The recession is raging. With national unemployment at a 10-year high of 8.1 percent, and the Dow Jones Industrial average nearly halving itself since its all-time high just 20 months ago, there are feelings of doom and gloom in just about every industry.

Except live music.

Even as the recession deepens, the Georgia Theatre seems to be getting bigger and bigger.

With bands like Perpetual Groove, Keller Williams, Sister Hazel, Citizen Cope and Sound Tribe Sector 9 selling out concerts since January, the Theatre almost seems recession-proof.

“I’ve had a great year,” said Wil Greene, owner and operator of the Athens music venue. “I think that as times get tougher, bigger bands will start booking shows at venues this size. I feel that this size venue is as large as you can get and still get that real concert experience. And larger bands, like Sound Tribe, know they can drop down to a venue this size and absolutely destroy it.”

It’s not just the Theatre that is surviving the troubling economic times.

BoomBox, the jam-tronic duo of Russ Randolph and Zion Godchaux from Muscle Shoals, Ala., has been successfully working the road since 2004.

“We’ve actually seen an influx of new faces at our shows,” said Godchaux, backstage after a sound check at the Theatre. “Music is medicine, and people need their medicine now more than ever.”

Randolph said, “There have been a couple of really cool venues that have had to close down, but that’s really the worst we’ve seen. Things change so quickly in this scene, the key is to always be growing. The average concert go-er is much savvier than they were a few years ago, and I think that’s a trend that’s going to continue. I think you’re going to start seeing shows become much more of a production, incorporating lights and digital displays more. Generally taking the show to the next level.”

“At least,” he added with a grin, “that’s what we’re planning on doing.”

Perhaps that’s the key to weathering the economic storm – adapting to the demands of the market, before there’s even a demand.

Singer-songwriter and Georgia alumnus Wesley Cook said he thinks there might be some truth to that.

“If it was up to me, I’d live on the road. I love touring, and I couldn’t be happier if that was the best way to reach out,” Cook said.

“Unfortunately, that’s just not the best way to do it anymore. I find myself using social networking sites a lot to reach out to people. It can be hard to find the capital to record or support a backing band properly … But if you believe in your music and can get others to believe in it too, you can make it happen.”

It appears live music is going to survive this recession.

Lessons to be learned for less-fortunate industries: belief in the product is vital, and staying a few steps ahead of the curve keeps consumers in hot pursuit.