The center of Boston’s rock scene is actually in Central Square in Cambridge. The legendary Middle East Restaurant & Nightclub (472–480 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617/864-3278, www.mideastclub.com) is a complex of three rooms with different styles. Larger bands play in the grungy basement downstairs, while local acts and indie bands play the cozier upstairs. Belly dancers and the occasional singer-songwriter take the stage in the Middle Eastern restaurant upstairs. Word to the wise: skip the food.

Named 30 years ago for a pet hamster, TT The Bear’s Place (10 Brookline Ave., Cambridge, 617/492-2327, www.ttthebears.com) is the hangout of choice for the city’s own rock stars, groupies, and wannabes. Bookings tend heavily toward the local, but also include touring bands on their way up. Several rooms allow rockers to talk or shoot pool until their friend’s band takes the stage.

U2 made their first legendary U.S. performances at Paradise Rock Club (967–969 Commonwealth Ave., 617/562-8800, www.thedise.com), a mid-sized club with good views from several tiers of balconies (each with its own bar). Next door, the Paradise Lounge is a smaller space decked out with modern art that stages everything from acoustic performances to erotic poetry.

Outside of Harvard Square, the Lizard Lounge (1667 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617/547-0759, www.lizardloungeclub.com) is the place to go for esoteric rock, neo-burlesque, or poetry readings in its small basement.