By Pat Sisson
As the recent closing of CBGBs in New York demonstrated, inspiring music isn't always just about the people making it. It's also about the people and places supporting it. The right venue can become an incubator for talent and make its own deep mark in music history. Identifying the 10 rock clubs in America fulfilling this mission best was tough. Many cities have cool venues with distinct personalities that support local music, but the best also have adventurous lineups and exercise just enough pull to draw up-and-coming touring acts. After consulting with musicians, music journalists and industry insiders, we tagged these 10 sonic hotspots (listed in alphabetical order) as the ones booking the most exciting and forward-thinking acts. Stop by most nights and you'll probably end up saying, "I saw them when..." in the very near future.
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