Specimen products is the workshop of Ian Schneller, a Chicago-based sculptor-turned-luthier. His site is worth a look if you are interested in unusual guitars and other stringed instruments (like this electic lute), eccentric amplifiers and speakers, or extreme guitar repair. Currently Schneller is collaberating with musician Andrew Bird on Sonic Arboretum, a musical perfomance/installation piece. Here is video of a performance at the Guggenheim in 2010, and a slideshow of the preparations for an upcoming performance at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art.
posted by gamera on Dec 1, 2011 - 9 comments

In honor of Jim Henson's 75th birthday, let's celebrate bein' green: Kermit. Ray Charles. Kermit and Ray Charles. The Boston Pops. Lena Horne and Kermit. Lena Horne. Oscar the Grouch. Bob McGrath. Audra McDonald. Chuck Findley and the Metropole Orchestra. Shirley Horn. Cibelle. Frank Sinatra. Thurl Ravenscroft. Van Morrison. Sophie Milman. Andrew Bird. Big Bird.
posted by ChuraChura on Sep 24, 2011 - 18 comments

Lull : music video for Andrew Bird by Lisa Barcy. Featuring giant squid. [SLYT]
posted by grapefruitmoon on Feb 16, 2009 - 15 comments

Andrew Bird dishes on recording in the Wilco Loft. Roseanne Cash discusses the songwriting process, and follows up a bit later. Darrell Brown talks about everything, and Suzanne Vega laments being a two-hit wonder. They are all part of the wonderful Measure for Measure blog from the New York Times.
posted by timsteil on Jun 19, 2008 - 11 comments

As a solo performer, Martin Dosh isn't your typical one man band. Watch him construct densely, beautifully layered songs via live looping. [more inside]
posted by 2or3whiskeysodas on Apr 13, 2008 - 17 comments

Measure for Measure - How to Write a Song and Other Mysteries. Blog from The New York Times: "In the coming weeks, the contributors to this blog - all accomplished songwriters - will pull back the curtain on the creative process as they write about their work on a song in the making." Contributors: Andrew Bird, Darrell Brown, Rosanne Cash and Suzanne Vega (only the Andrew Bird one is up right now).
posted by Ira.metafilter on Mar 31, 2008 - 21 comments