With its rich musical history and fertile breeding ground for new music, Boston's music scene is one of the most lively in the world. Here's an overview of spots where a music lover visiting the Bean might get their fix.

Clubs

Aside from being a necessary stop for any nationally touring musical group, Boston is also home to more than 2,000 local bands aiming to strike sparks in their hometown scene. You can find just about anything you're looking for on any given night in Boston. Boasting three separate stages and some good, cheap eats to boot, The Middle East in Cambridge would be a good place to begin for fans of indie, punk and generally subversive music. Right next door you'll also find another monolith of the Boston rock scene, TT the Bear's Place. One club similar in size to the aforementioned, but moreso on the rise would be Great Scott at 1222 Commonwealth Ave. in Allston, MA. Great Scott is booking some impressive bills and are gaining on a decent built-in crowd based solely on its reputation around town.

On the intimate tip, Boston has a number of great rooms that are prime for really experiencing a music performance. Treat yourself to a great meal at the Cambridge Common Restaurant, then head downstairs to catch some of the best music in Boston at their adjoining club, The Lizard Lounge. A short walk up the street and you'll find another fine specimen of the animal kingdom, Toad; a tiny hole in the wall emanating music that is nothing short of world-class. A step in the other direction will take you to Harvard Square where the legendary singer/songwriter listening room Club Passim makes its home. Although just over the line in Somerville, PA's Lounge is another small venue where you can get up close and personal with the local and touring bands they book.

If you're looking for a bit more elbow room and a better chance of recognizing the music coming from the stage, Boston has a number of larger rooms that will likely scratch your itch. With their wraparound balcony, The Paradise Rock Club continues to hold the title as one of the best venues for live rock music in Boston. In the shadow of Fenway Park, you'll find Landsdowne Street. Landsdowne is not only the landing zone for fly balls knocked out of the park, but it's also where nationally touring artists touch down on a weekly basis. Providing middle ground between the clubs and the theaters is new The House of Blues. 

Hardly worth mentioning, as you can't miss the advertising in town and because they change their name to some new corporation every 10 seconds, are the TD Banknorth Garden (aka The Boston Garden), and the Bank of America Pavilion (aka Harborlights). The latter is most certainly a top-notch venue, and the former is...well...a sports arena.

Aside from the major chain stores, Boston has many great Mom & Pop shops where you can unearth a rare piece of vinyl or pick up the latest release from whichever group is tickling your eustachians. The likely leader of the independents would be Newbury Comics, who can be found in a few places around the area and have a selection that suggests their buyers have a true sense of the street. If you're on the hunt for some old school product and second hand wares, give any of the following a shot:  Looney Tunes on Boylston near Mass Ave., Nuggets on Comm Ave. in Kenmore Square, and Stereo Jack's on Mass Ave. in Cambridge. All of the above will have you flipping through bins for hours.