasional (albeit blithely delivered) off-color word or overt sexual reference. Inara, on the other hand, is unafraid to show her wicked side now and then - leavened with a sly smile.
The set drew upon both of the albums released by The Bird and The Bee since they teamed up a couple of years ago, emphasizing this year's Ray Guns Are Not the Future. They also pulled tracks from their Clap Your Hands and One Too Many Hearts EPs, and trotted out a couple of crowd-pleasing covers.
Boy, was that crowd pleased! It wasn't just from seeing The Bird and The Bee in a fairly intimate room, although that was certainly a plus. I think there's something transporting about a great show - like the performers have invited you into their own unique world for a brief time. That was the case at the Echoplex.
The set began with a synthesized fanfare, as the players - Inara, Greg and their three back-up vocalists - came on stage. The women clapped hands to launch into "My Love," the lively, inspiring declaration of amorous intent that opens Ray Guns Are Not the Future, and the room was theirs.
Next was "Diamond Dave," Inara's musical mash-note to Van Halen lead singer David Lee Roth. Over the course of the program, they thrilled the crowd with "Again and Again," challenged it with the electro-infused "Fucking Boyfriend" and "Preparedness," charmed it with "Birthday," and seduced it with "Witch."
I was particularly excited to hear their version of Hall & Oates' "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)," which I had already enjoyed via YouTube clips of previous shows. They did not disappoint. Inara caressed the twisty melody and lyrics; Greg's synthesizer stroked, vamped and even honked (amusingly) on the coda.
Throughout, Inara held court, bantering with the audience between songs, and joshing with the back-up singers whose sparkly pastel-colored dresses were a nice compliment to her own shiny plastic mini-dress. Her spontaneous, unselfconscious go-go dancing during Greg's keyboard solos brought smiles.
Prior to launching into the insanely infectious East-meets-Western-themed "Love Letter to Japan," Inara offered a short anecdote about the positive Japanese reaction to the first TBATB album, her and Greg's desire to write a song acknowledging that favorable response, and Japan's subsequent indifference to the song. Which was, of course, "Love Letter to Japan."
"Polite Dance Song," their wry, forcefully orchestrated entreaty for audience participation, ended things on a high note. Until the encore which was the cherry on top. To send us off into the night, Inara and Greg did stripped-down voice-and-piano duets on their Bacharach-inspired original "I'm a Broken Heart" and the BeeGees' "How Deep Is Your Love?" Deep. Very deep.
Afterwards, as my friend and I waited at the curb outside the club for the valet to bring our car, I looked to my left and saw a familiar face: Scotland's sexiest tough-chick singer, fiery redhead and budding actress Shirley Manson - late of the band Garbage and currently appearing as a regular on the FOX-TV sci-fi series "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles." She and her companion were next in line for valet service; they had the slightly dislocated look of people who were just home from vacation and reluctant to face the workaday world again. I knew exactly how they felt.
If you couldn't be there, you might want to listen to "Polite Dance Song" on the MOG Player. And for a taste of The Bird and The Bee's live show, I've embedded a performance of "Love Letter to Japan" from a February episode of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," complete with an extra back-up singer. You're welcome!
Comments (25)
i'm so glad you finally got to experience TBATB live. it's difficult to describe the intimacy of inara's performance style, or the extreme ease and enjoyment you can plainly see in greg when he's onstage.
great review!
~S
Thanks, Sierra! I get the feeling you've seen them more than once - not that I'm jealous or anything... ;-)
lol, yes. i've seen them 4 times now, i believe. the first time was completely by accident, as they opened for lily allen here in philly.
i'd heard them on the radio quite a bit while i was touring in the UK, so i assumed they were an english band. imagine my surprise when i discovered they were from california.
inara got a kick out of that when i told her. =)
~S
Mike. Though it seems odd (to me) that the eighties sound is someone's retro... here we have evidence. Updated the sound is homage as well as inspirational launch pads to new flights of fancy. Now having said that I have to disclose that this is one of my least favorite "sounds" in rocknroll. It all sounds so sterile. All gleaming edges and sharp angles. I understand that's just my tastes. But you asked.
It's about time you posted on TBAB Mike, its been ages... LOL Well, you never told me you were a virgin Mike?? (in the TBAB front that is.. ) You buggar! I want to see them "Again, and Again" :)
I'm constantly "intrigued" with there music, their lives, talents, all of them. I can't think of a better word to describe them... perhaps a new level of "awesome"?
- Just another TBAB fan
BTW, did I tell you Inaura made eye contact with me on at least one occasion while performing?? :0) Now who is jealous hey?
