Tues. Sept. 25

 We've loved Yo La Tengo since ... eons ago. They were one of the smart, moody, electric/acoustic, minimalistic bands that arose out of New York's post-punk scene in the '80s and nothing they've done since has dissauded us from paying attention. With their concerts, you're never quite sure which side you'll get - the more quiet or the more raucous - but both are eminently satisfying, sort of like the way Neil Young is, in whatever form he takes. But there are few bands better a buidling a quiet storm than this trio, fronted by singer-guitarist Ira Kaplan, with his wife, drummer Georgia Hubley, and bassist James New. They're students of the Velvet Underground, yes, but they're explorers, as well. Which makes sense that they were selected by the San Francisco International Film Festival in 2001 to compose new music for the films of Jean Painleve, the pioneer of science films. He captured the undersea world before Cousteau, filming seahorses, octopi and liquid crystals. Yo Lo Tengo scoredd a DVD called "Science is Fiction" and will be in Brookline Tuesday Sept. 25 at 7:30 at the Coolidge Corner Theatre  to accompany the Panileve film live. It's a 90 minute show. Tickets: $25.

290 Harvard St., Brookline, 617-734-2500 www.coolidge.org