The world of independent music is vast, overwhelming, and totally muddled. In the constant, obsessive search for new music, it is sometimes easier to divide and conquer, as it were. And what better way to divide than using good, old-fashioned geography?

No band is an island: music affects its community, just as the community affects the music. Hometown Heroes is a recurring column devoted to discovering music in its local context. Each issue, we will look at the music community of a different city—: its local legends, its up-and-coming talent, and the labels, record stores, magazines, resources and organizations that contribute to the scene's health and vibrancy. And while a comprehensive overview is unfortunately impossible, we will hopefully get a good sampling of what makes each city so unique.