Marissa Nadler 7/20/14 Outerspace

Moved from the ballroom to the more intimate Outerspace, Nadler on guitars and vocals accompanied by Helene Espvall on cello and keys. Massachusetts native Nadler is a quiet folkie with decent guitar skills, she even broke out an acoustic 12-string for good effect. Shy, with little inter-song banter about the songs detracted from the show. Nadler's vocals were indistinct and monotonous which left little upside to this show. A recent interview with Nadler in the magazine Wire explored her interest in traditional music which seemed absent on this evening.

Andrew Bird and Hands of Glory 7/8/14 Central Park Summerstage

I didn't get the memo that said hip indie acts that play for free on the CP Summerstage attract throngs of like-minded hipsters. In doing the math, seeing the entry line extend through mid-town should not have been a surprise. The good news is that finding a spot that is within listening (but not viewing) distance is easy. We found a bench and listened to Andrew Bird and band. AB's following has snowballed over time. Quirky lyrics, whistling, oddball brand of Americana has steadily grown steam over time. His original band, Bowl of Fire, has been replaced by the Hands of Glory. HOG sported Tift Merritt on vocals that added a nice flair to ABs eccentricity. While the throng got the cramped view, we enjoyed the sounds and the fireflies in Central Park on this nice summer evening.