If you’re an experimental music junkie who appreciates drifting song structures, fantastical melodies, and a little synthesized magic, prepare to slip down the rabbit hole. Andrew Bird’s early training in classical composition is apparent in his baroque-pop style. All of his 11 albums are capricious Alice in Wonderland–like settings where underground blues, folk, and orchestral music gambol about. Buttressed by guitar and glockenspiel, Bird’s odd lyrics and high-ceilinged violin are open and spacious. Instead of simply playing a song, he wraps noise like the smoke from a caterpillar’s hookah around his audience. On top of everything, Bird’s a heck of a whistler. If the tracks from the newly released Noble Beast don’t bring the house down, then he’ll just whistle until all the cute indie-rock girls are weak in the knees.

ANDREW BIRD PERFORMS AT 7 P.M. WITH LONELY DEAR AT THE 9:30 CLUB, 815 V ST. NW. SOLD OUT. (800) 955-5566.