Consistency is an underrated virtue in these challenging and changing times. Just as you can count on the stock market to recklessly bounce up and down like a fat kid on a trampoline, for years Boston has been able to count on the reliable Emergency Music to deliver the goods for the able ear. Delegates of pop perfection, old Emergency will headline an increasingly rare appearance this Saturday at T.T. the Bears. Bostonist caught......

Books Manil Suri's The Age of Shiva follows a woman as she tries to find a life outside male expectations. Meera, a young woman in India, marries the man she desires, only to discover he's Mr. Wrong. Eventually, she throws all her hopes on her son, and the intensity of her feelings prompted the San Francisco Chronicle to call the work "a steamy, hot-out-of-the-oven offering of mother love." Whoa, there! Brookline Booksmith, 7:00 pm,......

Music --The Magnetic Fields, on Valentine's Day? Could anything be better for a first date, or any sort of date? They even work well for a broken heart. Well, only if you got tickets in time. Check the Craig, as this one is a hot ticket. Somerville Theatre, Davis Square, 8:00 pm, $27.50. Good luck getting in! --Drown your Valentine's Day sorrows with a night of indie rock and dancing at Viva Viva's Valentine's......

Theater Theater lovers! A rare treat - Part I *and* Part II of Tony Kushner's seminal modern epic "Angels in America" is in town and it runs until Feb. 10. It's about the painful disintegration of two relationships against a backdrop of greed, conservatism, and the discovery of AIDS. Presented by Boston Theatre Works. Fringy Theater That Tastes Like Chicken! Who can resist a play about chickens that advises, "Beware! Contains fowl language"? Useless Theater......

Music --The Dresden Dolls will be at the Orpheum. Meow Meow, whom Bostonist had the pleasure at seeing at Sxip's Hour of Charm, will open. It's hard to explain what Meow Meow does exactly, but she is on a mission of seduction. 7:30 pm. --Benefit for Jeanne Sheehy at T.T. the Bear's with Keys to the Streets of Fear, Meghan Toohey, Thalia Zedek, Buffalo Tom. 10 Brookline St., Cambridge, 9:00 pm. More info about the......

Comedy --Tracy Morgan is in town. Watch the Track Girls the next day because something crazy is bound to happen. And if you see any Tracy-Morgan-related wildness, send a tip! Even the Comedy Connection felt pressed to issue a warning: "This stand-up show contains very sexually explicit material and the strongest language imaginable. This show is for mature audiences only." He'll be at the Comedy Connection at Faneuil Hall tonight and tomorrow night. Shows at......

The point of the holidays is to give as much as you receive, and tonight's chosen events (plus one announcement) have the giving spirit in mind. Music Benefit for Jeanne Sheehy at T.T. the Bear's with Jonny Pape, Auto Interiors, Joyce & Chick of Scarce, Downbeat 5, AdFrank, The Pills, and the Shods (who are returning after what their site describes as "a few years of vacation." 10 Brookline St., Cambridge, 9:05 pm. More......

When Bostonist entered Buckaroo's Mercantile, a pop-culture store across the street from T.T. the Bear's and the Middle East in Central Square, stocking stuffers were on our mind. The owner of Buckaroo's Mercantile, Brooks, layers retro images over metal wallets, night lites, light-switch plate covers, and more. Brooks told Bostonist that all of the above items were hot sellers at the Bazaar Bizarre, and you can buy them at the store. You can also choose......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Bostonist. Go Eight, a Hanukkah party on December 8th at TT The Bears. Sony Card, because you'll get a free MP3 player if you apply. Love is a Mix Tape, Rob Sheffield's book about women, music, and love. Busted Tees, where they've got naughty holiday-themed shirts. If you're interested in advertising on Bostonist or any other site in our network, check out......

Benefits for Jeanne Sheehy December 6--Tonight!: B.O.D., Willie T & Dr. X, Doug McDonald Band, Roger Fisk, Country Doctors, Wide Iris, The Delusions, The Outlets. Show starts at 8:45 pm. December 21: Jonny Pape, Auto Interiors, Joyce & Chick of Scarce, Downbeat 5, AdFrank, The Pills, The Shods. Show starts at 9:05 pm. December 28: Jules Verdone, The Douglas Fir, Baker, Francine, The Gravel Pit. Show starts at 9:10 pm. December 29: Keys to the......

The Eight Saturday, December 10, 9:00 pm T.T. the Bear's 10 Brookline Street, Cambridge (T: Central Square) $12 advance / $15 at the door More info Taglit-Birthright Israel and JDub Records is hosting a Hanukkah rock concert that will be held in cities all over the United States. Boston will represent at T.T. The Bear's this Saturday. The Boston celebration will be split between rock and electronica. The Brakes are straight-up pop-rock, and press for......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Bostonist. Go Eight, a Hanukkah party on December 8th at TT The Bears. Sony Card, because you'll get a free MP3 player if you apply. Richard Hawley, at TT The Bears on December 4th. Busted Tees, where they're selling 12 shirts for $12 each. If you're interested in advertising on Bostonist or any other site in our network, check out our online......

