Tonight North Star Bar is hosting Benefit for Boston, a show whose admission will go to the One Fund for Boston Marathon victims. The bombing that occurred this year during the marathon on April 15 killed 3 and injured hundreds. So to show some brotherly love for Beantown while enjoying some fine local music at the same time head on over to the Art Museum area where the tri-fold bill will include shorty boy-boy the moniker of Joshua Pannepacker intertwining humorously twisted lyrics that tends to escalate toward powerful rockers with fire-starting guitar licks and a casual grooves that are easy to slip into. The National Rifle approach their tunes with a bright pop-rock appeal founded in clear vocals and a backend that continually pops. Embracing a combination of percussion/bass/synth that instills a natural dance sensation with an interstellar space nod. Speaking of smooth, the breezy Cali-cool pop of Cruiser rounds out the night touching notes of surf rock including natural vocal harmonies, memorably crisp guitar lines and a tumbling backbeat. We highly suggest that you get there early because the first hour gets you free beer and specials on well drinks. All that and a good cause – you really can’t go wrong! North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., 8pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita