MUSIC | Puddle of Mudd

The most boring band in modern rock pays a visit to Boston, and if anything’s right in the world, no one will attend. Sure, going back and listening to old Nirvana records and realizing that Puddle of Mudd don’t sound that different, at least on the surface, can be painful and embarrassing, but the fact is Puddle of Mudd’s got no soul and no heart, no matter how similar their riffs sound to Nirvana’s. Or just put on some In Utero and stay home. 6 p.m. Tickets $15.25. Avalon, 15 Lansdowne St., Boston. (LN)

tue, oct 28

READING | Joseph Stiglitz

Joseph Stiglitz will read from his new book, The Roaring Nineties: A New History of the World’s Most Properous Decade, and shed some light on the collapse of one of the biggest economic explosions in history. The Nobel Prize winner appears as part of the Harvard Book Store Author Series. Free. 6 p.m. First Parish Church, 3 Church St., Cambridge. (MRR)

MUSIC | Monster Jam 2003

Get your street cred at JAMN 94.5’s Monster Jam 2003, featuring rappers du jour 50 Cent, Ludacris, Chingy, Lil’ Jon, Da Band (P. Diddy’s answer to O-Town), Obie Trice and Fabolous. The night benefits Project Bread, a local organization dedicated to ending hunger in Massachusetts. Tickets $55-$94. 6 p.m. FleetCenter, Boston. (MRR)

MUSIC | Bryce Avary

Bryce Avary, performing as The Rocket Summer, writes all of his own lyrics, belts them out with a wonderfully unique voice, and plays all of the instruments any self-respecting band needs himself. Witness the multi-tasking (and take in stage-sharers Starla) for $8. 9 p.m. The Middle East, 472-480 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. (MRR)

weds, oct 29

MUSIC | Ted Leo and The Pharmacists

Let Ted Leo and The Pharmacists renew your faith in rock—not to mention frontmen who can pull off singing and guitar-playing at the same time—at a local stop on their nationwide tour with guests Weird War, Helms, and DJ Klaus. 7 p.m., $12; 18+. The Paradise Club, 967 Comm. Ave., Boston. (MRR)

MUSIC | VHS or Beta

Four-piece VHS or Beta plays all disco, all the time. With two guitars, drums and bass, these four young men from Louisville will put le funk back into your life. Also adding some boogie into your night are Your Enemies Friends and Moving Units. $9. 9 p.m. The Middle East, 472-480 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. (MRR)

COMEDY | Gene and Dean Ween