# Band names easily confused for one another **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 29, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977 "2009-09-29T15:18:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977/1 "2009-09-29T15:18:21Z")
I’m sure we’ve had threads about soundalike bands; I’m looking for bands that are hard to keep straight because their names are similar. My example is tough to beat, because they are the same genre (modern punk, I guess). Their music sounds somewhat alike, but I always mix up **Against Me!** and **Rise Against**. (For a third band that could kinda fit with these two but is not quite as bad, there’s Anti-Flag.) Any other examples? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977/2 "2009-09-29T15:30:12Z")
[Gypsy](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:39fpxqr5ld0e~T1) and [Gypsy](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0cfpxq80ldae). Both groups were active at about the same time (first albums 1970 and 1971, respectively). The latter group was from the UK, so was billed in the US as “English Gypsy.” I wouldn’t be surprised if the name confusion hurt their careers. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977/3 "2009-09-29T15:34:02Z")
My favorites in this category are _Three Days Grace_, _Three Doors Down_ and _Third Eye Blind_. Similar styles, although not identical. They also all became popular at roughly the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977/4 "2009-09-29T15:42:10Z")
The Who and The Guess Who ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977/5 "2009-09-29T15:46:19Z")
Unrest and Unsane. One of these bands has a video that is nothing but clips of skaters hurting themselves, but I can’t remember which it is. ---
**Author:** ![BKReporter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@BKReporter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BKReporter)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977/6 "2009-09-29T15:49:11Z")
The Verve and the Verve Pipe, even though their music styles are very different. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977/7 "2009-09-29T15:53:42Z")
Nickelback and Nickel Creek, somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977/8 "2009-09-29T15:59:55Z")
> [@Indyellen](#): > > My favorites in this category are _Three Days Grace_, _Three Doors Down_ and _Third Eye Blind_. Similar styles, although not identical. They also all became popular at roughly the same time. Not really popular at the same time… Third Eye Blind - 1997 Three Doors Down - 2000 Three Days Grace - 2003 ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977/9 "2009-09-29T16:00:58Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > [Gypsy](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:39fpxqr5ld0e~T1) and [Gypsy](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0cfpxq80ldae). Both groups were active at about the same time (first albums 1970 and 1971, respectively). Funny how, according to the bios, the American Gypsy was inspired by British prog-rock, while the British Gypsy was inspired by the '60s San Francisco bands. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977/10 "2009-09-29T16:13:20Z")
Back in the Seventies, any time I mentioned the British folk-rock band Steeleye Span, people invariably assumed I meant Steely Dan. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977/11 "2009-09-29T16:15:39Z")
There’s **Dream Synicate** , **Dream Theater** , and The **Dream Academy** (not to mention **Dreams So Real** , **Tangerine Dream** , and **Eleventh Dream Day** ). I’m off to listen to some REM Speedwagon… ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977/12 "2009-09-29T16:22:37Z")
Black Crowes and Counting Crows. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977/13 "2009-09-29T16:26:24Z")
_The Cure_ and _The Cult_. Not exact sound-alikes, but both from the same era. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977/14 "2009-09-29T16:27:50Z")
> [@Indyellen](#): > > My favorites in this category are _Three Days Grace_, _Three Doors Down_ and _Third Eye Blind_. Similar styles, although not identical. They also all became popular at roughly the same time. Let’s not forget Seven Mary Three and 311. The proliferation of ‘threes’ and such in the music scene befuddled me. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977/15 "2009-09-29T16:32:03Z")
In the days of hair bands there was White Snake, White Lion and Great White. Not being a fan of the genre I could never tell them apart. I think one of them might have been foreign. I also get the Pixies and the Pogues mixed up. And don’t get me started on Radiohead and Machine Head. I know one of them has a homely lead singer. Oh wait . . . ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977/16 "2009-09-29T16:34:51Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > _The Cure_ and _The Cult_. Not exact sound-alikes, but both from the same era. And, from that same era, The Call. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977/17 "2009-09-29T16:35:16Z")
Everlast and Everclear. Everclear was top billed at our local huge musicfest last year. I was really confused about why they chose them/him–kinda depressing. I was much relieved when I realized it was Everclear and not Everlast. Ironically, the headliner this year was Third Eye Blind. And Uncle Kracker played too, while last year, we had Cracker. > [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Not really popular at the same time… > > Third Eye Blind - 1997 > Three Doors Down - 2000 > Three Days Grace - 2003 Splitting hairs. That’s about the same time, assuming you’re older than 18. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977/18 "2009-09-29T16:37:53Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Let’s not forget Seven Mary Three and 311. > > The proliferation of ‘threes’ and such in the music scene befuddled me. You forgot about Three Dog Night. And whenever people start complaing about the Dave Matthews band I always think, “But I liked The Joker…” ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977/19 "2009-09-29T16:44:21Z")
I always get [The Orb](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Orb) and [Orbital](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_(band)) mixed up. Thankfully, the odds are extremely low that I’d ever wind up on Jeopardy with “British Electronica Bands of the 90s” as a category. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977/20 "2009-09-29T16:51:26Z")
I always mix up \*\*Cowboy Mouth \*\*and **Cowboy Junkies**. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-names-easily-confused-for-one-another/511977.md?page=2)