Tuesday Happenings

Tastefully overexposed photo of Cass McCombs from Myspace.

Cass McCombs is a California boy who plays a lulling, droney psychedelic country music that has clear antecedents in Paisley Underground bands like the Rain Parade and in the early albums of REM. Like the latter band, McCombs's music works better when you can't quite make out the lyrics. Bostonist is a sucker for psychedelic music, so we'll cut him some slack. Performing with Jennifer O'Connor and Mike Bones. TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St., Cambridge, 9 p.m. $11.

Salsa

It's hot and humid enough to make Latin dance an appealing prospect, and local salsa band Tentumbao will do its best to make people hot and sweaty. Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park, Franklin Park, Dorchester, 6 p.m. Free. More information.

Dorkbots

Dorkbot Boston is a "monthly gathering of people doing strange things with electricity," and tonight's presentation highlights the work of 5 Wits, Inc., who operate that TOMB thing in Kenmore Square. Learn what that's all about and try to weasel some lockpicking secrets out of presenter Schulyer Towne, the Executive Editor for Non-Destructive Entry Magazine. TOMB, 186 Brookline Ave., 7 p.m. Free.