Andrew Bird Dreams of Zach Galifianakis in a Bee Costume at Chicago Gig

In what appears to be a new tradition, Andrew Bird staked out the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago for the second year in a row for another round of Gezelligheid shows. Wednesday night marked the first of Bird's sold-out three-show stint at the church, showcasing mostly new songs and instrumental pieces

Living up to the Gezelligheid theme -- the Dutch word can be loosely translated to "coziness" -- Bird interacted warmly with fans, bantering jovially back and forth and stopping several songs to make witty remarks before picking up without missing a note. Surrounded by stained glass panels, grandiose chandeliers, massive archways and oversize Christmas wreathes, Bird's elegant violin and guitar work fit right in with the gothic architecture of the church.

Playing a mix of new songs and old favorites, the pews teeming with fans were hushed while Bird was performing, and they politely clapped between songs. Most of Bird's instrumental pieces featured his signature whistling and looping, combining his violin strums and plucks with plinking xylophone taps.

The highlight of Bird's set came when he announced that he would be playing several new songs and launched into a long-winded explanation for one such song, 'Breeding Desperation.' Bird explained to fans that he came up with an idea for a new verse for the song several weeks ago based upon an idea he had for a music video. "The video would be me in a meadow of flowers dressed as a beekeeper and Zach Galifianakis as the bee," he said. The crowd laughed and Bird launched into the song without hesitation, vehemently strumming his guitar and fiddling with pitch-shifting pedal knobs at his feet.

After several more new songs and a few fan favorites, including 'Masterfade' and 'Headsoak,' Bird invited opening act, local guitarist Jeff Parker, onstage to accompany him. The evening wound down with the two of them playing together harmoniously and Bird looping the sounds together from their respective instruments. Hopefully this installment of Gezelligheid shows is the second of many more to come.