The urge is growing. You feel that itch for some live music in our humble college town but don’t know where to begin. It’s especially rough for students hailing from New York City where you can encounter live music at almost every street corner.

With the closing of Magic City Music Hall a few weeks ago, Binghamton University students may find themselves searching for local live music. Once again, Release comes to the rescue and hopefully can guide you in the right direction.

Sometimes you don’t have to put that much effort into finding a show. Just keep your eyes and ears open. Many parties hosted by students double as shows for local and student bands. Just ask Griff Honsinger, a local musician and student.

“Parties are the most fun to play,” Honsinger, a senior marketing major, said. “There’s alcohol, typically less restrictions and a more chaotic atmosphere.”

Brendan Dunn, another musician and student, echoed the statements of Honsinger.

“With Broverdose, we’ve been playing house parties really,” Dunn, a senior human development major, said. “But we’ve only been around for about a semester.”

Leaving campus isn’t really even necessary to see some local bands. According to Dunn, his former band, Party Edition, played numerous shows on campus during their run.

“We played the Undergrounds a lot; they are really supportive of campus bands,” Dunn said. “Our guitarist was a member of CARP, so we played their ‘Cultural Fusion’ nights and other events like ‘Dragon Night’ and ‘China Night.’”

Maybe you want to get out of Binghamton for a couple of hours. Or possibly you want to see what other areas have to offer. Shows in neighboring cities may be a great opportunity for you to check other types of local music. Out-of-town shows also help a band expand their audience, Honsinger said.

“You can’t stay in the same city and expect anyone from out of town to know about you,” Honsinger, the bass player of Binghamton’s own The Jims, said.

Honsinger said The Jims play most of its shows in the Binghamton area, but have been working to find new locations now that Magic City is gone.

“Magic City had a good sound system, so it always sounded good playing there,” Honsinger said. “But it all depends on the type of crowd and amount of people there. It’s more fun to play to a packed bar or party than an almost empty large venue.”

Honsinger stated that the Voodoo Lounge in Binghamton has now become a popular site for local tunes. The self-proclaimed “Binghamton NY’s Newest and Best Place for Live Rock and Roll” holds numerous shows for local bands, according to their MySpace page. Justin Sherwood of Binghamton Shows, a promotion company, said that the Voodoo Lounge offers students some of the local scene.

“They host shows of all genres,” Sherwood said. “Plus the place is stylish, with a nice pool table, comfy seating, an outdoor patio. It has a lot of space for big crowds with a nice wide stage and good sound, and for those that enjoy a drink or two, the bar is exceptional.”

Dunn and Honsinger agreed that you may have to look beyond the surrounding areas for some quality music. What’s their answer? Manhattan.

“I don’t really see shows around here too often because the more mainstream bands neglect this area of the world,” Dunn said. “When I’ve gone to shows, they have involved road trips to New York City.”