Schools That Rock

Venues: Athens offers plenty of worthwhile diversions for when you're not too busy studying or doing bong hits. The 40 Watt Club consistently catches bands on their way up and puts them in front of audiences small enough to feel like they're privy to a truly special event. Clubs move around a lot in Athens, but thankfully the good ones, like the Caledonia Lounge, survive the shuffle. The space is where R.E.M. filmed their video for "Turn You Inside Out" in 1988 and is still the spot to catch artists just making inroads on college radio. And fans of roots rock will clock quite a bit of time at the Georgia Theatre.

Record Stores: There are two stellar mom-and-pops, most notably Schoolkids, which is staffed primarily by local musicians such as Glands frontman Ross Shapiro. There's also Wuxtry, where Michael Stipe first met Peter Buck back in the day. Locals know it's the best place to find the record of a band whose show you caught last night. Ask about Extra Records, where they sell vinyl by the pound. And check out Wuxtry's Athens Music Museum on the corner to ogle vintage posters of the town's legends.

(Posted July 28, 2005)

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