Despite its high-volume offerings, the hardcore/heavy metal club The Jinx (127 W. Congress St., 912/236-2281, www.thejinx.net, Mon.–Sat. 4 p.m.–3 a.m.) is a friendly watering hole and probably the closest thing Savannah has to a full-on Athens, Georgia, music club. Shows start very late here, never before 11 p.m. and often later than that. If you’re here for the show, bring earplugs.

The other live rock club of note in Savannah is Live Wire Music Hall (307 W. River St., 912/233-1192, www.livewiremusichall.com, Mon.–Thurs. 4 p.m.–3 a.m., Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–3 a.m.). The music—which is every bit on par with what the Jinx offers—is on the ground floor, while the second floor has a bar and a few pool tables.

Savannah’s undisputed karaoke champion is McDonough’s (21 E. McDonough St., 912/233-6136, www.mcdonoughsofsavannah.com, Mon.–Sat. 8 p.m.–3 a.m., Sun. 8 p.m.–2 a.m.), an advantage compounded by the fact that a lot more goes on here than karaoke. The kitchen at McDonough’s is quite capable, and many locals swear you can get the best burger in town here. Despite the sports bar atmosphere, the emphasis here is on the karaoke, which ramps up every night at 9:30 p.m., and a very competent group of regulars never fails to entertain. The crowd here is surprisingly diverse, racially and socioeconomically mixed, featuring lawyers and students, rural folks and Rangers in equal numbers.