Bird Streets – Go Free

NPR Slingshot artist Bird Streets–aka indie-rock singer-songwriter John Brodeur–has released an animated music video for “Go Free,” the latest single from their second LP, Lagoon. “Go Free” debuts a brand-new gang of animated band members, in what could be best described as a classic ice-cream caper. Inspired by Hanna-Barbera, Jackson 5ive, Groovie Goolies, and The Ren & Stimpy Show, the lighthearted clip will give you all the throwback feels. This is Bird Streets’ second collaboration with production company Eat Your Greens, following the award-winning clip for the Ed Harcourt collaboration “Sleeper Agent.”

Drawn and assembled by a team of young animators, the “Go Free” video follows the fictional Bird Streets band–a wolfman (on bass), a tortoise (drums), a snake (keyboard), and an avatar of Brodeur wearing a giant bird costume (guitar)–as they get up to some hijinks down at the local ice-cream scoop. An epic chase ensues, then they pick up their instruments and play a song and the snake shreds a guitar solo. It’s awfully cute.

Recorded in Memphis at Ardent Studios, “Go Free” was produced and mixed by Patrick Sansone (Wilco), with John Davis (Superdrag) and legendary Big Star drummer Jody Stephens completing the all-killer, no-filler band. (And since you asked, the answer is yes, Jody played the Radio City drumkit.) A bright blast of power-pop that would please fans of the Raspberries or Teenage Fanclub, the closing track on Lagoon is “a distillation of all of the record’s best qualities,” according to Musoscribe. “Luxuriate in the Rickenbacker jangle, the soaring vocal harmonies and the assured playing. And then start over again: Lagoon gets even better with repeated spins.”

John Brodeur conceived Bird Streets as his return to a band format after a lengthy stint as a solo artist, officially adopting the moniker as his nom de guerre with the release of a self-titled 2018 LP. Produced by indie-pop hero Jason Falkner, the album was a refreshing blast of classic-yet-modern melodic rock that received accolades from PopMatters (“a rock solid power-pop gem”) and NPR Music, which named Bird Streets a Slingshot Artist alongside then-emerging talents like Phoebe Bridgers and The Beths.

A native of upstate New York, John Brodeur began his recording career with 2000’s Tiger Pop, and released two more solo albums, in addition to EPs with The Suggestions and Maggie Mayday, prior to becoming Bird Streets. He has toured with Juliana Hatfield, They Might Be Giants, Alana Davis, and Fountains of Wayne; and performed at the 30A Songwriters Festival, SXSW, and CMJ Music Marathon.

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