2. music
  3. 124717-80301

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.

arcam88
bondmanp
1,836 posts
 

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.

martykl
3,578 posts
 
OK, so here's three from the NYC punk/new wave club scene ca. 1980 - 

Anyone remember The Shirts?  Lead singer Annie Golden later starred in Milos Foreman's film version of "Hair", IIRC.

Then there was a San Francisco (?) band called Medium Medium with their big song "Hungry, So Angry".

And let's not forget the immortal Love Tractor, maybe from Boston?

A little later on, on the cow-punk bar circuit we got "Momma's Big Iron Skillet", who were great and had some really funny lyrics.  Later still, came BR5-49, from Austin, IIRC.  Along with some great original material, they were the mother of all request taking cover bands.

BTW,

Good list from Bdp (as usual), tho a few of those are a little less obscure than this thread demands, IMO.  However, I'll give you props on the Graham Gouldman/Andrew Gold collaboration.  Who knew?

ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,342 posts
 
A few bands I'd like to see get more recognition...one defunct, two still recording.

No longer active:  The Standard...check out a fine trilogy of albums by them:  Wire Post to Wire; Swimmer; Albatross.

Still active:  Nada Surf...been around a while.  Have been enjoying, The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy; also their, You Know Who You Are.

Also active:  Me Without You.   Try, Pale Horses; Catch For Us the Foxes; or Brother, Sister.  Great album art too.  


loomisjohnson
1,989 posts
 
marty, love tractor was actually an athens ga band, tho sounding nothing like rem--great stuff nonethteless. your reference triggered recall of some other mostly-forgotten athens bands like pylon and swimming pool qs, who still sound pretty contemporary.
staying south, i'll toss in two alabama (mississipi?) jangly guitar bands of particular merit, the primitons and carnival season; both on spotify and well worth checking out
bondmanp
1,836 posts
 

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.

More to discover