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 3 Beacon St., Somerville. 21+. | MBTA: Red Line to Central, then 15 min. walk. (617) 441-9631 www.schnockered.com. An Tua Nua's Salsa Night Like Batman or Daredevil (but, uh, Latin), this joint has two identities. By day, it's a mild-mannered college bar. But Wednesdays, it morphs into Salsa Night, sponsored by Salsa Boston. Lessons (at 8 p.m.) are followed by the real deal, and regulars come dressed to thrill - white suits and mambo pants are not uncommon. Still, beginners shouldn't shy away: Everyone needs a partner, and nothing says "pick me" like a pitiful loser with heart. 835 Beacon St., Boston. All ages until 10 p.m., then 21+. | MBTA: Green Line to Kenmore. (617) 513-9841 www.salsaboston.com. Aria When Aria's hot (and it usually is, when school's in session), the line's out the door, with young girls dressed in their H&M best, ready to wiggle to Top 40 as dudes in tight Rayon drool nearby. When summer comes, however, the crowds don't. Lately, kids have headed across the street to Rumor (owned by the same promoter), leaving Aria's red, cushiony couches and artfully-splintered mirrors to the dedicated few, who wait patiently for fall. 246 Tremont St., Boston. 19+ or older, depending on the night. | MBTA: Green Line to Boylston; Orange or Red Line to Downtown Crossing. (617) 338-7080 www.ariaboston.com. Avalon Depending on the night, this all-purpose club (with the requisite laser and strobe lights) hosts brand-name rock (a la Bloc Party), hip-hop (LL wuz here) or top-shelf DJs nights (introducing ... Mr. Carl Cox!) when some people actually bring glow sticks. In other words, you go there for the talent, not the place itself - but damn, what talent. 14 Lansdowne St., Boston. Often 18+ but depends on the act. | MBTA: Green Line to Kenmore. (617) 262-2424 www.avalonboston.com. Axis It's got little personality and will suck your wallet dry with $6 Buds, but if All-American Rejects, Phantom Planet or American Hi-fi records sit on your shelves you will be hitting this Lansdowne staple, also known as Avalon's ugly stepsister. 13 Lansdowne St., Boston. Often 18+ but depends on the act. | MBTA: Green Line to Kenmore. (617) 262-2437 www.avalonboston.com. Club Passim In an era when even T.G.I. Friday's calls itself "an institution," it's hard to know what's historical and what's retro-crap. Club Passim is unequivocally the former. Joan Baez? Got her start here, back when it was Club 47. Bob Dylan? Played between sets. Bruce Springsteen? Well, he got turned away. But Passim's judgment has been impeccable since; they host the folksiest folk around, usually best heard while sitting Indian-style. Despite the legendary status, it's got that summer camp feel. 47 Palmer St., Boston. 18+. | MBTA: Red Line to Harvard. (617) 492-7679 www.clubpassim.org. Great Scott This white-hat-turned-white-belt haunt now books NYC and local buzz bands, and lands the occasional national rock coup - Magnolia Electric Company and Wrens among them. The Information, Bon Savants, The Good North and UV Protection anchor various "nights" including the Britpop-bent Pill and the more raucous Blackout Bar. 1222 Commonwealth Ave., Boston. Fri, Sat 21+; otherwise 18+. | MBTA: Green Line to Pleasant. (617) 566-9014 www.greatscottboston.com. Harpers Ferry This dusty, musty rock 'n' roll club, featuring the requisite Bud sign in the window, is where they hold the Air Guitar World Championship tryouts. That - and the fact that it has four kick-ass pool tables - just about says it all. 158 Brighton Ave., Allston. 21+. | MBTA: Green Line to Harvard Ave. (617) 254-9743 www.harpersferryboston.com. Middlesex Lounge "This is the closest thing to Manhattan in Boston," is how one visitor (from Kenya, go figure) described this newish club/bar, and he's right: Despite the small dance floor, eclectic DJs spin soulful house, a minimalist design promotes good Feng Shui, and a well-groomed crowd of Beautiful People sip fancy drinks, somehow without pretension. As they say in Kenya, "Mad chill." 315 Mass. Ave., Boston. 21+. | MBTA: Red Line to Central. (617) 868-MSEX www.middlesexlounge.com. Phoenix Landing It is what it is, and we love it. We may not tell people we love it, but we do. Somewhere. Deep down inside. It's '80s night and it's at the Phoenix on Saturdays. Prince, Wham!, "Come On Eileen," bachelorette parties - last time we went, a girl was dressed like Madonna, right down to the black-doily "Like a Virgin" sleeves. For a different (much different) vibe, check out reggae Mondays. 512 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. 