he most important mid-sized venue in the city (yeah, that' right), the Bowery houses everything from indie disco and post-post punk, to alt-country and troubadour balladry. A milestone stop for ascending bands and an intimate kick-off for artists from the majors, playing the Bowery has become a rite of passage. The room, with its easy views and Beaux Arts undercurrent, has a mildly stately feel while retaining a music club's air of slightly scruffy frivolity. -S.T.