Monday Happenings

Image of Bill Callahan from Myspace.

Bill Callahan may never be a Bowie or an Eno, but he will always be our Gary Numan. Callahan doesn't record as Smog (or "(Smog)") anymore, but he's still our favorite creepy baritone. Be warned: he never takes requests. We found that one out the hard way. Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Cambridge, 8:30 p.m. $20.

Noise

The art-school refugees in Brooklyn noise outfit Black Dice never met an instrument they wouldn't break or a frequency that they wouldn't use for boring into your skull—or boring you to sleep. The band is so wildly experimental that it's hard to tell whether or not they'll be any good on a given day. But you can hedge your bets tonight because Black Dice is headlining a four-band showcase including Alec K. Redfearn and the Seizures, Eat Cloud, and Bostonist-approved psych rockers Many Mansions. Outside the Lines Studio, 70 Colby St., Medford, 7 p.m. $12.

New Music

The Summer Institute for Contemporary Performance Practice is NEC's elite training camp for new music performers, and its showcase is always a great chance to get caught up on contemporary composition. Tonight, catch the premier of Nicholas Vine's Firestick along with work by Messiaen, Edgar Barroso, Salvatore Sciarrino, and Scott Deal. Williams Hall, New England Conservatory, 30 Gainsborough St., 8 p.m. Free.

Sound Art

Beat Research goes to art school tonight, as it invites Lenkadu, the sound project of performance artist Lenka Chludova, and Kalimba Sound System, which makes relaxing environmental music. Enormous Room, 567 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 9 p.m. Free.