The most bad-ass band that never quite made it big.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN5E-FYzm8c

To this day, I have no idea how Curve never "made it". What are some of your favorites that never hit big?

You want to hear true American music done by incredible musicians, these are the guys. Great songs, great albums, great singers and players. Butthey never reached the heights that many others did.

2nd choice: The Radiators. NOLA's best rock and roll band. Incredible live band, 100's of songs, but still in the bars.

at the Stage Stop outside Nederland, CO. After that, at Mishawaka up Poudre Canyon, NW of Ft. Collins, CO, and, of course, Telluride Bluegrass Fest. They are/were awesome!

I have seen em about a hundred times or so, and they never fail to blow my mind. I know Vince pretty well now too, he has been a big help with the Non-profit that I run...The Make A Fish Foundation.

Another example that you have there

I've always wondered why.

They've got talent for sure.

I have a feeling that their problem was a lack of "buzz" generated in their behalf

I love them...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Bgov8_SUI

RL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1RfhJzqUtw&mode=related&search=

Along with the Afghan Whigs, many songs that just exude naughtiness!

Sorry man. I wanted to come by the store tonight and check it out, but I'm bagged from putting this stupid desk together today.

Hopefully next week!

the perfect soundtrack to a life gone awry...

I'll be in the store 6-9pm tuesday thru Friday, 12-6 on weekends...

:hi:

RL

"Gentleman" came out at a horrific time in my life; I actually find it painful to listen to, it hits that close to home.

1965 is just sexaaaaay. And came out when I was kicking ass and taking names in a new life, so I find it very fun and listenable.

I'll see what my post-work schedule looks like this week. I always have to schedule a dog walk right after, then I'm ready for adventure.

:hi:

A little ahead of their time. I don't know what happened to them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89SITK-iaFc

They had a few hits, but they faded into
the sunset rather quickly.

They kicked butt!

ya know, you're right.

I forgot how big they were,
once upon a time.

:hi:

~the scars I hide are now your business~

I am a MOST appreciative fan of lyrics...and they have some great ones on the Southern Harmony album...

I have a live cd that's one of my all-time favorites.

they sure did, didn't they!

:hi:

Saw them twice. :thumbsup:

You lucky duck!

I never did get a chance to see them live.

:hi:

I have seen them 3 times in the last year and all are better live shows than what they played 15 years ago. The Crowes new album (first in 7 years) will be out this coming spring.

Do yourself the favor and go see them again next time they come through your town as you won't be disappointed.

I thought the band was kaput after Chris Robinson's
marriage to Kate Hudson.


i will so try to see them, this time around.

They are better that before?!?

Wow- just Wow! :wow:

Thanks so much for the info!!

:hi:

http://blackcrowes.com/

Click on the tab in the lower left corner.

They've got one of the best band websites out there.

:hi:

:hi: :pals:

but it's a weeknight. x(

I may have a conflict with the one night
they are in LA, too.

Bum-Bum- Bummer!

I feel your pain, sistah! :hi: :pals:

and wish I was there. :(


:pals:

http://www.youtube.com/user/fatkidsgottaeat

The above is a selection of audio from his posthumous second album, "The Shaming Of The True." I'm particularly fond of "The Best Laid Plans," "Water Under The Bridge," and "Suit Fugue." The album was completed by Gilbert's friends after his death by using his notes, multitrack masters, DAT demos and live recordings.

Gilbert and his friends were responsible for the success of Sheryl Ho's "Tuesday Night Music Club" album, because they wrote it (contrary to anything Ms. Ho has to say). The TNMC was originally Gilbert and his friends getting together to drink beers and write tunes.

http://www.kevingilbert.com

Nice to see a Pere Ubu mention as well. I love the older stuff, and "Waiting for Mary" is an earworm.

I'd also vote for Fishbone.

The clips are long, but still just clips: http://cdbaby.com/cd/lucky7band

They have been shamelessly overlooked. Madonna gets a nomination for the hall of fame and Steppenwolf hasn't yet. WTF?

