People, it’s a great time to be a nerd. Whether you fall asleep cradling books on neuroscience or you can recite like Rain Man every 2007 album release, we have an event for you: First Fridays at the Natural History Museum.

One night a month, the museum elucidates topics of scientific wonder, then hosts a live concert by seriously kickass indie bands, all while you get some prehistoric dust up your nose looking at skeletons and bugs. No, life does not get any more awesome.

This week, L.A.-based folksies Sea Wolf don't start their set until after 7 p.m.—warmer-uppers Afternoon will be playing before them—but we're exhorting you to get there a few hours early, not only to find parking but also to check out those lectures.

Yes, lectures. Lectures are cool. On Friday, learn how the human brain of today differs from the human brain of yesteryear. Do you think primates had to make complex decisions about matching handbags with lipstick and how best to drive a car down Sunset Blvd. at 75 miles per hour? You bet they didn't. Illegally downloading the new Hot Chip album (yes, it dropped!) versus waiting to pay for it in February? Their brains didn’t have to handle such quandaries. And nowadays, you don't have to worry about a woolly rhinoceros charging into a cave and goring your family. At least we hope not.

This Friday begins at 5:30 p.m. with a tour of the current exhibit, "Treasures from the Vault." At 6:30, it's that brainy discussion on "Conscious Minds and the Minds of Others." From 7-10 p.m., it's rock from Afternoon, Sea Wolf and the intermittent DJing of Allen and Hoseh from Dublab in the African Mammal Hall. We're so into this.

George Ducker is contributing editor for Metromix Los Angeles.