United States

I've been living in northeast Ohio all my life. Only in the past few years I've become serious about making music. With the Rock Hall just a few miles away Ohio should be prime location. Unfortunatly thats not the case.
I'm looking to move within the year. I would like everyone's opinion on the best rock music scenes in the country.

In my opinion, the best rock scene around here is in my band's practice room...

There is a HUGE pool of bars hiring "classic rock" cover bands right now, so if you want to play "Freebird" and "Born to be Wild" over, and over, and over, and over.... you can get booked pretty easy...

Originals.. well, you gotta really go to the big city (Philadelphia for my area) to find (a lot of) clubs willing to take on new original acts.

Hmmm - after seeing a lot of posts here over the years . . .
I'd guess parts of California, parts of Florida, and parts of Texas . . . and maybe the Boston area.
But there's probably 150 hot areas for music, nationwide (not counting cruise ships and casinos). . .
Here in CT it's the Hrtford area or the New Haven area.

I heard there is a strong scene in parts of California also. But I also heard that the locals can be rough. (not very inviting) I'm just really trying to find an area where there are musicians interested in something other than covers and the current emo/rock, death metal trend saturating where I live. I'm interested in creating music..... An area where something different is going on would be refreshing.

Rude people in California Man what would ever give you that impression.

I heard there is a strong scene in parts of California also. But I also heard that the locals can be rough. (not very inviting) I'm just really trying to find an area where there are musicians interested in something other than covers and the current emo/rock, death metal trend saturating where I live. I'm interested in creating music..... An area where something different is going on would be refreshing.

On a more serious note:
From what you describe you are looking for, you are most likely to find it in a variety of major cities, many go to NYC to realize their dreams, others to Philly, Austin, Memphis (and regret THAT one), L.A., Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, etc...

I'd recommend trolling the major city craigslist ads and see what flavors dominate which markets. If you are serious about moving, doing a lot of homework first is advisable. I guess by posting here, you've already started!

Good luck, really. I'm glad to see this kind of devotion to music. It gives me hope that all this "post punk prog mathcore" pretentious bullshit is a phase and that real originality will come back to the music scene.

Cost of living in Austin is probably better than any place else on the list.
We have some inflation in Texas but by the looks of it places like LA and NYC are the worst.

Thanks for the advice Kramerguy. Checking the major city Craigslist is a great idea.

I've also heard that Austin is very nice, with a strong scene and less costly. I have a lot of work ahead of me. I'm shooting for sometime next summer.
I feel like the longer I'm here the more I'm stuck in neutral.

Im in FL, South and its depressing.
Music kulture is the HoTTopiC shop at
any one of the 5000000 malls.

I just got back from Louisville and it appears to
be a GREAT music city ! Bardstown road alone has
about 7 music / guitar stores

This is why Im moving there !

New York also seems to be hot . . .

Detroit was hot a few years ago, but as soon as someone makes it (White Stripes, Iggy Pop, etc) they move the hell out of here. But there are a lot of very talented musicians here.

Cincinnati has a pretty kickin music scene. a lot of originals clubs and cover bars as well. there is a blues strip downtown. several clubs there and really blues bars all over the S. Ohio and N. Ky area. I haven't been there in 2 years but the town is flat loaded with talent! Not to mention your smack in the middle of, and about 100 miles from Louisville / Columbus / Indianapolis / Lexington / Charleston & Huntington W.V....there's 500 clubs within 2 hours of Cinci. and 2000 within 6 hr.s

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Nothing against moving if thats what you want to do, but if you want to create original music theres no better place than whereever you are in my opinion. If you are really motivated to create music you can do that anywhere.

I live near Memphis Tn and there is a lot of activity in the Midtown Area, theres a club called the Hi Tone that has a real eclectic scene going on. So in my area, I would say Midtown Memphis. But it seems like wherever I go I can find interesting music to listen to or get into.

What Im saying in all this is I wouldnt wait a year to move to get started making music, Id be doing it right now whereever I was.

Does that make sense to anyone? It did while I was writing it but now Im not so sure.

I agree JW! I'm stuck in Kentucky but the music comes wherever you are. however I do appreciate his situation as there are "no" clubs her for original music and I am moving to Cincinnati as soon as I can.

JW you make a valid point. The music must go on wherever you are. I absolutly do plan to continue looking for local musicians and clubs to play in and welcome an opportunity that may change my mind. My problem is'nt nessessarly that there are a lack of clubs to play originals at, but a lack of passionate musicians in general. The whole area seems to be flooded with music and musicians I can't relate with. It just feels like if i want to grow as a musician I need to move on. But as JW said It would be foolish of me to stop until I move.