TUES 10/14: Hoaxer, Comedy, Rock

Okay, a short list today so I might catch up after having too much fun on a not-long-enough long weekend.

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TUES 10/14

6:30pm to 8pm
Alan Abel, "Using Your Wits to Win": Lecture
at MIT Museum, 3rd Fl, 265 Mass Ave (between Central Sq and MIT campus)
FREE

The multi-talented Alan Abel is best known as world-class prankster for the last 50 years. One of his new endeavors is to give self-help seminars with a twist. I don't know if you'll learn how to "get a promotion, win back a lover, find start-up financing without assets, quiet a noisy neighbor, or get into a restaurant without a reservation", but it should be interesting to hear Abel's point of view.

This all depends on whether he's pranking MIT or not...

TUES 10/14

9:30pm
The Rob Crean Show
Feat: Bethany Van Delft, Robbie Roadsteamer, "Champions Of Pizza", Wonderful Spells
at O'Brien's, 3 Harvard St, Allston
$7 / 21+

It's a comedy show in the format of variety/talk show. Imagine a late-night talk show with various segments, interviews, and performances. Now imagine it being funny... Bethany Van Delft and Robbie Roadsteamer are funny, and the Wonderful Spells make a wonderful noise. You might think "Champions Of Pizza" might be another band, but it's going to be an eating contest. Members of the Anderson comedy troupe will perform as well.

TUES 10/14

9:30pm
Muy Cansado, The Nice Device, Jeddo Stars
at Middle East - Upstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$9 / 18+

Muy Cansado rips it in a furious lo-fi post-punk way that incorporates a bunch of great elements from various sources for a sound that is far from derivative. You'll feel cool for liking them -- and you don't have to be a poseur. The Nice Device comes out of tight-knit Detroit rock scene, and some of them were even Von Bondies for a while. Jeddo Stars (fronted by Ellie Vee, ex-Charms) provide the Boston garage-punk tonight.