One of the experiences I’ve always come to dread occurs whenever I lack new music to play on my iPod. Granted, sometimes this period can be a way for me to rediscover old music, but usually it’s a wake up call to start seeking out new bands and songs.

Unfortunately, the lack of new material doesn’t seem to bother Top 40 radio stations, who continue to blast gems like “Party in the USA,” “Boom Boom Pow,” and “You Belong With Me” as if these songs were the only ones left in the world. Fortunately, there are ways of preventing your musical taste from becoming a victim of iPod social Darwinism. With elite bands scheduled to play in Lawrence within the next month at the Granada and the Bottleneck, there’s no excuse to not discover new songs.

Fellow columnists Nicolas Roesler and Ben Coldham have promoted the hip-hop acts coming to Lawrence throughout the semester, but a genre that we often overlook is alternative rock. On Dec. 9, elite rock bands Underoath, Emery and August Burns Red will take the stage at the Granada, while the following night has the likes of Mayday Parade, There For Tomorrow, and The Dangerous Summer at The Bottleneck. Because these venues are willing to book top-notch acts, Lawrence’s music scene continues to thrive.

Even though Emery, Underoath and August Burns Red remain relatively unknown on mainstream airwaves, they're arguably the most popular bands within the post-hardcore and hard-rock scene. As a devoted fan of this genre, the Granada’s show is hardcore rock’s equivalent of having Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, and Chris Brown taking the stage. Having seen these bands before, I can attest that their passion-fueled, heavy rock songs are undeniably intense. The crowd will most likely be jumping from the opening note to the (presumed) encore. All three have released a new album within the past year: Emery with “In Shallow Seas We Sail,” August Burns Red with “Constellations” and Underoath with “Lost in the Sound of Separation.”

Although the following night’s bands do not have as heavy of sound as the Granada’s lineup, they are equally as catchy. Mayday Parade and There For Tomorrow stand out from the lineup. Both are appealing to non-traditional rock fans (i.e. robotic Top 40 listeners) as they possess a more mainstream, yet widely unique sound. Mayday Parade and There For Tomorrow were featured on the compilation “Punk Goes Pop 2" with covers of The Pussycat Dolls’ “When I Grow Up” and Omarion’s “Ice Box,” respectively. A trademark of the pop-punk genre, the bands’ swinging guitar hooks and catchy lyrics are appealing to all fans of alternative rock. Up-and-comers The Dangerous Summer will also put on a good show, having just released their debut album this year.

All of these bands have a MySpace or have songs are on YouTube, so there’s no excuse to not hear any of their songs before the shows. Hopefully, if your music library is becoming stagnant, you’ll take advantage of these remedies in early December.

— Boultinghouse is a Girard sophomore in journalism and history.