Tourfilter DJ Night River Gods (125 River St., Central Square) Thursday, November 29, 9 p.m. -1 a.m. Free! If you're not already a member, you should definitely join Tourfilter.com. It's a music fan's dream: a comprehensive site that lets you track your favorite bands and get e-mail updates when they're coming to town--or, in the case of local bands, playing near you. The site's also a great way to get to know new bands, since......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Bostonist. Go Eight, a Hanukkah party on December 8th at TT The Bears. Homes for Working Families, because who hasn't been squeezed out of the housing market? Sony Card, because you'll get a free MP3 player if you apply. The Widow, the new book from Carla Neggers about a seven year-old murder off the coast of Maine. Busted Tees, where you get......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Bostonist. Go Eight, a Hanukkah party on December 8th at TT The Bears. Homes for Working Families, because who hasn't been squeezed out of the housing market? Sony Card, because you'll get a free MP3 player if you apply. Busted Tees, where you get free shipping with the purchase of three shirts. If you're interested in advertising on Bostonist or any other......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Bostonist. Wicked, playing a limited engagement in Boston through Sunday! Go Eight, a Hanukkah party on December 8th at TT The Bears. Homes for Working Families, because who hasn't been squeezed out of the housing market? The Cheetah Orphans, airing Sunday on PBS. How to Cook Your Live, opening in Boston on 12/6. Austin City Limits, which will feature The Arcade Fire.......

This Sunday Project Bread's Walk for Hunger takes over the streets of Boston, Newton, Watertown…oh, you get the picture. The walk starts in the morning and thousands of people will be walking to raise money to support food banks, soup kitchens, and other initiatives across the Commonwealth. There are lots of good shows going on this week – and it's capped off with a weekend extravaganza that includes both Arts First and Harvard Square's......

If you look past the fact that the Sox are back at home for their first few games at Fenway this season you'll be able to hear a greater beat on the street. As is often the case there is more good live music going on in town this week than any one person could possibly listen to. Time to clone yourself so you can scoop up a standing room ticket to watch Dice-K......

April Fool's Day is on the Horizon, but we ain't foolin this week. A solid line up of shows – starting with the Tourfilter DJ Night at River Gods – is ahead. It's mid-week heavy this time around so kick it like a rock star and be thankful you can sleep in on Saturday. Monday, 3/26 TourFilter Mixtape Tourfilter founder Chris Marstall will be at River Gods in Cambridge equipped with an evening full......

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......

Berklee and Essence have teamed up again this year to bring the best young talent out to compete in the Hip Hop Songwriting Contest. If you are, or know, an eligible teen (unsigned and between 15 and 18) the time is nigh. Deadline for submission is March 9. It's all for a good cause, helping to balance the message in hip hop music and giving young songwriters a stage and training, not to mention......

In case you haven't heard the next week promises to show us the winter we've been missing out – only minus the snow. Cold temperatures (below freezing every day!) will be the rule according to the current outlook. Perfect time to head out to your favorite music venue. There's no better way we can think of to stay warm. This week you'll find the old, the new, the nerd, and some classical among the......

Coming into a Monday after a long weekend feels so wrong. Friday's off are usually arranged through vacation time or, cough, a sick day. Last week the veterans made us do it. But it's back to work and it's raining buckets with no sun in sight for the first part of the week. Luckily we've got some great music to keep us going this week. From enduring jazz superstars to indie rockers you might......

There's no good reason to be sitting at home carving pumpkins this week with all the good shows happening around the Hub. Take a moment to put down your $3 carving kit and your pumpkin to sing the pumpkin carving song as you head out to catch some live music. Oh, and if you wear your costume we won't tell. Tuesday, 10/24 Project Move with Elemental Zazen Local hip hop heroes Project Move and......

There was a time and a place when Bostonist kept missing upcoming shows in the area because we were too busy to pay attention. Along came Tourfilter. A locally based website (now with worldwide reach) that allows us to take a look at upcoming shows based on the information provided by the venue. Each and every day they let us know who's coming to town, where they'll be, and which of our friends are......

If you're not into traveling all the way to the Tweeter Center for Journey and Def Leopard, check out this week's picks. Even if you are into heading down to the big name act's show you'll need something to do the rest of the week. There's no joking about it this week. Fall is here. By the time the weekend hits it's time to break out the cider and make some pumpkin pie. We're......

What's going on this week? Everyone is moving. Hipsters are swapping apartments in Allston. Scenesters are invading Cambridgeport. Undergrads and grad students are making their way into the new rental for September. The lucky ones have renewed their lease (or are keeping up with payments on the mortgage). The music you'll be hearing is blaring from the cab of the U-Haul and out of the windows of that f*ing third floor walk-up you offered......

Eight Days a Week. The music scene is hot, and we realize that we're not giving you enough lead time on some of the best way to cure a case of the Mondays – with a Monday evening show. This week we're putting eight days into our weekly music picks. Starting on Monday and running through the following week. This week we're eating locally – and listening locally. Several local acts find prominence on......

The debacle that was Hot Stove, Cool Music last week has made us ready for a week of good music. The debacle in that it poured so hard they had to move the whole thing under the bleachers (inside). The sound quality was poor and James Taylor pulled a rock star move and only made the stage for a single song because he didn't have enough space. This week we're looking forward to cooler......