Generate excitement

By June Wulff, Globe Staff  |  June 23, 2009

Here’s how answers.com defines a Van der Graaf generator: “An electrostatic generator in which an electric charge is either removed from or transferred to a large hollow spherical electrode by a rapidly moving belt, accelerating particles to energies of about 10 million electron volts.’’ Here’s how we define the British progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator: “Move over pinball wizard, someone should write a rock musical with this stuff.’’ The on-again-off-again band formed in 1967 and is led by singer-songwriter/guitarist Peter Hammill, who welcomes special guest, Acoustic Strawbs. 8 p.m. $21-$41. Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington. 781-646-4849. www.regenttheatre.com