If you want to do something fun and get out of town for a few hours head for the state's capitol and enjoy these Columbus area entertainment options.

Death Cab for Cutie

• When: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8
• Where: Lifestyles Communities Pavilion, 405 Neil Ave., Columbus
• Directions: Take I-70 East toward Columbus. Veer left on I-670 East. Take Exit 3 toward Neil Avenue. Merge onto Spruce Street. Turn right on Neil Avenue.
• Cost: $32 (advance), $35 (day of show)
• More info: (614) 461-LIVE or www.promowestlive.com
• The Scoop: This super-acclaimed indie rock band released its sixth album, "Narrow Stairs," last May. "Stairs" is a departure from Death Cab's usual style, favoring dark, bloody despair over the serene camaraderie of their previous albums.
• Verdict: Death Cab has been producing high-quality, original alternative rock since 1998's "Something About Airplanes."
• Worth the trip?: Generally, Death Cab has been well-received by fans and critics, though quite a few of the former were up in arms over 2005's "Plans." Death Cab once received the label, "American Coldplay," though what was a compliment five years ago might be interpreted as an insult today.

Trivium, All That Remains

• When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9
• Where: Newport Music Hall, 1722 N. High St., Columbus
• Directions: Take I-70 East and veer left on I-670 East. Take Exit 2B onto OH-315 North. Take the Medical Center Drive/King Ave./Hospital exit. Turn left on Cannon Drive. Turn right on West 12th Avenue. Turn left on North High Street. Newport Music Hall will be on the right.
• Cost: $17 (advance), $20 (day of show)
• More info: (614) 294-1659 or www.newportmusichall.com
• The Scoop: All That Remains is a metalcore act supporting its fourth album, "Overcome," which was released last month. Trivium is a classical-style metal band, who, coincidentally, also released a fourth album ("Shogun") in September.
• Verdict: All That Remains hit its breakthrough with the last album, "The Fall of Ideals, "produced by Killswitch Engage guitarist (and highly entertaining whack job) Adam Dutkiewicz.
• Worth the trip?: A nice blend of the old and the new. While All That Remains, like most metalcore acts, mix clean vocals with their heavy vocals, Trivium is an old-school grinder whose preoccupation with Dark Age history and mythology recalls Iron Maiden (only much heavier).

The Black Keys

• When: 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9
• Where: Lifestyles Communities Pavilion, 405 Neil Ave., Columbus
• Directions: Take I-70 East toward Columbus. Veer left on I-670 East. Take Exit 3 toward Neil Avenue. Merge onto Spruce Street. Turn right on Neil Avenue.
• Cost: $22 (advance), $25 (day of show)
• More info: (614) 461-LIVE or www.promowestlive.com
• The Scoop: This Akron-based, blues-rock duo has just released a fifth studio album, "Attack & Release."
• Verdict: The Black Keys are immensely popular with critics and music lovers. They've been compared to The White Stripes and Robert Plant, and have toured with the likes of Sleater-Kinney and Beck.
• Worth the trip?: Oh, and Metallica's Kirk Hammett likes 'em, too. How's that for a closer?

Professional Bull Riders Rocky Boots Invitational

• When: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10; 7:50 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11
• Where: Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd., Columbus
• Directions: Take I-70 East to Columbus. Take the Fourth Street exit and continue onto Fulton Street. Turn right on Front Street. Look for the signed parking garage entrances.
• Cost: $10-100
• More info: (614) 246-2000 or www.nationwidearena.com
• The Scoop: The nation's top 45 bull riders will risk their lives for your amusement
• Verdict: Professional Bull Riders, Inc. was the brainchild of several professional bull riders who wished to break away from the traditional rodeo scene. They felt that, since bull riding was the most popular and dangerous event of the whole circus, it deserved to stand alone under the big lights.
• Worth the trip?: Since then, the organization has attracted sponsors, major network attention and riders from all over the world. The annual prize money is up to $10 million.

The Blind Boys of Alabama and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band

• When: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8
• Where: Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St., Columbus
• Directions: Take I-70 East toward Columbus. Take the Fourth Street exit and turn left. Turn left on State Street. The Ohio Theatre will be on the left.
• Cost: $22.50 to $42.50
• More info: (614) 469-0939 or www.capa.com
• The Scoop: Two acclaimed acts will share the stage for the first time. The Blind Boys are a Grammy-winning gospel act, and the PHJB specializes in New Orleans jazz.
• Verdict: The Blind Boys have been at the top of the gospel charts for a long time, and were recently inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame. The PHJB recently received a National Medal of the Arts from the NEA.
• Worth the trip?: Might go a long way toward relieving the guilt of those of you who quietly donated nothing to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Margaret Cho

• When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11
• Where: Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St., Columbus
• Directions: Take I-70 East toward Columbus, and veer left on I-670 East. Take Exit 2A for US-33. Continue toward OH-315 South. Take the US-40/Broad Street exit. Turn left on West Broad Street.
• Cost: $27-$40
• More info: (614) 469-0939 or www.capa.com
• The Scoop: Korean-American comedian Margaret Cho's latest tour coincides with her new series on VH1, "The Cho Show."
• Verdict: Cho's comedy addresses social and political issues. She is a vocal critic of George W. Bush and the religious right, and has been recognized for her work in promoting female empowerment and gay rights. While shooting her short-lived sitcom in the early 1990s, she had a "Hollywood Shuffle" moment when producers announced that her demeanor was insufficiently Asian.
• Worth the trip?: With Election Day getting close and passions running hot, Cho is certain to provide a cathartic outlet for those who share her sympathies. Conservatives are welcome, too, of course, but please leave the guns at home.

Compiled by Aaron Epple

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