they might be giants 8 P.M. WEDNESDAY. BEAUMONT CLUB.

The musical equivalent of the ‘80s comedy “Revenge of the Nerds,” They Might Be Giants have battled anti-geek bias since the band’s formation in 1982. Founders John Flansburgh and John Linnell are classic nerds.

Adenoidal vocals, accordions and a fascination with history and science made songs like “The Mesopotamians” and “Particle Man” hits among the overeducated set. As one might expect from men with abnormally large brains, the band’s career seems to be gaining momentum as it advances. The Internet millionaires, college professors and molecular biologists who make up They Might Be Giants’ core fan base are advised to arrive early to catch Gold Motel, a Chicago-based power pop band.

Tickets are $24 in advance.

murs

9 P.M. FRIDAY. GRANADA.

Gasps of shock will undoubtedly resound in the Granada theater when Murs takes the stage Friday. The underground hip-hop hero recently cut his hair. Although his signature long locks are gone, Murs remains as topically conscious as ever. “You still spending on money on jewels,” he sneers on his excellent new “Love and Rockets Vol. 1: The Transformation” album. “I took my money out to Africa to build more schools.” Also on the bill of the Hip Hop & Love Tour is native African Tabi Bonney, hip-hop chanteuse McKenzie Eddy and producer Ski Beatz.

Tickets are $15 in advance.

the dirty heads

7:30 P.M. SUNDAY. MIDLAND.

The five members of The Dirty Heads are among the most successful of the countless musicians who have strived to fill the void left by the premature death of Sublime’s Bradley Nowell in 1996. Fans of Nowell’s distinctively mellow blend of reggae and rock have discovered that The Dirty Heads offer the same type of inconsequential escapism. In stark contrast to The Dirty Heads’ decidedly chill fare, eccentric hit-makers Gym Class Heroes eagerly jump from punk to pop to funk. Amusing joke-rapper Wallpaper opens the show.

Tickets are $10.

tune-yards

9 P.M. MONDAY. JACKPOT MUSIC HALL.

Like Bjork and Talking Heads’ David Byrne, the woman behind Tune-Yards is a musical eccentric. Merrill Garbus crafts sounds that resemble little else on the indie rock scene. Often grating and deliberately esoteric, the stunning new album “Whokill” combines looping, Garbus’ powerful voice and African influences into a startling new type of art music. Songs like “Gangsta” and “Bizness” are playful yet challenging. Pat Jordache, a former Garbus bandmate, opens the show.