Fri. June 8

 The picture you see accompanying this item on the Fleshtones is in black-and-white because that's the kind of band the Fleshtones are: A band from the black-and-white era of photography, before color was even invented. That's not true, of course, but the Fleshtones are a vintage band, and were a vintage-sounding band when they started in 1976. They weren't really punk or new wave, though their fan base included punks and new wavers. Their sound was a shout back to the '60s psychedelic/garage rock era; their peers were Boston's Lyres; they were truly best experience in concert. The were fronted then, as now, by singer Peter Zaremba (who later achieved semi-fame as an MTV host). Zaremba calls what the Fleshtones play "super rock," which he defines as "all of the great elements that make rock 'n' roll the great and vital thing that excites people rolled into one, without saying this is disco or this is garage rock. Putting it together and rolling it up into one big greasy ball." Adds drummer Bill Milhizer, "Super Rock is taking the best, most exciting elements of rock 'n' roll, and exaggerating and amplifying them beyond proportion, with no apology whatsoever." That the Fleshtones can do this 31 years after inception, well, we tip the hat we don't wear. They play the Middle East Upstairs Friday June 8. Also on the bill: Former DMZ/Queers guitarist JJ Rassler's group, the Downbeat 5, with features singer/rhythm guitatist Jen D'Angora, which draw from the Yardbirds and Animals - hint: very compatible with the 'Tones - and Who Shot Hollywood. If you don't know the latter's name, it's new. They used to be kids called Bullseye, and they really are kids, like 11, 12 and 13. Two of them are offspring of former Boston musicians/booker Greg "Skeggy" Kendall, who relocated to Northampton. This gig is serving as a record release party for their eponymous disc. They played a gig with Ted Leo, who says, "They're kind of like if Guided by Voices wrote longer songs - or maybe the Pixies played shorter ones - but with a the wide-eyed enthusiasm and frustrated snottiness of like, 11 and 12-year-olds ... What the hell were you doing at that age? I don't want to get into what I was doing." (Leo told this to Magnet magazine.) Starts at 9 p.m. Tickets: $9.

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