Mon. Nov. 17 

We first saw the Nightwatchman - the name Audioslave/Rage Against the Machine bassist Tom Morello (in photo) has given his solo folk alter ego - several years ago with Billy Bragg and Steve Earle at a workers' rights fundraiser/rally at Berklee Performance Center. We'd heard nothing prior to and we were quite knocked out by his short set. Morello, a Harvard grad, has  since put out a strong album and is putting this alter ego thing more front and center. On Monday Nov. 17, Morello -with band this time - will get considerable stage time at the Middle East Downstairs, and you can assure yourself he and his band will be playing a boatload of agit-prop folk songs - the kind of stuff that 's always in fashion no matter who's in power. Joining him: One our fave hip-hoppers, Boots Riley, of the Coup. Boots swings from the same side of the plate as does Tom; he minces no words and he has little truck with bling and ho's. He has a whole lot of hatred for what the Bush Adminstration has done to America, so expect that assault. No doubt, both Morello and Riley are heartened by Barack's election, so we expect there will be a lot of optimism floating about the protest songs. But change doesn't happen overnight and a lot has gone wrong for a long time.  Join the attempt at musical exorcism. Doors at 8, tickets $25.

472 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-864-3278 www.mideastclub.com