*

One of the great underrated albums ever. Also agree with people that listed Govt Mule, Quicksilver and Concrete Blonde.

Oops meant to post this separate from my above post....oh well

Thanks for bringing them back into my memory.

saw em in Albuquerque, and in LA----Pantages theater in Hollywood , along with Los Lobos on New Years Eve about '91... Had the full crew, Steve Berlin and Lee Allen on saxes, Gene Taylor on piano......... Also saw Dave Alvin and the All-Nighters open for Los Lobos in Chicago about' 94... Dave and his pedal steel player came out and did a few songs with Los Lobos for encores, and then John Doe from X saunters(only word to describe it) out onto the stage , and sang Your Cheatin Heart with the whole bunch of em, and sauntered back off the stage. Thank YOU Mike 03 for jogging those memories loose...Now if we can all jog America's memory loose as to what this country is supposed to be... "We got the Lou-siana boogie and the delta blues, we got country swing and rockabilly too, we got jazz, country western and Chicago blues... greatest music that you ever knew---its American music, the whole world digs that sound from the USA..."

I don't think they ever had a 'hit' on the radio. But I love them to this very day. RIP, Gram Parsons.

they were a HUGH!!11 favorite on our college campus. Damn bunch of hippie potheads.:hippie: I still like Chris Hillman.

here's a guy that used to play with a band that I saw a lot in Tallahassee, FL in the early 80's. The band was called Crosscut Saw and they did a kick-ass version of JImi Hendrix's Red House with this guy on guitar. He should definitely be playing to bigger crowds too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50CdzipbVOI

they made it big or not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhwSHw5kpec

They fucking ruled!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought they were big, until Rob decided to go solo of course.

i think that is what you call, "making it"

Love those 2 bands!

Legendary, among musicians and a loyal core of fans. Several members are in Queens Of The Stone Age.

Fuck yeah! Betty was a staple during high school. I actually thought Aftertaste was pretty good, too, but I think I was alone on that one.

I'd also throw Mad Season out there, although that's kind of cheating. Underappreciated album at least...

They were on the bill with bands like Soundgarden and Danzig...

OTW was another punk band in Rockingham.

Dracula Jones was Jeff Jones' hardcore band back in the 90s. That man has talent oozing from his pores. He writes the coolest music and can sing like nobody's business. He has started The Legendary Jones Gang now. You can find them on MySpace with some kickass videos of Dracula Jones as well. I especially love "Falling" and "Wildflowers." "Wildflowers" could be my theme song easily. Hey, Jeff, :yourock:


Ampersand were these legendary hardcore guys in Syracuse who stole my heart and left a mark on my soul when I met them and watched them perform live. If that wasn't their best gig ever, I don't know how much more of the "OMFG, this is fucking great factor" I could take. I fucking loved those guys. Hey, Timmy. :hi:

Plus, Ampersand let Dragonfly use their studio to make our Scream demo. Those guys looked after me and I knew I was 1000% safe when I was with them. They wouldn't let anyone fuck with me. And God help you if you diss punk rock around those guys. Teeth... meet throat. Can't ask for better guys than that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N18q6ondUBw

They should have been huge.

Fly Me Courageous
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3wbdld2vQQ

Honeysuckle Blue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_zQh8UhOMg

Build A Fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JO1VSsfuRI

Drivin N Cryin are still out there peforming. Kevn Kinney..the lead singer has his own solo work as well.

Here is one of his latest songs..
(Welcome to) the Sun Tangled Angel Revival
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP02qzjMV6E

he has a unique voice. and while I like it, I'm sure it is not for everyone. I will have to say though he is a brillant song writer.

At the moment in time they were the best fucking band on the planet.

I admit that they aren't as good in an arena setting since when I saw them a year later in the Dean Dome they were kind of boring.

:hi:

I'm not the only DnC/Kevn Kinney fan here.

:hi:

...I was watching VH1 (It was on the monitor nearest the treadmill I was on) and they played the "Fly me Courageous" video.

