Pitchfork

Photo by Joseph Mohan

On his current European tour, Mr. Andrew Bird has brought along a little something special. Nah, no fiery bowls or mysteriously produced eggs or any of his usual accoutrements. Instead, Bird's got himself Soldier On, an eight track tour EP collecting some choice odds and ends.

Along with a handful of outtakes, alternate mixes, and early versions of Bird classics, the disc sports Andrew's cover of Bob Dylan's "Oh Sister", his contribution to the Janet Reno-curated Songs of America compilation, and a tune from the dance project he cooked up alongside Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak. There's a new track, too, the somewhat improbably titled "The Water Jet Cilice". The disc is currently only available at the Birdman's gigs, but should head into wider availability early next year.

To pass the time until then, Bird's soldiering on on tour, with several more European dates, a return to the States, and an Australian tour (including a stop at the awesome Sydney Fest) in the works.

Soldier On:

01 The Trees Were Mistaken (from My Name Is a Blackbird)
02 Sic of Elephants [ft. Haley Bonar] (outtake)
03 The Water Jet Cilice
04 Plasticities (alternate mix)
05 Heretics (early version)
06 Sectionate City (live at Bird's barn)
07 How You Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm (from Song of America)
08 Oh Sister (Bob Dylan cover)

Bird:

11-13 Strasbourg, France - La Laiterie %
11-14 Zurich, Switzerland - Rote Fabrik Clubraum %
11-16 Belfort, France - La Podriere %
11-18 Lausanne, Switzerland - Le Romandie %
11-20 Lille, France - Le Splendide %
11-22 Leuven, Belgium - Stuk
11-24 The Hague, Netherlands - Crossing Border Festival
11-29 Providence, RI - Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
11-30 New York, NY - Beacon Theatre
12-07 Los Angeles, CA - The Orpheum Theatre
12-08 San Francisco, CA - The Warfield
12-14 Minneapolis, MN - Guthrie Theater
12-15 Minneapolis, MN - Guthrie Theater
01-08 Sydney, Australia - Sydney Festival
01-10 Brisbane, Australia - The Zoo
01-11 Melbourne, Australia - The Corner Hotel
01-12 Perth, Australia - Oxford Arts Factory

% with Loney, Dear