Hi goys.

Going to Boston for the summer...anybody have any advice on where to go to catch good music (preferably somewhere not too strict on checking ID, me being only 20 and all)? Or good sites to watch for Bostonian music news?

Lived in Boston for a while. Best venues for gigs are Paradise Rock Club on Commonwealth Avenue, the Middle East, and Great Scott. Loads of other good bars around are mainly in Allston which has a big student population because of nearby Boston University and Boston College.

Few good bars around Harvard / Cambridge too - Redline being one.

Really good listings and events freesheet called The Weekly Dig, which you can pick up everywhere.

RE: ID, bad news kiddo, Boston is very big on checking ID, very few bars let you in without it. Your best bet are the tackier Irish bars where they are a little more relaxed (An Tuath Nua, Roisin Dubh, Kinvara), or trying to get to some student parties, of which there are loads (although when I was over there a few years ago, these were quite frequently raided by the cops.) Also check out the North End / Little Italy for some Italian places that might let you off. Otherwise, I'd say stick to some underground stuff / parties. They don't mess around with under age drinking in Boston, police and bar staff are v strict.

On the plus side, you get to see some great acts in venues that are much smaller than places they'd be playing in Europe. My Boston-based mate has a great music blog that frequently lists up and coming gigs and events: http://pulpandcircumstance.blogspot.com/

used to play football out there and the Kinvara was our HQ, never won a single game but we had some craic (many moons ago)

Cheers I'll check those out. I don't suppose it matters that you don't drink...? Oh well.

" I don't suppose it matters that you don't drink" - some gigs are over 18s, other over 21s. Most other pubs and clubs have people on the door checking for 21+ ID.