And to think I could have competed for the lead singer's heart on VH-1, while he was pouring saliva on everything that was breathing.

:::sigh:::

Oh wait, I guess Poison did make it, I just never cared. LOL.

To really answer your question, there was a club band in SF (rock/alternative) that was good, "7 Karma Fishes" who my girlfriends and I used to go see. Unfortunately, I think they got the "rock star mentality" before the "rock star" paychecks came in. Very talented, but their egos killed them and turned a lot of people off. There is some of their stuff available on YouTube.

way way way underrated... except they sucked

Well, they MADE it big--briefly. Then they were in a kind of semi-obscurity limbo for several years. They didn't STAY big.

But for the talent they still have, for the excellent concerts they still put on, for the vast output of quality tunes and melodies they have put out over the years, and for the huge influence they have been on other bands, I just don't think the boys from Rockford get their props.

Classic rock radio doesn't even play much more than "I Want You to Want Me" and "The Flame."

Classic rock radio doesn't even play much more than "I Want You to Want Me" and "The Flame."

Every now and then they play "Surrender", too. :P

Actually, just yesterday afternoon, classic rock here (105.9 K-POI) played their cover of Fats Domino's "Ain't That A Shame", which totally kicked ass!

They're starting to become more well-known... but not yet. Gotta love their combination of over-the-top cheese with hardcore.

Hard Rock Halleluja
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POO33XjtAws

Blood Red Sandman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkw4jhDE1eQ

Would you love a Monsterman (This one's actually kinda cute... in an evil scary gothy way.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqQhPcCzV60

It Snows in Hell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUmKswpuX5Q

The Devil is a Loser (This one was made in response to them being accused of being 'Devil-Worshippers'... so they just made a new music video/song with the main line being 'The Devil is a loser, and he's my bitch.' :evilgrin: )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWGzjcr4aHs

They certainly deserved more acclaim than they ever received.

they made it big with Joey, though. That whole CD is amazing. I heart Johnnette.

Joey isn't nearly the best thing on it.

and Tomorrow Wendy, which contains one of the greatest couplets ever penned: "I told the priest, don't count on any second coming; God got his ass kicked the first time he came down here slumming." :woohoo:

I don't think there are really any 'bad' songs on that CD. "The Sky is a Poisonous Garden" is kind of campy, but other than that it's pretty solid.

And I love that line in Tomorrow, Wendy as well.

I actually found a Concrete Blonde song on youtube I didn't know about... Dance Along the Edge. Wow.

...I was taking a class a few years ago on vampires (the historical and mythological basis for the beliefs - a fun "filler" class, but very cool!), and on the first day the instructor played "Bloodletting." I liked it so much that I asked him afterward who did the song, which led to the search for the album and then some of their other CDs. Interesting how it works out sometimes.

Yes, I remember hearing one of their songs and falling in love with it instantly. I think it was called "Some Call It Love" or something like that. It was just an amazing song and it's nice to see someone post about them.

Law was great. I saw them many times at local festivals in the early 70's.

Had 1 near hit in the 1990's. A fun and talented band that paved the way for geek rock stars Wheezer.

....know about them. "Birdhouse in your soul" even made it to heavy rotation on MTV and the college radio station I listened to at the time.

Probably the best band I have heard in the last 20 years hands down. It's like they are right on the edge of being "big" all the time, but never quite make the jump to super-stardom. Maybe that's a good thing, a major label might just ruin them anyway.

they would have that break out album.

I remember coming up with ZZ Top being big down her for years before they finally went "Bad, Nationwide" with the Deguello album. I think the problem The Mule has is that in this day and age so much of the nation's musical taste has just gone to shit. Too many people just don't "get it" :(

nobody wants to hear some guy wank on a guitar all night. People are not into music anymore. And the older folks, for the most part, are still listening to what they heard in their youth. And they are the ones that would love Gov't Mule, the ones that like Skynard, Allman Bros, Mountain, led Zeppelin etc. But they would rather listen to the familiar than something new.

