Andrew Bird is an American musician, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He is known for his unique blend of folk, pop, rock and whistle solos during live shows and on recordings. Andrew Bird has lived in various cities across the United States throughout his music career. Quick answer: Andrew Bird currently lives in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. However, he has lived in several different cities over the years.
Early Life and Career
Andrew Bird was born on July 11, 1973 in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in the Chicago suburb of Lake Forest and began studying violin as a child. During his formative years, Andrew Bird was exposed to a wide variety of music through his father who was a folk musician. In 1991 at age 18, Andrew briefly attended Northwestern University before moving to Montreal, Quebec to play with the band Squirrel Nut Zippers. After leaving that band in 1998, Andrew Bird moved back to Chicago.
Chicago
Andrew Bird re-settled in Chicago and began his solo career in earnest. He self-released his first solo album, Music of Hair in 1997. Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Andrew Bird continued living in Chicago and evolving his eclectic indie style across three more solo albums on independent labels. During this part of his career, he garnered critical acclaim and developed a dedicated Midwestern fanbase through live performances across Chicago indie rock venues. Some of Andrew Bird’s landmark Chicago concerts include shows at Schubas Tavern, the Empty Bottle and Metro Chicago.
Whistling Development
While based in Chicago, Andrew Bird taught himself how to whistle. He incorporated his signature whistling solos into songs starting with his 2003 breakthrough album Weather Systems. Andrew Bird’s whistling skills would soon become a staple of his live performances and studio recordings. Chicago served as an important launchpad for Bird’s early solo career and artistic development.
Move to rural Illinois
In 2003, Andrew Bird moved with his wife from Chicago to a farm in Elizabeth, Illinois. This rural retreat provided a change of pace and scenic inspiration for Bird’s songwriting. However, he still regularly returned to Chicago for concerts and studio recording sessions during these years. Bird continued writing, recording and touring on his breakthrough indie releases The Mysterious Production of Eggs and Armchair Apocrypha while living on the Illinois farm.
Brief Return to Chicago
In 2007 after getting married, Andrew Bird moved back to Chicago and briefly lived in the Lakeview neighborhood with his new wife. However, the constant noise and bustle of the city led the couple to seek rural tranquility again the next year. Even during this brief year back in the city, Chicago still played an important role in inspiring Bird’s 2007 album Armchair Apocrypha by providing a lively urban backdrop.
Move to California
In 2008, Andrew Bird bought a second home in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles and split time between there and Illinois over the next few years. By 2012, he had sold the Illinois farm and permanently relocated to California. Echo Park provided access to the productive recording scene in LA.
Present Day in Los Feliz
Currently, Andrew Bird lives in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles with his wife and children. Los Feliz provides scenic hillside views and a creative community of musicians and artists. Living in Los Angeles has enabled deeper collaborations for Andrew Bird on recent albums such as 2019’s My Finest Work Yet which features contributions from musicians across the LA scene.
As of 2023, Andrew Bird has continued putting down roots in Los Angeles and the city has become his long-term home base. However, Chicago still remains an important city in his early development and musical origins. The midwestern charm of Chicago and introspective rural isolation of Illinois can still be heard in Bird’s songwriting today even as he has embraced the sunny laidback lifestyle of Southern California.
Career Overview and Discography
Here is an overview of Andrew Bird’s studio albums over his 25+ year career along with the city he was living in during each release:
Year | Album | City |
---|---|---|
1997 | Music of Hair | Chicago, IL |
1998 | Thrills | Chicago, IL |
1999 | Oh! The Grandeur | Chicago, IL |
2001 | The Swimming Hour | Chicago, IL |
2003 | Weather Systems | Chicago, IL |
2005 | The Mysterious Production of Eggs | Elizabeth, IL |
2007 | Armchair Apocrypha | Chicago, IL |
2009 | Noble Beast | Echo Park, CA |
2012 | Break It Yourself | Echo Park, CA |
2014 | Things Are Really Great Here, Sort Of… | Los Angeles, CA |
2016 | Are You Serious | Los Angeles, CA |
2019 | My Finest Work Yet | Los Feliz, CA |
2022 | Inside Problems | Los Feliz, CA |
This table helps summarize how Andrew Bird’s residence has shifted across different regions during his recording career. His Midwest origins in Chicago and rural Illinois remained an anchor even after his move to Los Angeles over the past decade.
What Andrew Bird Says About His Own Home
In interviews over the years, here is what Andrew Bird has said when asked directly about where he calls home:
On Chicago:
“Chicago will always be my origin story. That’s where I really came of age as a musician.”
“I still feel like a Chicagoan at heart even though I don’t live there currently.”
On Rural Illinois:
“Living on a farm in Illinois was an important period of solitude where I could reflect and develop my sound.”
“Illinois was a retreat from the more stressful vibe of the city.”
On Los Angeles:
“Moving to LA allowed me to connect and collaborate with the amazing community of musicians here.”
“I’ve embraced the LA lifestyle since putting down roots. It’s now home for me, my wife and kids.”
On His Current Home in Los Feliz:
“Los Feliz has the perfect blend of convenience, nature and creativity.”
“Having Griffith Park nearby is really nice for hiking breaks and getting my kids outdoors.”
“The light is amazing here! The California sun really brings out vivid colors.”
Conclusion
In summary, Andrew Bird’s current home is in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California where he lives with his wife and children. However, Chicago and rural Illinois were formerly longtime homes that were formative in Bird’s early development and songwriting. He still pays homage to his Midwest roots even after settling down on the West Coast. Throughout his career, Andrew Bird has lived in Chicago, rural Elizabeth, Echo Park in LA, and now the vibrant Los Feliz community. Wherever he calls home, Andrew Bird continues making eclectic indie folk-pop blended with his signature violin skills and whistling.