Manchildren Founder of K Records and former member of Beat Happening, Calvin Johnson mastered precious naivete decades before it became the default indie mode. His off-kilter baritone is what sold it, and he's bringing his voice and an acoustic guitar to Cambridge tonight. Teenbeat Records founder Mark Robinson also performs as Cotton Candy. Lily Pad, 1353 Cambridge St., Inman Square, 7:00pm, $10. Men With Children Gibby Haynes of the Butthole Surfers is returning to......

Mighty Mighty Bosstones December 26-30, 7:30 Middle East Details on tickets in post Bosstones MySpace site Common November 10 UMass-Boston, Clark Athletic Center FREE Yo La Tengo November 15, 9:30 pm Museum of Fine Arts, Remis Auditorium, $25 Better hope you have some money in your wallet because there's some huge acts that are on their way. First off, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones are reuniting at the Middle East for a "Hometown Throwdown." Tickets go......

Like just about anyone who thought their love of music was aptly captured onscreen by John Cusack in "High Fidelity," the folks over at Paste Magazine are fond of The Music List. So we weren't terribly surprised to see (via Stereogum) that the mag created a list of the nation's best music venues, broken down into regions. The criteria, as Paste spells it out in their June issue (Parkey Posey on the cover!): We weighed......

Tuesday was a difficult day for the city of Boston. How frequently do you find yourself having to choose between the Clipse and This American Life? More importantly, how do you choose? Pusha or Dan Savage? Malice or Kori Gardner? The Reupgang or Ira's Gang? The Middle East tried to mitigate these concerns by adding a Monday Clipse show several weeks out, but it was too little, too late for those who'd already bought......

When we first heard about Johnny Cupcakes, Bostonist was thrilled to hear about a new shop devoted solely to the art of the cupcake. (After hitting up Magnolia Bakery on our last trip to NYC, we are kinda obsessed with the 'cake.) Then we realized that Johnny Cupcakes isn't a bakery but a Hull, MA based brand of funky tees, sweatshirts and accessories that take the cupcake icon and integrate it into fashion. With a......

Today we spent the day appreciating how much immigrants affect our daily lives. A sign hand-printed and posted in a local bodega's window read “Closed May 1st. A Day Without Immigrants. We are all immigrants.” Some of the best music has immigrated its way to the United States from places far and wide. Where would this week's lineup be without the rich flavor of the immigrant community? Music knows no borders. Let the decibels......

Since our marathon-running friends are in hardcore training mode and refuse to go out, Bostonist has decided to make up for their loss this week. So, we're going to keep this party going and head out tonight to see some very funny guys take the stage. We got an e-mail from Bostonist's comedian friend, Todd Barry, a few weeks ago about him teaming up with fellow funnyman Eugene Mirman at the Middle East. Bostonist first......

We’ve been digging out all day. After we held our ground on the second floor yesterday only to find that our exterior door was all but snowed shut when it was time to go to work this morning. A bit of shoveling later we’re turning to warm hearts not cold snow. There's a good week ahead of us, temperatures are due to rise, indoors and out. Dinner reservations are hard to come by for tomorrow,......

If it weren’t for the type of constant touring that makes cities seem like a blur upon memory, Dr. Dog would probably have as much to say about Mark Sandman Square as many of the scenesters grabbing slices at HiFi. This corner of Brookline St and Mass. Ave in Cambridge’s Central Square has become an epicenter for hipsters, artists, belly dancers, and touring bands thanks to The Middle East and TT the Bear’s Place. In......

Happy Memorial Day, everybody, and Bostonist hopes you celebrate it all proper-like, with hot dogs, not dogs, beer, and some radio blasting Amerie's "One Thing." Anyone read the recent Blender interview with the pretty little thrush? Apparently she was born in 1980 and went to Georgetown in 1996. So she's wicked smart, clearly. C'mon guys, Catherine Zeta-Jones can lie about her age better, yes? Friday there's several awesome shows going on, it just depends on......

Harry and The Potters are awesome. Generally, a persual of their site or their myspace page or friendster listing sends Bostonist into fits of giggles. What's their schtick? Brothers Paul and Joe DeGeorge are Harry Year 7 and Harry Year 4, and they get together and sing songs about the potter-verse like "Save Ginny Weasley!" This Saturday at 1PM, bring your Potter-obsessed youth to The Middle East Club for an all-ages afternoon show headlined......