INdy x
INdy's Blog
I'm glad you finally got to see them live! You should also check out the archive on KCRW of their performance on Morning Becomes Eclectic on Tuesday. It seems that their upcoming project is an album of all Hall & Oates covers. Also, some of their back-up singers are famous in their own right such as Juliette Commagere and Alex Lilly. Glad you liked their live show!! I'm wicked jealous I missed out that night, and missed running into Shirley Manson!
Pipabubo, thanks for sharing that as I noticed she introduced the backups but I haven't thought about "who" they actually were and what thier background is but they were "hot" on more than one level :0)
I LOVE Morning Becomes Eclectic, they rock!
Cheers!
INdy x
You are the Music Blog
Sierra: I'll bet she was tickled. She strikes me as a genuine person. Now, when do I get to hear you live in concert?
dmdm: Actually, it's the '60s part of the equation that's retro - the Bacharach-David/bossa nova/yé-yé elements. Try "Again and Again" to hear that - if you can stomach it. (heh) Certainly, the '80s new-wavy techno thing is in there, too, but that's just one aspect of what they do.
Indy: Eye contact? I'm cool with your good fortune - especially since I shook Ms. George's hand and professed my admiration at Largo two weeks ago. Awesome indeed.
Pipa: Heard about the KCRW thing from a couple pals; Inara told me of the Hall & Oates project when we spoke two weeks ago (see my response to Indy); and Ms. Commagere was the opening act at the Echoplex - and quite good in her own right. Wish you had seen the show, too. I was almost tempted to speak with Shirley or give Glasgow a shout-out, but decided to refrain from engaging her and her date while they awaited their chariot.
I'll have to look them up and listen to some more. Thanks.
Mike, A touch of the hand and professing your love??? .... so next is the occasional late night chat after the show hey? (extremely jealous) :0)
e.p.: As the acronym goes, YMMV (Your mileage may vary). But I love 'em, despite what the deadman says.
Indy: I wouldn't presume. She's a married woman - and to a fellow show-biz legacy kid, Jake Kasdan.
as she should be... Then I will admire her from afar... their performance is better than ... in some cases anyway. LOL
I stumbled on this group by accident once, when they played Leno or some other late night joint. Really, really liked it, which is a surprise 'cause as a rule this is not my sort of thing. I'm liking the vid you posted here too, but every time I just listen to them I'm not as intrigued. I think this is a band I have to see to appreciate, as they're live image adds so much to their overall package.
you hit it on the head Groon, in only took a few minutes and my partner and I looked at each other like woa, this is going to be a fun show !
Reminds me of Anja Garbarek. I likey.
August has been all over me to give this band a whirl, they are at the top of my must get music list mike
Hey, you are SO busted! I introduced you to that Hall & Oates cover they did on my post "here":http://mog.com/Augusts1/blog/1248246 on which you commented as such, haha! Loving that clip from Ellen. I thought for sure Ellen was going to be the extra singer.
So jel you saw them finally. But my time will come. . . oh yeah it will. Thanks for the concert report, I almost felt as if I was there.
Groon: There are a slew of must-hear tracks that they don't or can't or have yet to do in concert and that stand on their own. For example, "La La La," "My Fair Lady," and "What's in the Middle." But seeing them on video or in person does make for a richer experience.
Indy: Fun is right!
capndad: And I likey Anja Garbarek. Coincidence? I think not.
Rawk: Dip in, and tell us what you think. It's not miraculous. It's just damned fine music by and for bright people.
August: Never said you didn't turn me on to their Hall & Oates cover. And I'm more than glad to oblige with some coverage when it comes to artists this good.
Rave on, Mr. Knife, Rave on. I don't mind your multiple TBATB posts at all. They deserve all the good word of mouth they get.
"somewhere between Astrid Gilberto’s ethereal bossa nova chanteuse and Julie London’s misty, seductive lounge siren." EXACTLY! That's what I thought when I first heard Inara. I'm total sucker for that style of singing. She's on my top ten girl-crush list. ;-)
Not surprised that we are on the same page here, L.M.I. You are a woman of refined tastes! And I am a man who appreciates a refined woman. For that matter, I like the occasional unrefined woman, too.
Mike--
really happy to see you writing the review this time rather than just stuck reading great reviews by others. i can picture you dancing up a storm on your one good leg!
last week's KCRW performance is here:
http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb090408the_bird_and_the_bee
enjoy!
Thanks, Robin. I intend to dig into the KCRW set shortly. And be advised, I will be dancing on both legs before long.
I just discovered(& am watching) their KCRW performance via LadyC's post about Michel Gondry's interview. I came here to let you know about it Mike, but I see Robin beat me to it by several days, haha! They are SO good, highly recommend it. It's worth taking the time.
I'm sorry i missed their shows recently, next time around...
August: I passed the link on to a bunch of friends, and those who have responded so far were impressed. As they should be...
Misstee: By all means!