Obscure bands

Does anyone know a band called City Boy? (70's/80's)Very obscure and very original. It's beyond Me how such great talent goes so unnoticed! Also please chime in on other obscure talented musicians.

arcam8805-15-2016 3:07pm

Showing 14 responses by bondmanp

bondmanp Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,789 posts 05-19-2016 at 01:15pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete arcam88: The Tubes are obscure? White Punks on Dope was a high school and college anthem in the mid-to-late 1970s. Everyone I knew, knew that song. WPOD!!!
bondmanp Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,789 posts 05-17-2016 at 01:39pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I used to do the underground club scene in NYC back in the early 80s. Lots of bands that were unsigned, or on labels like Stiff. Also used to listen to NYU radio (WNYU) - "The New Afternoon Show", which showcased obscure artists, and dropped them like a hot potato if they got signed to a major label (it's still on the air, and AFAIK, still has the same playlist policy). Other fave obscure bands: Robin Lane and the Chartbusters Drill Vixtrola Fire Engines VKTMS Rip, Rig & Panic The Higsons Blotto Richard Hell and the Voidoids Lydia Lunch Thee Headcoatees The Reverend Horton Heat (I don't think this band is obscure, but nobody ever seems to have heard of it) Sleater-Kinney Spinanes Frogpond Curve Looker B Bang Cider The Amps Cats & Jammers Rogers Sisters Pee Shy Pig Bag The Histrioniks Thermals Failure ... and dozens more from the late 1970s to the present that I cannot recall right now. There is so much great music that I have yet to discover and hear!
bondmanp Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,789 posts 05-18-2016 at 01:18pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete loomis: If you like the Spinanes, you will likely enjoy a lot of Riot Grrl bands. Frogpond in particular, The Amps, and 100 Watt Smile should ring your bell. Looker is more recent, but excellent in this genre. The Dishes is a great B-52s style band with original material. There are so many bands from the 1990s and on that flew mostly under the radar. A good internet radio station and Pandora are good ways to explore. Start on Pandora with something like 100 Watt Smile, and you should end up hearing all sorts of great bands that you might never have heard of.
bondmanp Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,789 posts 05-19-2016 at 01:12pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I dunno. I have to say that if a band is signed to a major label, and has some charting singles, I think that means they are not obscure. The fact that I know 60% of the bands people are listing here suggests to me that they are not really obscure. Now, gnostalgick, aside from having a very difficult member name, has an excellent list. I haven’t heard of one single band on it, save Antony & the Johnsons and Husker Du. Bravo. gnostalgick: What genre of music would you put these bands in? If the genre appeals to me, I will explore these bands. Thank you.
bondmanp Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,789 posts 05-19-2016 at 06:36pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete gnostalgick - Thanks for the very helpful info. I am well acquainted with Talk Talk (saw them on the peer in NYC when they opened for Elvis Costello, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth), and Japan. Funny story about Japan. I was at a record show and saw an early LP by Japan that I was unfamiliar with, so I bought it (for $3). What a dissappointment. Apparently, before Japan went all New Romantic, they tried their hands at Hair-band/Arena rock garbage. What a waste of $3.
bondmanp Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,789 posts 05-20-2016 at 02:45pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Martykl: I for sure remember the Shirts. I have a few of their recordings (dubbed from LP to cassette!). I also think I have the Medium Medium LP with So Hungry, So Angry. Another band from that era is Bush Tetras, who also were a sort of punk-funk band with female vocalist. How about Colourbox? Really great soul/punk/funk/lounge type British band from the early 1980s. Colourbox's lead singer could have been the inspiration for Amy Weinhouse. This has turned into a very fun thread.
bondmanp Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,789 posts 05-27-2016 at 02:41pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Ooh! Ooh! I just remembered - band called Tribe. (Not Tribe called Quest or anything else, just Tribe.) Great Boston area alt band from the 90s with excellent female vocals and great song writing skills. AFAIK, only two CDs were released.
bondmanp Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,789 posts 05-31-2016 at 03:49pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete yup, nothing says "I'm a pretentious loser metal poser" like cookie monster vocals!
bondmanp Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,789 posts 06-06-2016 at 01:20pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete slaw - The Thermals are great! I have 2 or 3 of their CDs.
bondmanp Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,789 posts 06-27-2016 at 11:53am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete infection - If you refer to my highly opinionated statement regarding "Cookie Monster" vocals, I was attempting to state that such vocal affectations remove, for me, any semblance of genuine emotion from a performance. If you enjoy such vocals, more power to you. You know what they say about opinions. And nothing brings out people's opinions like musical preferences.
bondmanp Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,789 posts 07-11-2016 at 11:59am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete astro58go: I just heard Julie Ruin this weekend on a great web radio station (maybe we're listening to the same station?). Totally awesome!
bondmanp Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,789 posts 07-26-2016 at 03:41pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Just remembered - Furslide - a great alt band from the late 90's. AFAIK, they only had one album, and it is one of my favorites.
bondmanp Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,789 posts 08-17-2016 at 11:51am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I just pulled out an LP (perhaps the only LP) by The Passions, a British female-led New Wave rocker from the early 1980s. Great album.
bondmanp Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,789 posts 11-07-2016 at 12:37pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Drill - a single CD featuring the female vocalist from KDMFM. One of my favorite CDs (although the production values are not great).

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