There are many record stores in Boston.. if you don't mind dropping a
little cash, Twisted Village in Harvard Square and Mars Records in Central
are good picks. If you don't mind leafing through a shitload of rock vinyl
you can try your shot at second coming, pipeline, in your ear (yeeech), or
record hog. All are in Cambridge. With the rock-specific ones you can
sometimes get lucky.. I've found very rare things there for $2-4. There
are some in Boston (boston beat, satellite) but they're more DJ-oriented
in style.. more house/trance/d&b and less experimental/ambient/IDM. At
least last time I bothered checking, which was a while ago.
As for events, there's pretty much not too much happening in general. I
missed Labradford/Godspeed you black Emporer. Thurston Moore is playing
next week, as are June of '44. These are pretty rock/post-rock specific..
for electronic music I suppose you could check out the Phoenix Landing in
Central Square Cambridge, they do a few different nights where DJs spin.
For radio, listen to WZBC (90.3) nights if you're in town, they always
play a good range of stuff. Or 100.1 Waltham, where I DJ. (INSERT PLUG
FOR MY SHOW: saturday 12 midnight - 6am sunday)
Andrew