Andrew Bird at Sixth and I Historic Synagogue Tuesday, December 7

Andrew Bird’s sound is kind of like an Amish teen on rumspringa—equal parts chasteness and experimentation. When Bird weaves his classically trained violin technique with sophisticated electronic looping, the result is a one-man chamber band. The occasional chicken farmer’s 2009 release Noble Beast is a collection of cozy, kinetic melodies—organic and strange, with a plucky momentum just right for helping you through the winter doldrums. With his ability to whistle virtually anything, Bird doesn’t need his voice to captivate an audience, but it certainly helps—his hushed vocals and poetic lyrics have crept into the rafters of sold-out shows across both coasts. No word on how he’s fared in Amish country, though.

ANDREW BIRD PERFORMS WITH JULIANNA BARWICK AT 8 P.M. (ALSO DEC. 6 AND 8) AT SIXTH AND I HISTORIC SYNAGOGUE, 600 I ST. NW. $40, SOLD OUT. (202) 408-3100.