Eyes, and ears need training. A photographer can see a beautiful pattern in a heap of scraps, a musician can pick out a subtle difference in pitch that would be impossible for the audience to pick up on.

Travelers are untrained in the sites and sounds of the place they are visiting, especially if they are going for the first time. The more foreign your surroundings the harder it is to identify what you’re seeing or hearing. This unfamiliarity is part of the fun, of course, but just like it is useful to dip your toe in and get familiarity with basic vocabulary (Link) of the language in the country you’re visiting, a little familiarity with local music can go along way in a new place.

Both foreign and domestic travel offer the chance to explore music that you wouldn’t otherwise seek out. Some cities, like New Orleans, Seattle or Memphis, are closely associated with the music that was born or grew up with in their limits. But places not necessarily thought of a homes for music scenes or museums to a musical past can be that much more exciting to uncover.

If you’re going to St. Louis a quick Google search might lead you to a song like W. C. Handy “St. Louis Blues,” a less adventurous traveler might just pick through some old CDs to find a discarded Nelly album. Omaha was the birthplace of Elliot Smith and is the home of Saddle Creek the label that Bright Eyes and Cursive are on. A little music as cultural background can go a long way.

The digital music revolution has made finding the music of whatever place you’re heading so much easier. ...