I have seen Mule ten or more times and Warren with the ABB or the Dead related bands another fifty or so.. No better guitar player alive. I was at the DEEPEST END show in NOLA and it was only secoend to the Last Waltz as far a incredible conscerts are concerned. From 8 PM to 5 AM. 17 bass players all playing incredible songs. Different styles. But all Warren (matt Abs is a monster on drums too). If you do not have the DVD get it. One fo the top DVD's you can buy.

Mike Farris lead singer. The band didn't make it, and broke up. Farris now on his own, doing some really good stuff. Google both SCW and Mike Farris.. you might enjoy them.

"Fervor" is one of my desert island discs.

And I mean arenas, stadiums, bars, pubs, i.e. all venue sizes and monster tours, etc.

American. Rock.

That about sums it up, huh?

anchored the '80s Athens, GA scene alongside a couple of other bands you've probably heard of -- R.E.M. and the B-52's. Those two made it big, of course, while Pylon pretty much hung around Athens.

best rock n roll band in the US of A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaF_-tirFeU

The Roses actually did quite well in the UK

It's here in the US that we can't recognize genius when we see it.

*

All had some radio hits, but not sure if you can say they "made it BIG". Rancid especially. I've seen em twice and despite a valid knock by some people that they sound a teensy bit too much like the Clash, I thought they were great both times; if anything , even better in 2006 than '97...By the way , I'm a rapidly aging musician doing my best to not be a musical dinosaur, but its getting harder...... Will appreciate, younger, hipper DUers setting me straight on these bands (as far as how much they're considered to have or have not made it big) and any others, for an old guy that loves rock and/or roll, and wants to be open to good music no matter which generation produced it. Have seen some names above I'm not familiar with, will make note and try to check some of em out.

...I would have loved to hear more songs from them other than "Plowed", as good as it was.

and I remember hearing a good one called "Radio Prayer Line" (???) once or twice but that's about it. They came to Albuquerque a couple of times it seems, but wasn't able to go either time. Saw Soul Asylum open for a friend of mine's band in Denver, never thought they got as big as I thought they would, but again, maybe that's just the perspective of an out of touch old guy.

all of them trained at the NYC school of performing arts and they are killer musicians. Their early songs were very feminist and they got guff for it so they made their songs really stupid and meaningless, which wasn't a good tactic either.

speaking of bad-ass, Here is Bad-Ass Bitch
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=168440660

they are the best female band EVER.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRKEErmwo1o

Jesus Lizard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkQwpiaS-rI

Vio-Lence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DrDkkBj95s&mode=related&search=

Voivod

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfpYIPbrcdY

KMD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW17mVZqnjI

From my YouTube search, I guess they are no more :(

Saw them open for The Dead Milkmen at the First Ave in Minneapolis in the early 90s. They rocked pretty hard. Second bank was Mighty Mighty Bosstones. It was a great night.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OhK2WHegWSI

They threw ravioli at the crowd. :shrug:

for my concert (broken on the forehead of the dancer chick). I thought it was a pretty good concert.

Dallas favorites.

The Like, Damone, The Charade, The Format, Gomez, Wussy, etc. The Dollyrots will hopefully take off after "Because I'm Awesome."

:thumbsup:

There are actually quite a few indie bands that should be bigger, and pop singers that are better than much of what is on the radio. I'd have to give it some thought, but I put a few above.

its too late for Badfinger. Their two main songwriter/singers, Pete Ham and Tom Evans, both committed suicide after depression over getting ripped off by bad management.

Bless his heart, Pete Ham, who was one of the most talented singer, songwriter, guitarists of his generation and also a kind, gentle soul, was devastated when the group found out their manager, Sid Polley, had stolen all their money and left them penniless. He committed suicide in 1974. The other band members tried to recover, but their funds were tied up in lawsuits for years. Tommy finally also committed suicide several years later. Mike Gibbins died of natural causes a couple of years ago. The only surviving member, Joey Molland, still has a band with the name, but he's not much of a talent on his own.

