The Birds of Chicago have been soaring since their last Lethbridge visit in 2016. They have released an acoustic EP “American Flower” in 2017 which they recorded with Steve Dawson in Nashville. They also released a more rock and roll record “Love in Wartime,” which they recorded with the North Mississippi Allstars’ Luther Dickinson.
They will be playing music from both albums when they return to the Geomatic Attic,Tuesday, Oct. 30.
“We don’t like to be restricted by a setlist.Our catalogue is an organic and living thing. And we like to keep the dialogue open with the audience, so if they want to hear something, we’ll play it,” said JT Nero, who will be joined by his wife Allison Russell and Steve Dawson, who was just here to pay with Kat Danser.
“Steve plays about 70 per cent of our shows, so when we looked at our schedule and saw Lethbridge, we asked him and he said he’ll be there, so we’ll be playing as the acoustic trio,” Nero said, adding a burst of songwriting inspiration lead to two quick releases.
“We really wanted to do a more rock and roll album, so we worked with Luther on it,” he said, adding Dickinson doesn’t play on it.
“ That was by his request. We already had all of the guitar worked out it, so he was there as a second set of ears,” he said.
“It was great working with him. He’s a great set of ears and he’s become a real confidante,” Nero said.
“It makes a nice companion piece to the album. The songs determine what they need and lead the way. Those songs didn’t fit with the album. It’s always nice when songs reveal where they want to go,” Nero continued.
“Steve is great. He’s so easy-going. He’s an engineer and a great technical musician. He‘s also a music nerd,” he continued.
They are always writing.
“We’re always writing music. We’ll release a new record when it feels right,“ he said. It’s what we do. We make records and go on the road and play them for people. Each one feels different,” he said.
“ We’ve spent a lot of time touring and a lot of time overseas,” he said.
They are looking forward to returning to Canada.
“ Two thirds of the band are Canadian (Dawson is originally from Vancouver while Russell hails from Montreal, so we always like getting back north,” he said.
The Birds of Chicago play the Geomatic Attic at 8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 30.
Tickets are $37.50.
