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.