As one of the rare students on the four-year plan at Iowa State, I’ve seen a lot of people come and go since I was a freshman holed up in the dorms.

I spent an unsuccessful year trying to be a graphic designer, trapped in the God-forsaken Design Building every waking hour. Then I found journalism and landed a job at the paper, where at least two, maybe three, people read my occasional column (hi Mom).

As exciting as that was, I have still found time to make it to a few concerts during college. Now, with only days left at Iowa State, I’ve been thinking a lot about the old times. Ames is a pretty unique place to get your music fix.

From catching the next 35″ Mudder or Mr. Plow show at People’s to skanking to Grubby Ernie at the Boheme (admit it, you’ve skanked too), there was always something new for me to hear when I was a freshman. There may not have been as many bands getting the spotlight as there are these days, but you knew to expect a killer show every time.

Finding bands such as Medulla Oblongata, the Mediocre Superheroes, Pookey Bleum and tons of others, I was constantly surprised by the variety of Ames’ scene — even in comparison to the Dead Moines music I was used to (So, should we go see Slipknot again, catch Smiling Jack or maybe Stone Sour?) And with the next band making a near-run for fame, it’s always interesting to throw a few bets in on who comes out on top.

Today, there are some good bands, but none, Bi-Fi bands excluded, that play local shows enough to really take the Ames crown.

It’s pretty bad when the Veishea Battle of the Bands doesn’t get any Bi-Fi group interested, as they are pretty much guaranteed to win. Sorry, Only — you’re good, but you’re no Mudder. The worst part was the 10 or so pages of complaints on Strangetalk about the selection process. Grow up, kids.

It’s so bad, some groups hardly ever play here anymore, instead choosing the greener grasses of the Des Moines or Iowa City scenes to get away from the constant bickering over who “deserves” to headline a show. Come on boys and girls, can’t we all just get along and be happy for each other?

Fights aside, there is one thing Ames can claim that I bet almost no other campus city can hold a candle to. With enough local bands to annoy every hall of every dorm, you’d think this town would be able to hold a locally owned record store. You’d be wrong, of course, but it’s a logical thought.

After Peeple’s Music shut its door, the only places left care more about Britney Spears than Built to Spill, and I’m forced to either go to the small corner of Day Dreams to pick up some screamo or sift through the used section at Hastings. Its closing came in second on the list of Cyclone city bummers, right behind the day Panchero’s closed.

After locking myself in my room, crying to myself and eating cookies, I finally got over the loss and gave the scene another shot.

I found the fun of Sunday night open mic at the Boheme and even made some time to get a band started. Some forward-looking people took a stab at starting Ames Area Music Group, which sadly did little more than put out a compilation. Justin Means and crew are giving Ames a kick in the keister, though. From putting together the Togetherfests to organizing One Stop Band Shop, the man doesn’t take a break.

It seems as though there are some good things in the works — we’ll have to wait and see.

For better or worse, it’s a new Ames scene. It’s like your smelly, annoying dormmate: You hate every minute of it, but you know you’ll look back at it and remember the good times.