Lets face it. Most college students don’t go to university for the classroom education. Sure a degree is a nice thing to frame and put on your wall, but it's all the extras the come with the college experience that get your blood pumping: the late nights, the lines at the keg, the spectacular hook-ups and awkward mornings. These are the best years of your life and unfortunately, they have a shelf life.

While every campus may be able to provide some level of debauchery, not every school is the same. So to maximize four to five years of higher leaning hygincks, it’s best to seek out a school that has a great scene around it. And for those that like to partner a live band with your pint glass like us here at Boosh, there is no better social scene than a thriving music community.

The following cities are definitely locations that any music-loving prospective college student should consider for a home base.

Boulder, CO
Lucky Campus: University of Colorado
Hometown Heroes: String Cheese Incident, Zephyr, Big Head Todd

   People don’t call it “The People’s republic of Boulder" for no reason. It’s a city that is way out there mentally and politically, which is a good thing for nurturing a lively art and music scene. The Hill is a section of town near CU full of head shops, record stores, bars and most importantly, live music.  And the cathedral of live music on The Hill is the Fox Theater, a world-renowned venue that has hosted everyone from Ben Harper to Phish to The Grateful Dead.  I’d recommend Boulder to anyone down with granola, jam bands and nature yet also preppie enough to eat at yuppie sushi bars and frequent trendy wine bars.

Athens, GA
Lucky Campus: University of Georgia
Hometown Heroes: Widespread Panic, STS9, R.E.M.

   Athens is like Boulder but with some southern hospitality and less granola. It’s got arts, and hoards of young people milling about, but the real key to this town’s beauty is the amazing music community that has taken roots within the city limits. There are too many worthwhile venues and clubs to namedrop, however the list of locally- formed bands is worth mentioning: Widespread Panic, R.EM, STS9, Indigo Girls, B-52's and Love Tractor. 

Nashville, TN
Lucky Campus: Vanderbilt University
Hometown Heroes: Any Country Act Ever

   A city heralded as the song-writing capitol of the USA, it is the birthplace of country music and a street near Vandy's campus is known simply as "music row". You can go to any show or shit-bar anywhere in the city and live music will bust out making even the most musically talented individuals feel inadequate. Whether it the local favorite Bluebird Café where songwriters try out new material nightly or heading down to The Station Inn which is probably the only bluegrass bar in the world; Nashville is sure to get your mouth drooling.


Austin, TX
Lucky Campus: University of Texas
Hometown Heroes: Spoon, Okkervil River, Explosions in the Sky

   Austin has been on the music map for a while, so it’s no surprise it made Boosh Magazine’s list.  Things are pretty straightforward with Austin; every September Austin City Limits hits the town with all the country rock and independent music a concert connoisseur can handle and loads BBQ that will make your taste buds sing. As if that isn't enough, they go and do it again in the spring with the South By SouthWest Festival which has become the unofficial testing ground for up-and-coming acts. It’s true that they do things bigger in Texas, and in Austin’s case the music scene is the two-pound Kobe Beef burger of small city music culture.

Portland, OR
Lucky Campus: Lewis & Clark University
Hometown Heroes: The Decemberists, The Shins

   Maybe Lewis & Clark University isn’t the first place you think of when you imagine what a “quintessential college” should be. But hey, I do not hate; I’m sure it’s a fine institution. It’s just that when I think of reasons to attend school in Portland, I think of going to community that gave birth to or sustained The Decembrists, The Dandy Warhol’s, The Crazy 8’s and The Shins.  Factor in the epic Roseland Theater in downtown Portland and a plethora of giant sequoia trees, and you have a city that rocks and looks cool too.


Lawrence, KS
Lucky Campus: Kansas University
Hometown Heroes: The New Amsterdams, Kill Creek

    You thought the only thing that came from Kansas was corn?  Wrongo.  The hometown of the Jayhawks has recently made ripples on the national radar with the rapidly growing Wakarusa Music Festival, however it has been an incognito bubbling cauldron of musical activity for the past decade. And I doubt that there is any other place that offers a better bar/ venue atmosphere than The Bottleneck.  To get a slice of Mid American culture laced with state school rowdiness and live musical mayhem, go see what Lawrence is all about.