21+. | MBTA: Red Line to Central. (617) 576-6260 The Roxy Bigger than it looks and newly renovated (although it still looks like the "Muppet Show" theater, if the "Muppet Show" theater had green lasers), The Roxy is a hard club to get a handle on. In the past, it's hosted a gallery art show, The Bravery, live boxing, De La Soul, Senator Barack Obama, a beach party and Chippendale dancers (not, sadly, on the same night). Still, one thing remains constant: Come here, have fun, as evidenced by this summer's hip-hop-heavy "Sexy Fridays" (no jeans allowed). 279 Tremont St., Boston. 18+ or 21+, depending on the night. | MBTA: Green Line to Boylston. (617) 338-ROXY www.roxyplex.com. The Paradise Affectionately known as the Dise, this 25-year strong venue is one of the longest standing rock clubs in Boston. The staff will lament the days of the Rat and the Channel or regale you with tales of early Police and Elvis Costello shows. In the '90s, the Euro set took over with M-80 dance night, but the rock would not die. And thank God Drew Bledsoe didn't kick off when he stage dived during that 1997 Everclear show. 969 Comm Ave., Boston. Often 18+ but depends on the act. | MBTA: Green B Line to Pleasant. (617) 562-8800 PA's Lounge PA's is proof to the philosophy that any place can become a Mecca of cool if you hire a good booker. When Tony Confalone took over the booking duties in February 2004, the rec-room-like watering hole whose initials stand for Portuguese American, began to attract a hipper clientele as bands that were not as obviously bookable began to grace the stage. Renovations may have made the room look kind of like a gymnasium prom site, but when a side project of Magnetic Fields' plays at your dive-bar, you know you've got cred. 345 Somerville Avenue, Somerville. 21+ unless otherwise noted. | MBTA: Red Line to Porter, then cross Star Market to Elm St. and take Bus #87, or take Orange Line to Sullivan Square, then take #86 or #91 bus (617) 776-1557. www.paslounge.com. Redline A little bit of New York makes its way to these groove-bent digs. The fastest servers in the Metro area pour up for the cocktails crowd, though with Hoegaarden and Leffe on tap, beer snobs approve. Slink into a booth or hit the small dance floor as the DJ hits pace about 11. With deep house, top 40 and hip-hop nights, this hotspot has something for all booty-shakin' ilks. 59 JFK St., Cambridge. 21+. | MBTA: Red Line to Harvard. (617) 491-9851. www.redlinecambridge.com Ryles Dry ice, raging house beats and crazy-hot chicks passing bottles of water - yeah, you won't find that here. With wood-paneling and a house orchestra, Ryles is an unapologetic throwback to sometime before we were born, and the look suits the music: Here, you'll find the best jazz in Boston. Lately, the place has branched out, featuring ballroom and salsa and merengue lessons. Perfect for those wise beyond their years. 212 Hampshire St., Cambridge. 18+ or 21+, depending on the night. | MBTA: Red Line to Central, then walk 15 mins. (617) 876-9330 www.rylesjazz.com. Rumor Boston, meet South Beach. The city's hottest club - at least this week - features two rooms, the biggie for Top 40 dance, the smaller for "House and Latin vibes," dancing girls and one dude on a bongo drum. And that's just Saturday. Thursday, house mavens DJ Roger M and DJ JC man the booth, and Friday is hip-hop till 2 a.m. Dress upscale (or at least wear a nice shirt) but don't feel too self-conscious - here, greasy-haired cheeseballs party next to down-home girls. And everyone's having fun. 100 Warrenton St., Boston. 19+ or 21+, depending on the night. | MBTA: Green Line to Boylston. (617) 422-0045 www.rumorboston.com. TT the Bear's Place Maybe it's the cheesy '80s mural, maybe it's the purple toilet seat in the women's bathroom, maybe it's the fact it was named after a pet hamster - but TT the Bear's, 20 years in the making, is one of our favorite clubs in town. This former pub eatery has the market on "we knew 'em when" shows like Nirvana and Jane's Addiction (who played to crowds of 20 and 10, respectively) and then-unknowns The Lemonheads, while Franz Ferdinand, The Scissor Sisters and The Shins packed the place in recent years to its firecode of 275. 10 Brookline St., Cambridge. 18+. | MBTA: Red Line to Central. (617) 492-BEAR. www.ttthebears.com Vertigo It's getting hot in here. I'm a hustla, baby. Hip-hop hooray. It's brand-name hip-hop (and brand-name gear, a la Rocawear) at this long-lined club, the biggest rap joint in the city. Fridays, there's an equally popular Latin night. 126 State St., Boston. 21+. | MBTA: Orange and Blue Line to State St. (617) 723-7277 Western Front We know "No Woman, No Cry" is your jam but - how can we put this bluntly - Marley's dead. Give some other brothers a chance. The Rasta spirit lives on at Western Front, a club that weeds out the real fans. 343 Western Ave., Cambridge. 21+. | MBTA: Red Line to Central, then ten min. walk. (617) 492-7772 All Boston Uncovered original content was written and edited by Boston Metro. Drop us a line at bostonuncovered@boston.com. |
