Albuquerque, New Mexico
The city is pretty, the scene is healthy, the kids actually give a shit about bands most of us would pass on and some of the nicest people on the planet call A-town home. Kevin Stewart-Panko
Austin, Texas
This seems a little too obvious, but let's fact it Austin is cool. They've got SXSW, Trail of Dead, Explosions in the Sky, Spoon and countless other rockin' bands, Richard Linklater, warm weather, and a happening collegiate atmosphere. Giddy-up and don't mess with Texas. Rob Bolton
Beijing, China
It may not be as event-filled as New York or Toronto yet, but despite living under a repressive communist regime, China's burgeoning electronic music scene has found time to open up stylish dance clubs, attract superstar DJs and rave on the Great Wall of China. Makes iDance in Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square seem sorta lacking, doesn't it? Joshua Ostroff
Boston, Massachusetts
Labels like Hydra Head, Tortuga, Death Wish Inc., Iodine, and a plethora of cutting edge bands, Converge, Isis, Cave In, etc. Chris Gramlich
Detroit, Michigan
Thanks to the explosiveness of the White Stripes, more bands like the Dirtbombs, Slumber Party, the Von Bondies and Soledad Brothers were exposed for the diverse brand of rock'n'roll they create. Hail the Motor City! Cam Lindsay
Kitchener/Waterloo/Guelph, Ontario
The music speaks for itself: Danny Michel, the Constantines, Royal City, the Miniatures, Paul MacLeod, Plasticine. And props to the Jane Bond.
Montreal, Quebec
Always. Beer in corner stores, talented people, hot chicks, good spirits and open minds. The noses are not in the air, they are pointing down inhaling monster rails. Roman Sokal
Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Constellation Records, Force Inc., Intr_version Records, Mutek Festival, etc. I. Khider
New Orleans, Louisiana
The swampy South gives us Eyehategod, Crowbar, Soilent Green, Clearlight and many more, with a Sabbath-on-meth sound unique to the area. Greg Pratt
Ottawa, Ontario
Y'all can laugh, I did too, but there's more good music pumping out of this one-horse town than anywhere else in Canada right now. Jon Bartlett
Toronto, Ontario
The big shitty that just about everyone elsewhere in Canada loves to hate continues to have it going on, as they say, at least in relative national terms. It's not so much what Hogtown has to offer, though, but rather who and what it attracts that makes it make the grade. Every touring band puts in a show there and, like it or not, many of the country's most talented and gifted artists take up residence at one time or another. Hell, even half of the Weakerthans call the Ontario capitol home these days. Also, the legions of homeless people, the endless parade of greed fuckers and the consistently sad goings on at MuchMusic help level-headed residents maintain their priorities and perspective. Chuck Molgat
Vancouver, British Columbia
Swollen Members, Moka Only, DJ Moves, Governor Bolts, Birdapres, Josh Martinez, Ink Operated, Isosceles, Jeff Spec, Checkmate, and the Rascalz, all make Vancity their home. Need I say more? Thomas Quinlan
The city is pretty, the scene is healthy, the kids actually give a shit about bands most of us would pass on and some of the nicest people on the planet call A-town home. Kevin Stewart-Panko
Austin, Texas
This seems a little too obvious, but let's fact it Austin is cool. They've got SXSW, Trail of Dead, Explosions in the Sky, Spoon and countless other rockin' bands, Richard Linklater, warm weather, and a happening collegiate atmosphere. Giddy-up and don't mess with Texas. Rob Bolton
Beijing, China
It may not be as event-filled as New York or Toronto yet, but despite living under a repressive communist regime, China's burgeoning electronic music scene has found time to open up stylish dance clubs, attract superstar DJs and rave on the Great Wall of China. Makes iDance in Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square seem sorta lacking, doesn't it? Joshua Ostroff
Boston, Massachusetts
Labels like Hydra Head, Tortuga, Death Wish Inc., Iodine, and a plethora of cutting edge bands, Converge, Isis, Cave In, etc. Chris Gramlich
Detroit, Michigan
Thanks to the explosiveness of the White Stripes, more bands like the Dirtbombs, Slumber Party, the Von Bondies and Soledad Brothers were exposed for the diverse brand of rock'n'roll they create. Hail the Motor City! Cam Lindsay
Kitchener/Waterloo/Guelph, Ontario
The music speaks for itself: Danny Michel, the Constantines, Royal City, the Miniatures, Paul MacLeod, Plasticine. And props to the Jane Bond.
Montreal, Quebec
Always. Beer in corner stores, talented people, hot chicks, good spirits and open minds. The noses are not in the air, they are pointing down inhaling monster rails. Roman Sokal
Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Constellation Records, Force Inc., Intr_version Records, Mutek Festival, etc. I. Khider
New Orleans, Louisiana
The swampy South gives us Eyehategod, Crowbar, Soilent Green, Clearlight and many more, with a Sabbath-on-meth sound unique to the area. Greg Pratt
Ottawa, Ontario
Y'all can laugh, I did too, but there's more good music pumping out of this one-horse town than anywhere else in Canada right now. Jon Bartlett
Toronto, Ontario
The big shitty that just about everyone elsewhere in Canada loves to hate continues to have it going on, as they say, at least in relative national terms. It's not so much what Hogtown has to offer, though, but rather who and what it attracts that makes it make the grade. Every touring band puts in a show there and, like it or not, many of the country's most talented and gifted artists take up residence at one time or another. Hell, even half of the Weakerthans call the Ontario capitol home these days. Also, the legions of homeless people, the endless parade of greed fuckers and the consistently sad goings on at MuchMusic help level-headed residents maintain their priorities and perspective. Chuck Molgat
Vancouver, British Columbia
Swollen Members, Moka Only, DJ Moves, Governor Bolts, Birdapres, Josh Martinez, Ink Operated, Isosceles, Jeff Spec, Checkmate, and the Rascalz, all make Vancity their home. Need I say more? Thomas Quinlan
