Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

(Somewhat inspired by Dom's thread about great bands that get no respect)

Which bands seem like they're always on the verge of a major breakthrough into the mainstream, but never quite get there? My pick: The Old 97's. They are terrific when they play live, have a couple outstanding albums in "Fight Songs" and "Satelite Rides," and generally speaking write thoughtful, intelligent, fun, and surreptitiously catchy songs you can find yourself singing without realizing it.

They have a strong following and almost always sell out their shows. Despite all this, you will never hear them on any average Top 40 or Rock stations. All the ingredients are there, but for some reason Superstardom has failed to materialize. Anyone else besides the 97's fit this bill?

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

I'm not sure if this counts, but I think The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion is a good candidate for this. I've only heard a couple of their albums, and never seen them live, but I know they have a devoted following. Orange is an excellent album. I'm sure their concerts kick ass, their drummer rocks the [censored] out of the drum kit.

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

ozomatli

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

Clutch. One of my favorite bands to see live. They have some really good albums and have been together for years but have somehow never reached the next level.

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

Guster, one of my favorites. They keep getting so close.

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

The Tea Party.

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
Guster, one of my favorites. They keep getting so close.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good band, but may not qualify. They've had a couple radio singles.

Modest Mouse - however I just heard one of their songs on the radio a few weeks ago.

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

I think Sunny Day Real Estate is a great example of this.

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
I think Sunny Day Real Estate is a great example of this.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I really liked Diary.
Grant Lee Buffalo is another band that fits the bill.

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Guster, one of my favorites. They keep getting so close.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good band, but may not qualify. They've had a couple radio singles.

Modest Mouse - however I just heard one of their songs on the radio a few weeks ago.

[/ QUOTE ]

Modest Mouse also has songs in car commercials or some crap like that.

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

Mr. Blotto.

not sure if they really want to, though.

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Guster, one of my favorites. They keep getting so close.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good band, but may not qualify. They've had a couple radio singles.

Modest Mouse - however I just heard one of their songs on the radio a few weeks ago.

[/ QUOTE ]

Modest Mouse also has songs in car commercials or some crap like that.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yea,they don't count,the last album went platinum I believe.

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

Blue Period, a glam rock band from San Francisco.

They had a lot of gigs for a while, but broke up last year.

I still have a big time crush on the lead singer Adrian.

http://blue-period.com/gallery/live_.../paradise1.jpg

Shauna

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

O.A.R. - Thread over?

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

These bands were semi-popular, but I wished them more success

Brother Cane
Afghan Whigs

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

Beatles.

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

Porcupine Tree

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
Rutles.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

Poets of the fall

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
Clutch. One of my favorite bands to see live. They have some really good albums and have been together for years but have somehow never reached the next level.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed. Clutch is pretty popular in the Madison area, though.

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

Lucky Boys Confusion

OAR

Guster

edit: looks last the last two have already been mentioned

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

WEEN

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
Mr. Blotto.

not sure if they really want to, though.

[/ QUOTE ]yeah i bet they probably do!

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Mr. Blotto.

not sure if they really want to, though.

[/ QUOTE ]yeah i bet they probably do!

[/ QUOTE ]

POTD

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

The Drive By Truckers

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

I don't understand why the world isn't buzzing for Rhymefest's album to drop. He's got more charisma than like any MC I've heard in a year.

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

Also in that regard Dids, I don't understand how P.O.S.'s Audition isn't the best selling hip-hop album of 2006 (and that POS isn't generally regarded as one of the top five all time, but that's another thread and another day).

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

Sonia Dada

Some live webcast songs...

http://interface.audiovideoweb.com/l...t.wma/play.asx
http://interface.audiovideoweb.com/l...ebcst/play.asx
http://interface.audiovideoweb.com/l...t.wma/play.asx
http://interface.audiovideoweb.com/l...t.wma/play.asx
http://interface.audiovideoweb.com/l...t.wma/play.asx

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

the electric six is a good fit for this category, although gaybar was a single and probably got some radio play. there's lots of detroit bands that could probably be mentioned here. the nadas are an iowa band who is polished enough to get radio play, although i dont think they have.

and those who mentioned guster and modest mouse...wtf?:\

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
The Tea Party.

[/ QUOTE ]

They were huge in Canada - so I don't know if they qualify. But they recently broke up.

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

The Smalls. Pretty big in Canada, but they never got any radio time and little Much Music airplay. They moved to Austin briefly to try to make a go of things there, but disbanded instead when success didn't seem any more imminent there.

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
Also in that regard Dids, I don't understand how P.O.S.'s Audition isn't the best selling hip-hop album of 2006 (and that POS isn't generally regarded as one of the top five all time, but that's another thread and another day).

[/ QUOTE ]

Who?

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

The Eels

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
Lucky Boys Confusion



[/ QUOTE ]

They have the insane ability to sound like 14 different bands on their 14 track cd. I cant tell if this is terrible or not.


Id pick Rx Bandits and add another vote for P.O.S.

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
add another vote for P.O.S.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is this pronounced pozz? Because if it is, I know a forum where he could be huge.

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

Seriously- who the [censored] is P.O.S- I'm reasonably well versed in indie hip-hop and either I'm not realizing what that stands for or I've never heard of them.

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
O.A.R. - Thread over?

[/ QUOTE ]

you suck at OOT

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

OK, reading up. RSE artist that I've never heard of.

I haven't heard a lick of music- but I feel prepared to dislike him.

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

[ QUOTE ]
Mr. Blotto.

not sure if they really want to, though.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just saw them for the first time on Saturday. They were pretty damn good.

Re: Terrific Bands not quite able to break through to the \"Bigtime\"
 

I saw some band called Bedouin Soundclash at a small venue about a month ago. I had never heard of them before, but they were really really good. I guess they were on some MTV2 diary and they have a single..but I've never heard it on the radio and never seen them on mtv. I think they are from Canada.