2008 Rock & Pop Roundup

By Lavinia Jones Wright, Erik Philbrook, Andrew Mantuano and
Erik Tasker

The world of great rock and pop music in 2008 represents so many states, regions, countries and continents (heck, in some cases specific neighborhoods – we're looking at you, Brooklyn!), we thought we'd offer a roadmap highlighting some of ASCAP's top musical attractions both near and far. Of course, you don't actually have to visit any of these places to experience their musical offerings (today's technology takes care of that), but it's worth noting the national and global reach of today's top artists, whether they are flying below the radar or a Grammy-nominated sensation.

NORTHEAST • LCD Soundsystem • My Chemical Romance • Gym Class Heroes • Vampire Weekend • Ingrid Michaelson • The Color Fred SOUTHEAST • Paramore • The Whigs • Band Of Horses • Christopher Denny • Mute Math • Annuals MIDWEST • Plain White T's • The Fray • Bad Veins • Vedera • Motion City Soundtrack • Rise Against • St. Vincent

NORTHWEST • Brandi Carlile • Modest Mouse • Gossip • Menomena • Sera Cahoone • Blitzen Trapper SOUTHWEST • Silversun Pickups • Panic At The Disco • Cold War Kids • A Fine Frenzy • The Killers • Reeve Carney • Airborne Toxic Event CANADA • Feist • Nelly Furtado • Simple Plan • Tokyo Police Club • Midway State • Born Ruffians

EUROPE • Radiohead • Bjork • Sondre Lerche • Calvin Harris • Kate Nash • Bat For Lashes • The Swell Season • Justice DOWN UNDER • Flight Of The Conchords • Love Of Diagrams • Missy Higgins • Lenka • Architecture In Helsinki GOING PLACES • Raine Maida and Chantal Kreviazuk • Lindy Robbins, Jess Cates, and Emanuel Kiriakou • The Weepies • Dave Bassett • Josh Alexander • Jason Reeves