Students at Clemson University are officially over the hump. It’s the halfway mark and most everyone is finished with midterms and they are slowly pulling out of their sleep-deprived, brain-fried walking comas induced by midterms. So, as students are looking for a change of pace I’ve got a word of advice: Take a break and make a trip.

Campus events are in somewhat of a post-midterm lull and are centered on study workshops and lectures. Therefore, this is the perfect opportunity to gather some friends, pitch in some gas money and venture outside of Clemson for a taste of the nearby music scenes. In the coming week there are at least three great events all within a 2 hour or less driving distance from Clemson.

On the Atlanta side of things, Hot Chip will be at the Variety Playhouse today. Anyone familiar with Hot Chip knows that the show is guaranteed to please, and for anyone who is not familiar with Hot Chip all you need to know are three things: dark, dance pop. Up-and-comers Growing open, the show is $25 in advance, and the show starts at an early 8:30 p.m.

On the Asheville, N.C., front, the gratuitous crowd pleaser known as Girl Talk will be at the Orange Peel on Tuesday. Girl Talk (which is actually only one guy) has spent the past few years tearing up clubs and venues across the country with his now infamous pop music mash-ups. Put it this way, his latest album “Feed the Animals” uses more than 300 music samples in less than 50 minutes. Relatively unknowns Grand Buffet and Heart of Darknesses open the show, tickets are $15 in advance/$17 the day of, and doors open at 8 p.m.

Finally, on the closest front, Athens, Ga., Chunklet Magazine is having its 15th Anniversary Shindig Extravaganza Event running Friday and Saturday at the 40 Watt Club. Both nights boast a team-up of music and comedy as Friday night showcases Deerhunter and Brent Weinbach and Saturday night hosts Mastadon and Brian Posehn. So, if you’re an indie fan go the first night and if you’re a metal fan go the second. Or, if you are a deeply conflicted individual, go both nights. Advance tickets are $8 Friday and $20 Saturday or $2 more each if you buy the day of. Both shows start at 9 p.m. and Friday has a couple of local openers.

So, enjoy the week after exams and maybe treat yourself to a road trip. Or don’t leave and just enjoy a quiet week in Clemson. Either way, events will be picking back up sometime very soon.