Seven Must-See Events in April

Hidden Heroes at the MIT Museum. Advertisement for “Tesa Ultrastrong” by Mark Khaisman, 2008.

Dynasty of the Nerds

Thirty years? Yes, Lincoln native sons They Might Be Giants have been making music that long. They’ve released a new album, Nanobots, and are on a long tour, with two nights at the Paradise. 4/3-4/4

Perfect Pitch

The documentary Knuckleball! follows the only MLB hurlers to specialize in the quirky baseball pitch during the 2011 season, our own Tim Wakefield and the Mets’ R. A. Dickey. The film features interviews with Red Sox catchers Jason Varitek and Doug Mirabelli, as well as sports scribe Tony Massarotti. Since it screened at the Tribeca Film Festival last year, the movie has been available for online viewing, but now you can get the DVD to go with those baseball cards. Out 4/2, Film Buff

Testing Their Metal

The MFA continues its focus on Japanese culture with a mind-boggling “Samurai!” exhibit. Its 140-plus objects include exquisitely detailed armor for men and their horses, as well as weapons and beautifully lacquered helmets dating from the 12th through the 19th centuries. 4/14-8/4

Graffiti Guru

Before Shepard Fairey or Os Gêmeos became street-art superstars, they looked up to Barry McGee. The ICA presents a midcareer survey of the San Francisco painter, covering his work since the mid-1990s and featuring his odd cartoonlike humanoids and brightly colored panels on a wide array of media, from paper to a hulking tower of video screens. 4/6-9/2

Putting the Awe in Rawk

Combine the most histrionic elements of Queen, Zeppelin, and Radiohead with bombastic paranoia and a huge light show, and you’ve got the British band Muse at the TD Garden. On record, they’re a love-hate proposition, but live they promise to blow away any reservations. 4/12

The Simple Things

The MIT Museum’s fun new exhibit “Hidden Heroes: The Genius of Everyday Things” showcases the fascinating history, technology, and memorabilia behind zippers, tape, and other items so basic—yet so important—that we rarely ever think about them. 4/13-9/1

Cartoon Curriculum

Parents who grew up in the ’70s can relive Saturday mornings of yore with their kids when the Boston Children’s Theatre presents Schoolhouse Rock! at the Calderwood Pavilion. 4/17-5/5