Best of Boston

Dock all the points you like for the pricey beer, seasonal setup, and occasional ‘Ya Mo B There’ booking, and this harborside venue with the graceful sail-like tent and stunning skyline backdrop still posts the winning score. Wide aisles give the B of A’s 5,000 seats serious elbow room, while nine jumbo TVs ensure everyone gets an eyeful of the onstage action. Even if you believe the Roxy has the more intimate and interesting space, and the House of Blues (provided it sprays for tourists first) is coming on as a contender, you’d still have to concede that with the right band on the right night, the Pavilion is nothing short of a concertgoer’s nirvana.