Casa del Popolo at 4873 boulevard Saint-Laurent is the small venue that sits at the centre of Montreal's music scene. The room holds about 150 people and has hosted more emerging Montreal bands than any other space in the city over the past two decades. Arcade Fire, Wolf Parade, and Stars all played here early in their careers. The calendar is consistently interesting: local acts, touring indie bands, experimental music, DJ nights.
The adjacent Sala Rossa (4848 boulevard Saint-Laurent) is a slightly larger venue in a restored Portuguese social club, sharing ownership with Casa del Popolo. Together they cover most of what you need for live music in the Mile End. Both also serve food and drinks and function as bars on quieter nights. The neighbourhood around them — the stretch of boulevard Saint-Laurent between avenue du Mont-Royal and Laurier — is one of the best stretches of city in Montreal for wandering, eating, and drinking.