Heroism on the high seas
There have been (of course) revisionist theories about John F. Kennedy's heroism surrounding the sinking of the PT-109 and his subsequent rescue of its crew members. But the folks at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum assure us the original story is true. Go! took a recent tour of the ''JFK in World War II" exhibit, eyeing his dog tags (and St. Christopher medal), reading the 1943 letter he wrote home to his family from the Solomon Islands, and staring with quiet awe at the 1961 painting that hung in the Oval Office -- a rendering of that trauma at sea. It moved us all over again. Today at 5:30, the library holds its second public forum in conjunction with the exhibit, with Dr. Robert Ballard; Robert Kennedy's son, Max, who joined Ballard on his quest to find the sunken vessel; and Dick Keresy, who was aboard the PT-105 that fateful night (sadly, all the sailors on the PT-109 have died). The forum is in the Stephen Smith Center. (Forums take place the next two Mondays as well.) All are free, and all vets get into the main exhibit free through July 4. Regular admission: $10.
Columbia Point, 617-514-1643.
You decide, they play
Once, David Bowie had this brilliant marketing idea (well, he's had a few): He'd set up the mechanism for the fans to vote for their favorite songs and he'd play them in concert -- plus a few of his own weird faves. Now, we don't know that Local H singer-guitarist Scott Lucas and drummer Joe Daniels studied Bowie, but they've got something similar going on at the Paradise Lounge tonight at 8. If you're 18-plus, you pay $12 at the door and will be handed a card. There will be seven songs from which to choose. Drop the card in the box at the merchandise booth at the rear of the club. Local H will honor democracy by playing the favorites. Even if they played all seven songs, that would be a pretty short set, so maybe this hard 'n' heavy band (think Nirvana, stripped down) has its own ideas about what it'll play, too, and it should be a raucous good time. The Giraffes open up.
969 Commonwealth Ave., 617-562-8814.
Not a Fish story
Over in the main hall at the Paradise, it's the return of Marillion (above), the strangest old-band success story in rock. Marillion was a critically drubbed but semipopular English prog-rock band in the '80s. Its singer, Fish, left in '87 after four albums. Singer-keyboardist Steve Hogarth replaced him. The band never broke up, exactly, but was re-animated by a 1997 Web campaign in which American fans raised more than $50,000 to bring the band here -- and donated more bucks to finance the next disc. Three-fifths of the quintet are touring in support of the live DVD release, ''Marbles on the Road," and they check in at the Paradise tonight, with Hogarth, original guitarist Steve Rothery, and bassist Pete Trewavas aboard. The other members are staying home; this is a mini-warmup tour to prepare for a more full-blown affair down the road. They're dubbing themselves ''Los Trios Marillos." Tonight's 18-plus show, opened by Jason Hart at 8, is a mostly acoustic affair. Now, Marillion is a prog-rock band of the old-school variety, so this could be an interesting re-invention. Expect a cover of Radiohead's ''Fake Plastic Trees." Tickets: $20. (There's a quick, free gig/autograph session tomorrow night at 6 at the Harvard Square Tower Records.)
Paradise, 967 Commonwealth Ave., 617-562-8800; Tower, 95 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge,617-876-3377.
Events can always be canceled, rescheduled, or sold out; call to confirm. Go! can be reached at go@globe.com or by calling 617-929-8257.
Quick hits
KID ROCK
Who are the Mystery Tramps? A young foursome (right)with a cool back story. Singer-guitarist Adam Amoroso, 13, is the son of ex-record exec Gene Amoroso (who, as an actor, was Lili Taylor's dad in ''Mystic Pizza"). The group's EP, ''Nowhere's End" (out tomorrow), was produced by ex-Cars keyboardist Greg Hawkes. They're at Boston Street Cafe tonight at 7:30. $10 includes refreshments and a CD.
829 Boston St., Lynn, 781-593-8882.
3-D KICKS
We've always known '50s flicks like ''House of Wax" were done in 3-D, but Alfred Hitchcock's ''Dial M for Murder"? That bit skipped us. It was made under protest by Hitch, and it's part of the ongoing ''Thrilling 3-D Festival" at the Coolidge Corner Theatre. Screens tonight at 7 and 9:30. Tickets: $9.
290 Harvard St., Brookline, 617-734-2500.
READING
Do girls hunt? Do girls fish? In a manner of speaking, wrote Melissa Bank (left) in her bestseller ''The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing." (It was about women's loves and lives.) Bank is back with ''The Wonder Spot," which traces a young woman's course over 25 years. There's disappointment, and yet she finds those ''wonder spots," too. Bank reads at Brookline Booksmith at 7 p.m. Free.
279 Harvard St., Brookline, 617-566-6660.
DOCUMENTARY FILM
It's the area debut for ''Tell Them Who You Are," a documentary about director Haskell Wexler by his son, Mark, at the Brattle Theatre. All does not go smoothly. Shows at 5:30, 7:30, and 9:30 p.m. Tickets: $9.
40 Brattle St., Cambridge, 617-876-6837.
