Wednesday Happenings

Vintage image of Naked Raygun from the band's Web site.

Naked Raygun is the example that practically everybody advances when people suggest that Chicago didn't have a punk rock scene. The band, which would lend members to indie rock juggernaut Big Black, got its start in 1980 and stuck around in one form or another until the early 90s. Today, its members are a bunch of fogeys, but that won't keep a legion of past and present college radio DJs away. Middle East Downstairs, 472 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 8 p.m. $15.

Jazz

Out jazz saxophonist Charlie Kohlhase has been an anchor of Boston's avant garde jazz scene for decades, and his performances rarely fail to intrigue. He's playing tonight with his ensemble Charlie Kohlhase's Explorers Club. Johnny D's Uptown, 17 Holland St., Somerville, 8:30 p.m. $10.

Movies About People Who Write About Movies

Boston Phoenix film critic Gerald Peary has made a movie about his profession, which sounds just dandy. If you've never heard of Pauline Kael or Andrew Sarris but you like movies, you owe it to yourself to see this one. Featuring interviews with critics young and old. Remis Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts, 5:30 p.m. $10/$8.

Shorts

The 2009-10 school year has started, which means that free movies are back at the HFA. Tonight's screening consists of "early, short, silent films," which we suppose is a good place as any to start the year. Harvard Film Archive, Carpenter Center, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, 7 p.m. Free.