Best Music Scene, 2011: Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville boasts some of the best and oldest honky-tonk bars in the world, like Robert's. "You can also buy a new pair of boots there, which is a perk," says Ke$ha. Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney prefers the Station Inn (seen here): "It's an old-school bluegrass venue that feels like a rec room."
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Venues
For hot young bands, hit The 5 Spot (seen here), Exit/In or 12th & Porter. But no venue holds a candle to the Ryman Auditorium, the 119-year-old shrine locals call "God's own listening room."
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Bars
Daytime booze is a time-honored tradition in Nashville. The 12 South Taproom is "perfect for afternoon drinking," says Carney, while the Kings' Caleb Followill hones his shuffleboard skills at Losers. But Nashville's ultimate dive is the Springwater Supper Club & Lounge (seen here). “You never know what’s gonna happen there,” says Cage the Elephant guitarist Lincoln Parish.
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Bars
For ritzier cocktails, rockers hit private clubs like The Spot (an electronic thumbprint scan gets members in) and Citizen. Or dress fancy for $11 cocktails at the classic Patterson House (seen here).
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Restaurants
There are plenty of amazing cheap eats in town: Carney suggests the fried-avocado tacos at Mas Tacos, while Ke$ha recommends the meat-and-three platter at Arnold's – "unless you don't want to suffer a heart attack." The Kings' Nathan Followill swears by "the bison burger with truffle fries" at Burger Up. Jack White and wife Karen Elson are brunch regulars at marché; for fine dining, hit City House (seen here), a farm-to-table haunt that serves moonshine and hosts the Kings, Gillian Welch and Mumford & Sons. Taylor Swift prefers a lighter snack: "I love the Blue Chair granola yogurt parfait at Fido."
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Clothes
Rockers with royalties get customized skinny jeans at Imogene+Willie (seen here), while the rest opt for vintage at the Hip Zipper.
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Clothes
No designer, though, can hold a stitch to the rock & roll and country legacy of Manuel (seen here), who gave Elvis, the Beatles and Johnny Cash signature looks. These days, clients include Jack White, Kid Rock and Bob Dylan.
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Record Stores
Everyone agrees that Grimey's New & Pre-Loved Music (seen here) is the spot for indie and vintage nuggets.
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Record Stores
Well, at least one person disagrees. "Obviously, the best record store is [husband White's office-studio- store] Third Man," says Elson.
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