They Might Be Giants. Free at the Science and Engineering Festival. 4/16, Convention Center
The festival itself (4/16-4/17) is a cool (though too crowded!) event to bring kids to if they're 4+.
tried and failed to go last year
will probably bring the kids this year and leave them un chaperoned
You must be referring to 2014, as they only have this every two years.
I went with my daughter in 2014. Not sure why my wife wasn't with us. The early show was a "Family Show", the late show was an "Adult Show". Not sure why we went to the late show, but we did. Amazing the number of "adults" (i.e. 20something nerds with no kids, I can only assume they were presenters at the festival because the festival really does seem geared toward kids, so why would you be there without kids?) who proceeded to push my six year old aside so they could get a better view.
Anyway, we only lasted a handful of songs (it was too loud for kids, and she couldn't see anything anyway), then left.
I'm hoping there's a "Family Show" this year, and it's truly familes and not adult dorks without kids. My daughter has more show experience under her belt now, it's really my wife I'm more worried for, as her tolerance for bullshit is very low.