Ben Vida of Bird Show and Town and Country. I've made music my whole life - since I was a little boy. Over the years I've played all kinds of music- in the last ten years I've played in Town and Country, Pillow, Central Falls and now my main project is Bird Show

Cool that you have heard “Pillow plays Brotzmann” -- it is nice to have the balance of playing with these groups and also working alone . Lately, focusing in on Bird Show has been the most rewarding - it feels so open and free! But I wouldn't want to always work on my own - In Chicago right now there is a lot of new collaborations starting up between old friends who are just now playing together for the first time - this is exciting.

"central falls" and "terminal 4" are no longer together - Everyoned may still have a record to make. I make the music in Everyoned with Tim Kinsella of Joan of Arc and I recently played guitar on their new record. Tim and I will be helping Chris Connelly with his new record later this Summer.B.V. Making the Bird Show records is so much fun - and so much more free and limitless - I am just able to play and dream and play and experiment and do whatever I am feeling - whatever vibes that are in the air I can bring it into the music. When I play live with Bird Show I still love having friends play with me - so that we can be together and create an Energy and Vibe that we can share with one another and with the audience.

Thanks You! - I was learning about what Bird Show might be while making "Green Inferno". "Lightning Ghost" is all of that learning burst open - I felt a lot of joy and clearness making the new record -- and I wanted to sing a lot because it is the most joyful thing you can do - I am happiest when I am singing.

I saw a “Lightning Ghost “ in Nashville TN while on tour last year - It woke me up , a ball of light hovering above me in the room I slept - my friend Greg was in another room and had the same experience - the image on the cover of the CD is a smaller recreation of this. The name came from my wife Katy's brother who years ago gave me a gift of the name written on a piece of card stock.

There is no concept to the music - I am just working and working and if I am happy while I am working then I think the music is good - it has to feed my life - I love to make music because it takes care of me and it connects me to my friends and family and reveals Me to Myself.

I learned a lot about casualness making the Bird Show records and I think I brought some of that to the making of the new T&C record - that it is a looser and more free record was important to me - that vibe that was so relaxed in working on the Bird Show - I wanted that to come into T&C. Of course we all influence the music, the four of us together has always been the sound - but over the years I have often brought in a lot of the idea's for the songs , this record it was more about bringing in the atmosphere.

that when I am doing it it is really me - that it is where my heart is at.

I love to hear music from all over the world - everywhere - that is so important ! And my Family and Friends are always an influence - deeply so.

I like to be at home with my wife - reading on the couch.