<p>What's the music scene like at Illinois? Lots of musicians / local bands on campus? I play bass and have played in 3 somewhat-serious bands back home in MD. I like punk, pop-punk, hardcore and ska.... what kinda music scene exists on/around campus? Any cool music stores/venues around?</p>
<p>Illinois…?</p>
<p>Lol…</p>
<p>Well at MARYLAND the music scene is fairly small. The college radio station often hosts local/student bands and you can come in to see them live fairly frequently. Not a lot of pop punk or ska, though…way more offbeat stuff, usually! There’s also a battle of the bands every year and there’s that kinda music but that’s only once a year. </p>
<p>Santa Fe is a bar near campus (walking distance, right on the corner) that has been closed a lot recently but is opening again, and they bring in local acts a lot - Pietasters came recently in fact. But usually the music there is not so good, it’s kinda like a needle in the haystack thing when you get a really good band coming.</p>
<p>In terms of music stores CD Depot is pretty amazing, it’s right up route 1, you can take a bus or car there. Used CDs/DVDs, they have basically everything for mad cheap.</p>
<p>So although offerings are a bit lackluster around campus in that department, luckily U street/etc. are fairly close and on the green line (college park is on the green line fyi). That’s where the 9:30 club is and I’m sure you know lots of musicians/local bands play there ;). And then there’s the black cat (saw suburban legends there this year), the rock and roll hotel (saw esser there, really unexpectedly awesome), the velvet lounge, etc. etc. No shortage of music venues in DC.</p>