Music Map

As featured in: Performing Songwriter Issue #68, March/April 2003.  Visit performingsongwriter.com to order back issues or subscribe.

by Abby White

I once read that a city that has at least three up-and-coming “it” bands/artists (i.e. lots of press and label interest) can officially be considered a “scene.” While I don’t have any research to back up that theory, there do seem to be a number of musical hotspots popping up and boiling over around the country--places like Detroit (The White Stripes, the Electric Six, or anyone who hangs out with Eminem) or even Omaha (Bright Eyes, Desaparecidos, or anyone who hangs out with Conor Oberst). With so many rich and diverse music scenes around the country, we wanted to spotlight some of the areas where both established and rising musicians have built up a large following and are generating a buzz around their (sometimes adopted) homebases, or who we’ve come across and think you should know about. So whether you’re planning an extensive tour or just a road trip, check out the local talent.

Athens, Georgia

The city that brought us alternative pioneers R.E.M. is also home to rockers The Agenda, I Am The World Trade Center (two members of these bands--Ryan Lewis and Dan Geller--also run indie label Kindercore Records), gutsy root rockers Drive By Truckers, genre-benders The Eskimos, and buzz band Breakheart Beat, already courting offers from major labels.

New York, New York

All eyes have been focused on the re-emerging NYC “rock scene” (as if it had gone anywhere) recently, perhaps overlooking the moody-yet-aggressive The Stills, intelligent power-poppers The Damnwells, the much buzzed-about Caulfield Sisters and post-punk Prosaics, snarly rockers French Kicks, the amazing storytelling of the Josh Joplin Group, college campus troubador Ari Hest, the young, melodic power-popper Ben Kweller, and the bittersweet Nick-Drake-meets-Gillian-Welch Paul Brill.

Washington, D.C./Baltimore, Maryland

Some other things to check out while you’re around the nation’s capital include the swirling psychedelia of Phaser, the appropriately named The All Mighty Senators (recently on tour with The Pretenders), Baltimore’s innovative Lake Trout, the “more deadly than any man alive” music from The Low Life, rock quartet Laughing Colors, promising young singer-songwriter Adam Richman, the introspective duo Rockwell Church, and folk-rockers Jonasay.

Charlottesville/Richmond, Virginia

Dave Matthews made it a landmark, but bands like AMA Unsigned Band winners Carbon Leaf, adrenaline rockers Ki: Theory, inventive folkie Devon, perennial favorites the Pat McGee Band, and Edie Brickell-meets-Sheryl Crow-meets-Bj?rk singer Regan carry on the tradition of great music. Nearby, Virginia Coalition has been known for their unforgettable live shows and enthusiastic fan base.

Chicago, Illinois

The windy city has been home to Liz Phair, Neko Case and the Smashing Pumpkins, and these days you’ll also find the hook-laden pop poetry of Starch Martins, local faves Verbow, the smart folk-pop of native Midwesterner Alice Peacock, the enigmatic and elegant pop of The Sea and Cake, self-described “scrappy, kinetic, precocious” fivesome Lucky Boys Confusion, and elder statesmen of music including Jon Langford (of the Waco Brother, the Pine Valley Cosmonauts and the Mekons), and Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco).

Nashville, Tennessee

They don’t call it Music City, U.S.A. for nothing--and luckily this extends way beyond Music Row with Nashville’s own collection of “The” bands including the brilliant and incomparable The Bees U.S. and rockers The Rugs, young up-and-comers like Llama, hometown favorite Will Hoge, the trippy electronica-pop of Venus Hum, favorite Nebraskan-turned-Tennessean Josh Rouse, singer/songwriter/producer Joe Pisapia, the captivating and beautiful music of Swan Dive, and the McCartney-esque David Mead.

Boston, Massachusetts

Besides housing one of the country’s most prestigious music schools, Berklee College of Music, Boston’s rich musical community includes post-punk power-poppers The Dubnicks, Boston’s favorite Irish imports Rubyhorse, WB darlings Missing Joe, the intense and talented Ryan Montbleau, singer-songwriter Kristin Cifelli, and the so-called “lazy brilliance” of Wheat (who just finished touring with fellow Bostonian Bleu and alterna-heroes Toad the Wet Sprocket) in nearby Taunton.

Toronto, Ontario

OK, it’s not technically in the U.S., but it’s not too far, and it has a huge music scene including the incomparable Hawksley Workman, longtime frontrunner for the I-can’t-believe-he’s-not-more-famous category Ron Sexsmith, the rootsy yet rollicking The Sadies, the gorgeous music of the Hidden Cameras, the raucous The National Anthem, underdog faves Galore, the increasingly popular Chantal Kreviazuk, and, although they’re not “new” on the scene or technically from Toronto (they relocated from Halifax), you need to check out Sloan if you haven’t already.

San Francisco/Los Angeles, California

It was too difficult to pick one city or the other, so if you’re in S.F. check out heart-on-sleeve storyteller Matt Nathanson, rootsy alt-rocker Richard Buckner, cult faves Beachwood Sparks, and the vibrant, funky Luce. Or trek over to L.A. to check out what’s been called “the singer-songwriter movement of the new millennium” with artists Jude, Alexi Murdoch, Cameron Ash, Trevor Lissauer, indie stalwarts The Get-Up Kids and Celt-punkers Flogging Molly.

Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota

Home of (the Artist once again known as) Prince, the Mall of America and a variety of musicians, including the lyrically astute and heartfelt singer Mason Jennings, the self-proclaimed “most fun people imaginable” Sean Tillman, better known as Sean Na Na and alleged “angry half-brother,” Harold Martin, a.k.a. Har Mar Superstar. The Twin Cities are also the homebase for the spectacular Elton John-meets-David Bowie Mark Mallman and producer/engineer and Polara musician Ed Ackerson.

Austin, Texas

Known as the “Live Music Capital,” Austin’s diverse scene is more than South by Southwest-- see punk-rock band Riddlin’ Kids, the Cars-inspired Kissinger, bluesy storyteller Ramsay Midwood, the Latin alternative rock of Vallejo, the always popular Bob Schneider and hard rockers (with a most intimidating name) … And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead.