Raleigh
They Might Be Giants
N.C. Museum of ArtWhen John Flansburgh and John Linnell first hit the scene in a burst of wordplay, accordion and sing-along absurdity, they were either so hip or so unhipyour callthat they were post-hip. They still carry their own brand of cool, but these days it’s fun for the whole family: Pop still craves Lincoln; the older kids love “Boss of Me,” the theme from the TV show Malcolm in the Middle; and the youngsters are hooked courtesy of frequent Nick Jr. and Disney Channel cameos. But the Johns have been able to stay true to their musical philosophy, as it’s a mere skip from Dada to Dadland, and there’ve always been teachable moments among their quirky grooves. Fact is, a song like “John Lee Supertaster” would fit as well on Flood as it would on the kids record No! And because of that, multiple generations remain entertained. In that spirit, there’s a kids show at 4 p.m. ($18, $9 ages 3-12, ages 2 and under free) and an adults show at 8 p.m. ($18, $9 ages 7-12, ages 6 and under free). For more information, visit www.ncartmuseum.org. Rick Cornell
Carrboro
Arrogance
Cat’s CradleA special-occasion Arrogance reunion show (this time in celebration of the band’s 40th birthday) begets another preview opportunity for me. It’s not that I have some magnificent insight into the band and its workings. Nope, I’m the go-to Arrogance guy because, unlike most of those writing about music in the Triangle, I was actually alive when the members of Arrogance reigned as the Triangle’s true rock stars. The beautiful thing is that Abernathy, Dixon, Kirkland et al. are still rock stars, so everybody has a chance to catch up when Arrogance reconvenes. The show starts at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $16 in advance and $18 at the door. See www.catscradle.com for more info, and www.indyweekblogs.com/scan for an interview with the band. Rick Cornell
