Where to live: Memphis, New Orleans, or somewhere else?

I'm currently considering a random move to another city, as I'm really tired of Virginia at the moment. Can someone recommend some cities based on the following interests?:

- rundown, Southern cities
- great museums and/or culture (particularly music related)...I love the whole delta-blues and soul feel of Memphis
- the availability of vegetarian and vegan food (even if only a few places)
- an urban environment, even if only a few hundred thousand people large
- at least a few clubs that get some good outside music (I particularly like garage/psych)
- I generally try to avoid humidity, although I can deal if ncecessary
- I also generally try to avoid huge traffic jams; I can deal, but would prefer to avoid a traffic hellhole like Atlanta
- a few decent record shops
- relatively cheap rent

Finally, my favorite cities I've visited for comparison:

1. Memphis
2. Austin (doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the list, but I loved the colorfulness, wealth of great live shows and food, and found the people to be very nice)
3. Baltimore
4. Richmond, VA (but have lived here all my life)

Basically, I just love Southern culture...not the racist/conservative aspect, but the whole delta down-home feel of rundown urban environments. I haven't been to NOLA, but someone told me that it's like Memphis to an extreme. Any other places I should check into?

<3

i say memphis

I'd suggest visiting NOLA first. A lot of visitors know from the first couple days that that's where they wanna spend the rest of their lives. It's really a wonderful city. I'd flat out recommend it above the others but I just moved away from there possibly for good. I like it a lot more than Memphis (granted i've only spent 2 days there). Also if you're worried about humidity then visit in the summer and see if you can handle it. It's definitely intense but I really like how the whole city kinda slows down on the really hot days.

- I generally try to avoid humidity, although I can deal if ncecessary

Son, you're definitely going to want to rethink Memphis or New Orleans then.

true nuf

new orleans is fucking awesome. it doesn't fit a lot of stuff on your list (vegetarian food, touring bands [tho this is changing], record stores, def humidity) but kyle is right in that you'll know immediately whether or not this town is for you. i've been here 10 years and seriously can't imagine living anywhere else--too many of this city's fucked up tics and quirks have taken root.