NRBQ was the big local band when I was in college in the 80s. They never made it big but did make a Simpson’s episode. That’s big time. Reminds me of how REM was also big on the college circuit at the time but then they broke big. Funny has some bands breakthrough and others stay underground.
One of my favorite bands, one that many have never heard.
Let’s remedy that right now. Here’s NRBQ on TV performing their version of the Rockabilly song "I’ve Got A Rocket In My Pocket), recorded by Jimmy Lloyd Logsdon (think he’s from the South?
) in 1958:
https://youtu.be/-d5Hdqyjj5o?si=3iELCJIsqyBfdAJc
By the way, bassist/singer/songwriter Joey Spampinato is Keith Richards’ favorite bassist. He offered him the job of replacing Bill Wyman when Bill quit The Stones, and Joey turned him down! He DID accept the job of playing in the band Keith assembled to back Chuck Berry in the live performance seen in the movie he made about him.
Pianist/singer/songwriter Terry Adams is obviously no "normal" keyboard player. Along with all the Rock ’n’ Roll guys, his influences also include the likes of Sun Ra and Thelonious Monk. A great live peformer!
And here’s the studio recording of the song by one of my favorite singers, Lou Ann Barton:
https://youtu.be/6r0cXbFGi_U?si=AGnz4fVf03y0oRex
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@bassbuyer: Yeah, if record company owners could figure out how to know which bands and/or solo artists were going to capture the hearts and minds of the general public their jobs would be much easier. My musical taste runs to cult-level music makers, so I get to see them live in smaller clubs, which I prefer anyway. But though they have to slog around the countryside more for a smaller payoff, cult artists often have longer, more musically productive careers than do those who rise to the top of the entertainment business, often falling back down as fast as they rose. There are a lot of "Whatever happened to?" musical acts around.
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Here’s a clip of the current NRBQ line up performing a song from the band’s early days, found on the album they did with Carl Perkins. I love the Telecaster playing of guitarist/singer Scott Ligon. When I saw them live at a club in Portland a coupla years back, Steve Berlin of Los Lobos joined the band onstage to add his sax playing to the sound. Steve currently lives in Portland.
https://youtu.be/5KItRaAK9GI?si=hqHif0pUySupCv-i
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