"I just can't resist doing new songs," says Andrew Bird as he plays "Begging The Question" and "Dark Matter" at this year's Newport Folk Festival. The first is a cheerful tune and has Bird playing sweet melodies on his violin, as well as vocally harmonizing with his fellow musicians.
The second song, "Dark Matter," is an old one for Bird, and is about "the implications of eating the vital organs of another animal. That is, places where the self might be thought to be - the heart, the brain, the liver. You know, I think it's just something we don't discuss as a people very often. Eating the self of an animal. And then I decided that was an unsavory topic for a song."
So without further ado, check out Andrew Bird performing "Begging The Question" and "Dark Matter" above, and stream his full set on NPR's website by clicking here. The show's setlist can viewed below as well as on NPR's website - enjoy!
Andrew Bird - Newport Folk Festival Setlist
"MX Missiles"
"Give It Away"
"Something Biblical"
"When That Helicopter Comes" (The Handsome Family cover)
"Jesus Gonna Make Up My Dyin' Bed"
"Dear Old Greenland"
"Begging The Question"
"Dark Matter"
"Tenuousness"
"Three White Horses"
"Headsoak"
"Danse Caribe"
"If I Needed You" (Townes Van Zandt cover)
"Don't Be Scared" (The Handsome Family cover)
