Mon. March 31

Mark Oliver Everett is known to the world as E, and his band is the Eels, a group I first discovered while covering Lollapalooza back in the '90s. I fell in love. Artsy, atmospheric, witty, punk-related-but not punk exactly. E was a bit of a poet. The key songs back then was "Novocaine for the Soul" with its lament of "before I sputter out." E has a Tom Waits-like ability to weave a story into the music, balancing the music and words just right. There's humor, pathos, a whole multiplicity of musical styles.  Think Beck. They' - and by they, I mean E plus could be aanyone - carved out a substaintial niche in the world of thinking-man's rock - not huge but enough to sustain. Key lyric: "Life is funny - not funny 'ha ha'." They're touring behind two double-CD complitations, "Meet the Eels: Essential Eels" and "Eels: Useless Trinckets: B-Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased." The second date of thier North American tour - by the way Chuck Lyster is E's band-made this time around - is at the Somerville Theatre tonight, Monday March 31. Starts at 7:30. Tickets: $21.

55 Davis Square, Somerville, 617-625-5700  www.somervilletheatreonline.com