This week the music world turns its gaze to the party they call SXSW. A number of local bands are hitting the scene in hopes that it will propel them to some worldwide tour – or at least help them get out of that "garden level" apartment in Medford. While some eyes turn south to Texas where an immigration debate runs wild the US immigration policy has taken a toll on the local concert......

Despite recent surges in population (due to the start of the academic year) and some violent events in the not-too-distant past, Allston has not, in fact, been declared a disaster area (as opposed to New Orleans, shown at right). But these similarities are exactly what makes Boston's own "Rock City" the perfect place to host three nights' worth of benefit shows for Katrina relief and recovery efforts. Great Scott on Commonwealth Avenue is the venue......

Friday: Think of the musical options for tonight in terms of The Cure: if you want to see dreamy local rock bands do their best-pyschedelic Brit-pop thing, check out Stereo Soul Future, The December Sound, the dance-y Cyanide Valentine, and Aloud at the Middle East Upstairs. If you want to dance to ten-minute long Cure remixes, head on over the The Pill at Great Scott and kick it to Suede songs. Finally, if you want......