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A live music club to rival any in New York or Los Angeles, the Middle East rocks its hipster patrons from three stages and nourishes them – appropriately enough – with delicious kebabs and curries (see The Middle East).

Live soul, R&B, hip-hop, Latin, and especially reggae make Western Front the alternative club for Bostonians and Cantabrigians of color. Local jazz on Wed.

Befitting its location in the sleek Charles Hotel, Regattabar offers a refined yet casual setting for watching today’s giants of jazz. Book early, since shows sell out quickly (see Regattabar).

Dance to live zydeco, East Coast swing, and salsa all in one night. Davis Square’s – and arguably all of Boston’s – home for eclectic live music keeps the beat going seven nights a week. Dinner served Tue–Sat (see Johnny D’s).

Nestled deep in MIT (see Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)) territory, the B-Side serves up classic cocktails to a kitsch-loving, amiable young crowd. The kitchen’s glorious Southern cookin’ shouldn’t be overlooked either.

By day, enjoy pints of Guinness and excellent pub grub at the mahogany bar. By night, cut loose to an ever-changing roster of hip-hop, jungle, and notable dub DJs.

Spicy Caribbean cuisine, potent rum-based cocktails, and live reggae music make this one of Cambridge’s more spirited institutions. An ideal escape on frosty winter nights.

Just outside Harvard Square, the Lizard Lounge attracts a young, alternative-rock and folk-loving crowd with the promise of good live music and a small cover charge.

T. T.’s is a rock club in the tradition of New York’s C.B.G.B.: small, dingy, and incredibly loud. Expect to sweat, expect to leave with ringing ears, and above all, expect to rock out.

Rhythm & Blues man “Little” Joe Cook has held court at this low-key, unassuming Central Square bar for years. Catch his energetic live show on Friday and Saturday nights (see Cantab Lounge)