There's no better city in the country—or perhaps the world—for live music. The downside: the major success of the NYC / Brooklyn scene over the last decade has resulted in a glut of great venues. A nice problem to have, but all the choices can get more overwhelming than standing next to a guitar cabinet.  And, while we're certainly not gonna tell you what to listen to (that's Pitchfork's job), we'll gladly tell you where to listen to it. So, here are some of our favorite spots, ranked from the small club to the major stage.

Incredibly  Small: Rockwood Music Hall

When you tell your mom back in Iowa that you and your acoustic guitar have a gig tonight, this is the sort of place she pictures. A small room, packed with a well-dressed, seated crowd, politely but enthusiastically applauding all the performers. A tiny stage with a grand piano in back. And just past the big windows looking quaintly out onto a busy—but non-threatening—street, passersby get a quick sample of the music. At this point you almost don’t have the heart to tell her your show is actually at a bike repair shop in Bushwick.
Fun show coming up: You just missed Joanne Erdos' most recent residency, and hopefully she does another soon. Otherwise, with 8-12 acts per night (!) you can always just wander by.
(196 Allen St. @ Stanton St., Lower East Side, 212.477.4155)

Bigger, But Still Local-Sized: Glasslands


Over its short existence, this ostensible art gallery has morphed impressively from just-another-Brooklyn-warehouse to a top notch venue. It's the sort of place that has no problem completely redecorating every few months (current theme: forest!) and though we miss the "paint your own wall" room, all the other great features endure. (Those being cheep beer and sake, hipper-than-s**t events and the ankle-twistingly, quirky multilevel lay-out). Plus, a seat on the high balcony will have you feeling like Waldorf or Statler, the two heckling muppets—only you’ll actually be enjoying the show.
Fun show coming up: The 10th anniversary of the Soul Clap Dance Off (Saturday March 13).
(289 Kent Ave. @ S. 1st St., Williamsburg, no phone)

Medium: The Knitting Factory


Now in its third iteration, the Knit has finally settled on a vibe: a Brooklyn-based spot, boasting a rock-centric mix of seasoned vets and up-and-comers. A seperate front room with huge picture windows gives you a skybox view of the show you're too cheap to attend, with some accordingly low-priced beers and usually some quieter entertainment in the front room. Perfect for the non-commital.
Fun show coming up: Oneida w/ Sightings (Friday, March 19)
(361 Metropolitan Ave., @ Havemeyer St., Williamsburg, 347.529.6696)

Big Time: Music Hall of Williamsburg
 

Picture a family of clubs, all throwbacks to stages of yore, all with excellent sound, lux velvet curtains and beautiful horseshoe balconies. If Fort Greene’s Masonic Temple (a sublime, but infrequently used, relic) was the dad and the Bowery Ballroom was the mom (in this case, the young hot mom), the Music Hall would the kid. And music’s all about the kids, is it not?
Fun show coming up: Priestess w/ The Giraffes (Saturday, March 13).
(66 N. 6th St., @ Wythe Ave., Williamsburg, 212.260.4700)

Major Venue: Nokia Theater
Let’s assess our other choices in this category. Irving Plaza (boxy, poor sightlines). Roseland (awesomely old, but horrible sound). Terminal 5 (just, no). Hammerstein (all of the above). Thus, Nokia, a flavorless, but perfectly designed, concert venue with impeccable sound, wins by default…or maybe it’s just because we saw Norm MacDonald there once.
Fun show coming up: Glenn Beck. Just kidding! How about Alkaline Trio w/ Cursive instead? (Friday, March 12)
(1515 Broadway, @ 44th St., Midtown, 212.930.1950)