While autumn in Columbus is most commonly associated with Buckeye football, this time of year also yields a fecund bounty of live music. From massive arenas to shoebox-sized concert halls and subterranean rathskellers, the ‘614’ is rife with cool music venues. Believe me when I rave about Columbus – I hail from the lowest common denominator, Dayton, where the highlight of the concert season is an evening with Matchbox 20 at good ole’ Hara Arena.

Maybe I’m way too enthusiastic, but my Podunk origins have programmed me to drool over all the live music that Columbus has to offer. So what follows is an unabashed love letter to the wealth of nearby concert venues.

I urge all freshmen and other newcomers to set aside one night this autumn to forego that frat party or session of furtive drinking in your dorm room and check out a local rock show at the Newport Music Hall. Radio station CD 101 hosts a series of “Low Dough” concerts and consistently brings in solid bands. This past year alone, they brought in acts such as Kings of Leon, The Thrills, The Shins, The Killers, and The Von Bondies at cut-rate ticket prices. And on Oct. 8th, Akron’s two-man blues-distortion outfit The Black Keys come to the Newport. I’m so pumped up I’m getting this one tattooed on my body.

Other notable future acts include Death Cab For Cutie, Ambulance Ltd., and Interpol. I urge all of you to head to High Street and start forming a line right now.

There are plenty of other options as well. If you’ve got a hankering for something heavier, Bernie’s on High Street is your spot. Bernie’s is an underground dungeon that delivers no-frills punk rock. If the place reeks of stale beer and body odor, that’s because its patrons dogmatically adhere to those punk rock edicts of yesteryear – no bathing and no light beer. Yup, this is a Pabst Blue Ribbon and Budweiser crowd, so leave your non-domestic pretensions at the doorstep.

Fun fact: this is the only place I’ve ever been where both the audience and the band freely spit on each other. Concerts here are a contact sport, so if you’re the timid type, protective eye wear and elbow pads are recommended.

If you’re looking for a more sedate setting, you might want to check out Andyman’s Treehouse. Stealthily situated in the residential back alleys of Grandview, Andyman’s is like a music speakeasy for local indie pop enthusiasts. Its slogan is “The place that’s hard to find and even harder to leave,” which holds true because Andyman’s routinely hosts some of the most engaging local bands in Columbus.

The atmosphere is intimate as bands play in a room with faux-wood wall paneling and assorted posters reminiscent of the Nintendo room in your childhood home. A titular oak tree stands in the middle of this room and sprouts upward through the roof. Festooned with Christmas lights, the iconic tree imbues Andyman’s with a sense of otherworldliness. The Whiles – fronted by Joe Peppercorn, arguably Columbus’ most talented songwriter – regularly play extensive sets at Andyman’s. This place is also home to what is hands down the best jukebox in town.

If driving out to Grandview is too much to ask, head a mile south on High St. to Skully’s Music Diner or Little Brother’s. Skully’s is primarily a dance club, but also hosts several concerts throughout the calendar year. Skully’s is also a cross-section of all social ilks, which makes for a relaxed and cool atmosphere.

Little Brother’s is just across the street from Skully’s. Formerly known as Stache’s, Little Brother’s has been a Columbus staple for some time now. Two years ago, I saw Doug Martsch of Built To Spill play a solo set here on acoustic guitar. I still can’t believe this concert actually happened – that whole night seemed to occur on a totally different plain.

So there’s a small compendium of some of the cooler concert venues in Columbus. Oh yeah, I forgot about Oldfield’s, Cafe Bourbon Street, Ruby Tuesday’s…

Brad Peters is a junior in English. He can be reached for comment at [email protected].