Everyone knows the Fillmore is one of this country's premier venues to take in a show. But any concert veteran knows openers can be hit or miss, and drinks at the Fillmore might not be cheap enough to get you through a set from some experimental alt-country dubstep band. So skip it. Instead, start your night around the corner at the Boom Boom Room, a dimly lit and soulful joint that will have you questioning how much you want to catch the headliner. If a bar once owned by John Lee Hooker can be under the radar, this is it. Boom Boom Room carries on in the blues tradition with jazz club décor (including a Twin Peaks-esque red curtain), affordable drinks, and musicians who add ambiance rather than dominate it. It's a place where embracing the doldrums can be very comforting. Afterward, you'll enjoy the headliner no matter what.