Best rock club

Like CBGB's in New York or San Francisco's Fillmore, the Paradise Rock Club is one of the rare rock venues that deserves the status of legend. The list of musicians who've graced (and at times disgraced) the Paradise stage tracks the history of the last quarter-century of rock and roll. U2, Black Crowes, Bosstones, Cyndi Lauper, Stereolab, Van Halen, R.E.M., Pixies, Phish, and on and on. The Paradise celebrated its 25th anniversary by opening a new lounge for cocktails and lower-key shows. Art exhibits have featured work by area rockers and artists, and commemorated the Paradise's place in rock-and-roll history. The Paradise continues to maintain its legacy of providing quality shows of local up-and-comers and the national up-and-come.

When you hear people talking about the Middle East in connection with words like rocked, awesome, and best show and names like Thalia Zedek, Frank Morey, and Lost City Angels, you can be pretty sure the conversation regards the Central Square club, not the region in which the United States military is currently mired. With three live-music spaces, two restaurants and bars, walls that showcase artwork by local, national, and international artists, and the highest-quality bands around, the Middle East stands as the best north-of-the-river spot to catch cutting-edge rock and roll. Über-hipster or heavy-metal head, the Middle East presents rock for all tastes.

Paradise Rock Club, 969 Comm Ave, Boston, (617) 562-8800; Middle East, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge, (617) 864-EAST.