Best of Boston

2008 Best Club for Live Music, Small

T.T. the Bear’s Place

Boston has no shortage of excellent small music venues, but T.T.’s just keeps edging out the competition. Perhaps it’s because former Clash guitarist Mick Jones chose this Central Square nook to showcase his new group last April. Or because it features a healthy mix of worthy local bands and visiting punk veterans like New Model Army and Jesse Malin. Or because some weekends DJ Chris Ewen busts out our favorite ’80s New Wave classics. Whatever. It’s cramped, it’s sticky, it’s totally authentic—and it’s unbeatable.

10 Brookline St., Cambridge, 617-492-0082, ttthebears.com