Andrew Bird chose a coincidentally apropos time to raise awareness for America’s national parks earlier this month, planning a filmed live set at Joshua Tree National Park during what turned out to be the 2013 government shutdown. Joshua Tree was of course closed along with the rest of the country’s parks, but Bird’s Quietest Show on Earth went on, rerouted over to the Mojave’s Quail Mountain. Tift Merritt — who we last saw join him for a new song debut at Newport Folk Fest — came along for the set, which can be viewed in full on the cause’s official site here. Check out my favorite moment of the show, Bird’s “Sweetbreads”/”Darkmatter” medley “Sweetmatter,” above.