Actual Birds doesn’t come out West to often since Dustin (who is, actually a bird) resides in Ann Arbor, MI. This was a very special trip to visit friends in the Northwest then split to go on a two week christmas vacation tour with a minimal version of iji and Mega Bog. Erin (Mega Bog), Zach (iji), and Dustin played with each other and in each others band. This show at Healthy Times Fun Club was one of those “tour kickoff” shows.

The songs of Actual Birds are depressing but not in the way that you need to treat it clinically. “Bummers that I can relate to” is what one might instead think when hearing Dustin play since everyone at some point has had their heart broken or might want it to be.

“Everybody says, ‘Why do you always weep and moan?’”

Everyone has moments in their life where they are bummed out from having a broken heart. Where their friends provide seemingly botched advice that seems either to not help or detached from what you’re feeling. Still hoping though that all of this advice and counseling will accumulate from various sources to help cultivate an answer or resolution for the state that you are in.

Dustin isn’t always depressed though, these are songs. As true as the emotions in these songs are, they aren’t his entire character. The in-between banter is hilarious and he should be a comedian. Oh, wait… He is.

A straight up professional.