TENDER FOREVER, SPURM, R. STEVIE MOORE, KRISTEN ALLEN-ZITO, PWRFL POWER

Hollow Earth Radio's Magma Fest 2011 (full schedule at www.hollowearthradio .org/magma) kicks off with the eclectic combination of cathartic electronic songstress Tender Forever, ubiquitous charmer PWRFL Power, spelling- challenged all-stars Spurm, Karen Allen-Zito, and noted weirdo R. Stevie Moore beaming in a performance via Skype. Here's hoping that last one goes off without a hitch. The Vera Project, 7:30 pm, $10/$9 with club card.

'90S COVER NIGHT

Tonight also sees this capacious Capitol Hill DIY space hosting its traditional '90s Cover Night, wherein local bands cover classics and deep cuts from the Bush 1.0 and Clinton years. Participants include new trio Half Gift, Orcateers, TacocaT, Neighbors, Witch Gardens, M. Women, Secret Colors, Last Slice of Butter, Herocop, and Stephanie, who are returning from hiatus with the added oomph of Rob Wolfe (Solar Master) on drums. Nineties nostalgia is the rule of the day, and with Beavis and Butt-head returning to MTV, I thought I'd share a partial list of other 1990s hallmarks that oughta come back in style: LA Lights, curtained hair, Alec Baldwin's metabolism, and economic stability. Healthy Times Fun Club, 8 pm, $5.

SILK FLOWERS, FLEXIONS, U

You wouldn't expect that dubbed-out instrumental rock could be simultaneously seductive and sinister, but local trio Flexions prove that not only is it possible, it's fucking awesome. It's telling that they're the least weird band on this bill—U are gearhead noise sculptors, and headliners Silk Flowers juxtapose mopey Joy Division baritones and minimalist kraut-synth stylings to surprisingly strange results. Cairo, 8 pm, $5.