Attention, incoming freshmen, transfer students and even University Park-ers who may have spent the last few semesters under a rock: This is for you.

Contrary to popular belief, State College does have a music scene beyond the cover bands you'll find in bars and frat houses. Though the Crowbar closed its doors for the last time more than a year ago (and yes, we're still bitter), you can still find an enjoyable show, as long as you know where to look. More importantly, if you dig music, come out to shows. The only way for a music scene to grow (or even to keep from shriveling up) is to support what you have.

The State Theatre

The State Theatre, 130 W. College Ave., re-opened its doors last year, though many excited students quickly found the shows the Theatre booked were out of their price range and, well, out of their interest as well. It seems, though, that the Theatre is beginning to come around. Look for: They Might Be Giants in September, Andrew Bird in October and a few more still to be named during the rest of the fall semester.

Programming Director Joe Apfelbaum wouldn't name names, lest something fall through because of scheduling issues, but he did promise he had a lot of irons on the fire.

"We're really, really trying hard to get shows people have told us they want," he said. "In general, we're going to try to look for the best talent we can find, in music and in film."

Apfelbaum also said because of the response in the summer, the Theatre will be screening independent films more often. With a capacity of 571 people, it offers an intimate setting for movies and music alike.

Roustabout!

Roustabout! tends to be the most consistent source of musical entertainment if only for the sheer number of shows booked. The mid-week 21 and over show has been moved to Bar Bleu, 114 S. Garner St., after a few years at the Darkhorse Tavern, 128 E. College Ave., which Roust promoter Jeff Van Fossan said was simply for a change of pace.

"Bar Bleu is very interested in establishing themselves as an original music venue," he added.
On weekends, Roustabout! shows are usually at Chronic Town, 224 W. College Ave., but Van Fossan said there would also be a few at the State Theatre.

Roustabout! typically books what Van Fossan called "niche music," which includes genres like indie, alt-country, shoegaze, Brit pop and post-punk, among many others.

"It's basically different kinds of underground rock and roll," he said. "I try to be supportive of bands that are making original music."

The twice-weekly show offers a solid mix of original local bands, Roust! regulars from out of town and even some international acts. This semester will also feature the event's first Asian band, Taiwan's 8mm Sky, in October.

Bryce Jordan Center

In the past, the BJC has been criticized for its programming, but this semester holds promise. The venue is the most capable and the most versatile, offering seating arrangements from the upwards of 15,000 people it held for Billy Joel a few years back to the 3,000 or so it will offer for the Guster show in October, which goes on sale today.

It can be hard to schedule shows, BJC Public Relations Director Bernie Punt said, because they have to deal with basketball games, career fairs and alternate programming. In addition to seven dates for Cirque du Soleil, the BJC already has a few acts booked for the semester, with potential for more.

"We will have events going on sale that, hopefully, the students will like," Punt said, noting that he was near finalizing contracts with several acts. "Within days, we could have a very diverse schedule."

Furthermore, and maybe surprisingly, not one will feature a country music act.

Asylum

Though not really a venue, the student-run club Asylum books a handful of small concerts over the course of the semester. In the past, it has usually featured about two a semester, but the club hopes to have three or four concerts in the fall and to offer a more diverse lineup of shows.

They hope to include a hardcore show in November, too, tentatively titled "Thanksgiving Throwdown."

There will be one show in the HUB-Robeson Center, a few in the Pollock Rec Room, and there are talks to have some programming at the State Theatre as well, said Andrew Visnovsky, club president. The goal is to have a show every month; however, Visnovsky said, given the red tape the group must go through to book shows with school money, it could be a difficult task.

Asylum treasurer Lauren Graham, however, said because the group members are more experienced than last year, they've become more proficient at putting the shows together.

"It should be an exciting semester," Visnovsky said.

Sozo

With a capacity of about 200, SoZo, 256 E. Beaver Ave., offers a very intimate setting for smaller punk, indie and acoustic acts. Local acts and smaller touring bands typically frequent the venue, event coordinator Will Snyder said. It is also the choice locale for Nittany Booking, a student-run booking agency that has booked a few good names in the past and promises to grow further, Snyder added.

SoZo is also an international church and home to prayer meetings, as well as a base for several community service organizations.