Andrew Bird is like the coolest English Literature teacher you never had. At his August 9 Outside Lands Night Show, with trademark sock monkey propped against Bird’s double spinning horn speaker, his awkward charm filled The Independent with delight.

Kelly Hogan opened the show with a stunning 40-minute set, playing tunes from her first album in almost a decade. The album was mainly written by other artists, with The Magnetic Fields and Andrew Bird lending a hand in songwriting and composition. She thanked her many friends for their hand in making the album. Hogan sings the type of music that can remind one of being a kid at the country fair: funny, honest and with a lot of twang.

Bird came on after an almost 40-minute intermission, his violin and guitar awaiting him before a sold out crowd. The set mainly played his newer titles and brought out a few fan favorites from “Andrew Bird and the Mysterious Production of Eggs” as well. He also brought a surprise.

“You probably haven’t heard this one before,” he said, going on to play the new song, “Three White Horses.”

While his sixth solo album, “Break It Yourself” only arrived earlier this March, Bird mentioned he plans to drop a seventh, titled “Hands of Glory” this November. Andrew Bird will finish off the California leg of his tour at The Greek Theater August 12.

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