Sat. Sept. 22

 Brett Milano has been writing about Boston (and other) rock nearly as long as we have, for various publications. He does, though, have more desire to dig into Boston's past and put it all down in print. (The very thought is daunting to us - so many hazy memories, so much seen, so much missed.) But Milano wrote "The Sound of Our Town: A History of Boston Rock 'n' Roll" and, to celebrate, he's got a bunch of the locals - past and present - playing a huge gig at the Middle East Downstairs Saturday Sept. 22. Milano emails us, about the event: "Soooo, the complete party lineup is as follows:  Muck & the Mires, the Twinemen, the Lyres, Willie Alexander & the Boom Boom Band, Nervous Eaters, Andy Pratt (doing his hit w/the Eaters backing), Gravel Pit, Robin Lane & the Chartbusters, Classic Ruins, Joe & Ellie (from the Charms), Kevn Stevenson (of the Shods), John Powhida and Andrea Gillis (respecively doing Cars and Aerosmith songs!), Dennis Brennan (doing the Remains), Lizzie Borden, Mickey Clean, JJ Rassler (doing Queers songs). and the Neighborhoods. Whew. As you can guess, it will be a whole lot of music in a relatively short time. Pat McGrath is the MC, Oedipus will reprise his "Live at the Rat" intro, and the ringmaster who'll lead the band, and who threw all this together, is Asa Brebner." Tickets: $12. Starts around 9.

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