Pete & Tommy's songs still get a lot of airplay, especially Without You, which Nilsson made into a huge hit. Pete's "Baby Blue" has been in a lot of movie soundtracks, more recently in The Departed. Their song "Come & Get It" is featured in the latest Saturn, Buick & GM tv ads, though McCartney wrote the original for them.

They have a very loyal fan base still.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Ham

And I thought my poor Dolls had it bad.

There's a very good bio written about the band called "Without You" by Dan Matovina. Well researched.

http://www.mindspring.com/~crimson3/

The Beatles felt badly about it, but they nor Apple were involved in the ripoff. It was a crooked manager believed to have mob connections.

Bless them.

Are.

Whatever.

Their new album is quite good. Have you heard it?

:toast:

..."Dummy" on regular rotation.

Clearly, Just Another Revolution was way ahead of its time. In an equitable world, we'd have gone platinum a thousand times over, instead of breaking up when I moved to Colorado. ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGqprbDoh4g

The most neglected band of the 1990's.

Richard Green on fiddle. Gave himself nosebleeds from playing The Orange Blossom Special so hard. :-)

Testament. They came in the 2nd wave of hardcore speed metal and what made the '2nd wave' so important was the virtuosity of the musicians. Testament had masterful musicians and probably some of the most thoughtful, brilliant guitar solos I've ever heard. The basic structuring of the songs wasn't as complex as say Metallica's Master of Puppets or ...And Justice or some of Megadeth's work (Rust in Peace, Peace Sells), but Testament should have had their place in that they were very competitive to both Metallica and Megadeth and had the chops to boot. And unlike some of the other bands of that era (Exodus, Destruction, Kreator) who I thought blazed a ring of fire up your ass, Testament was more commerical because they had a dude who could actually sing and not growl, puke, or scream (although I like screaming). Testament could pull off breakneck fast thrash bashers with ease yet turn around and do moody slow heavy songs, instrumentals, and even ballads...for my money, the ballads "Return To Serenity", "the Ballad", and "The Legacy" easily destroy what most rockers would call ballads. The music is exceptionally well crafted by some outstandings players with a sound that just didn't get there I guess.

Best. Band. Ever.

Bake

So many people say the NGR was the band that got them into the music. String Cheese Incident, Yonder Mtn, leftover Salmon, Emmylou Harris etc all credit them highly.

And to me that is better than making "IT BIG".

I am not sure what you define as making it "big," but J&MC is probably my favorite band, and most people I know have never heard of them.

by them. I love Psychocandy and Barked Wire Kisses lots. :thumbsup:

That album, Honey's Dead, is my favorite. The other thing I love about their music is that it is easy to play on the guitar.

Thanks for posting--nice to know someone else knows who the hell I'm talking about--lol.

via bit torrent and listened to some live CD with that(catch fire) on it and fell in love with it and played it over and over and over with my headphones on.:smoke: I am familiar with the first few of theirs because I listened to them back when i was a kid in the navy but then stopped awhile back until recently. I haven't even played "honey's dead nor am I familiar with it. I haven't had a chance since the download. I will have to make a priority to check that one out since you claim it as your favorite.

I used to play psychocandy over and over and over when it first came out. :hi:

who appreciates fantastic greatness in a rock band :D

Mark Eitzel is a genius. And probably the greatest songwriter (not named Richard Buckner or Willy Vlautin) alive. If Only For "Western Sky" or perversly, "The Hula Maiden. The band (Tom Mallon, Vudi, and Dan Pearson, and Bruce Kaphan in the Glory Days of 89-94)were perfect conduits to Eitzel's slyly funny (and beautifully melancholy) songs.

Try "California", "Everclear" and Eitzel's solo live CD, "Songs Of Love: Live".

Can't reccomand them enough:

http://www.american-music-club.com/

Really great alternative band in the early 90's but they where overshadowed by the grunge bands.