On seeing Birdlips for the first time and giving a long, repeated listen to their debut album Cardboard Wings, released in February of this year.  That’s all after the break.

[Cliff Usher of Birdlips.  Photo by Greg Nash]

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Cass McCombs is a singer/songwriter that I was pretty thrilled to see live, having missed his show at the Satellite Ballroom back in November.  So as Monday evening’s scheduled Cass McCombs show at the Gravity Lounge approached my own personal expectations meter was firing on all cylinders.  Making the night even more special was that in addition to the headlining act, this was also going to be my first time seeing the local band Birdlips perform.  Truth be told, I was pretty psyched all the way around.

At this point I should add that the expectations game can be a dangerous one.  Sometimes your expectations are met, other times they fall flat on their face.  Of course there are a few occasions when the reality of the situation just blows your expectations out of the water.  This particular evening included two of the three previously stated scenarios.

I went off to the Gravity Lounge on Monday night intent on seeing Cass McCombs (who did not disappoint) but what I really found most amazing was the music of Birdlips, shining brighter than any performer who took the stage on this evening at the Gravity.

The local folk-rock duo Birdlips, which features Lindsay Pitts on keyboards, tambourines, and vocals and Cliff Usher on guitar and vocals are unbelievably good.  I’m talking the kind of good that is much bigger than Charlottesville.  The fact that these guys have been right here under my ears all this time is enough to make me curse and mutter under my breath.  But at least I can take comfort in the fact that knowing now is much better than never knowing at all.

I can remember many of the songs from Monday night’s Birdlips performance off the top of my head.  “Cardboard Wings”, “Tire Chains”, the new song “Mother Mary”, and “Dream Within a Dream” among others.  I’ve since listened to them time and time again.  The duo’s debut album Cardboard Wings has been streaming through my computer on a constant repeat throughout the evening.  You can listen to it for yourself by clicking here.  (Also, just last month, NPR Music featured the song “Tire Chains” in their daily Song of the Day segment.)

Throughout Cardboard Wings, in the band’s music, in their harmonies, and through the stream of written words of Cliff Usher, I hear the sensibilities of Beck’s Sea Change album but with fewer layers of sound.  The music of Birdlips is closer to the skin.  Cardboard Wings reminds me in one moment of the music played in the back of a gyspy’s caravan and in the next it seems to slide out from an open window overlooking the busy intersection of the world.  The occasional plucking of a banjo gives these songs a rustic feel, but then there’s a haunted modern flavor in the mix that is equal parts Nick Drake and Mazzy Star.  And as I discover the names of Lao Tzu and Carlos Castenada listed as influences I come to the light bulb moment.

These songs strike me with the sound of the outward looking eye turned inward.  They feel like white light cast through a prism.  They emerge filled with color, fluttering just above the rainbow’s end on handcrafted wings.  There is some strange magic in this music and Birdlips now has me under its spell.

You can order Cardboard Wings online here or you can stop in your favorite local record store and pick up a copy.

[You can catch Birdlips’ next Charlottesville performance on Wednesday, August 27th as the Charlottesville Music Showcase celebrates in 2nd anniversary with 11 hours of music featuring the Travis Elliot Band, Kings of Belmont, Raw Dog, John Pringle, William Walter & Co., Lola Mullen, DJ Duck Tape, Space Cadet 7, DJ Deep See, and of course Birdlips.  The music starts at 3pm and it’s FREE.  21+ age.]

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