# Bands/Artists you like but have never heard on the radio **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 26, 2004, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181 "2004-10-26T02:58:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181/21 "2004-10-26T15:45:39Z")
Annwn is a recently disbanded Celtic rock band in the SF bay area. Great group, lots of good songs, but I’ve never heard them on the radio, not even the local stations. They are on a independent label called [Elfhill Music](http://www.elfhill.com/). You can listen to some downloads from their last album, _Anarchy & Rapture_ on Amazon. Pity really. I like their next-to-last album, _Come Away to the Hills_, much better. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181/22 "2004-10-26T15:51:54Z")
I heard Modest Mouse’s “Float On” on the radio once around here (DC area). ---
**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:** [October 26, 2004, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181/23 "2004-10-26T16:35:38Z")
> [@Mudshark](#): > > Frank Zappa - I know that they play him on the radio somewhere, but I’ve never heard it. Possibly in WPLJ in New York. 🙂 It depends on how you define “radio.” Most of my favorite groups could be found on college radio and FM radio in the 70s. But you don’t hear them nowadays. I’d say the biggest group not to get any airplay of all currently is the Band. They were one of the top ten groups in the early 70s, but never had a hit single, so you don’t hear them anywhere any more. And it’s not like their music is dated or anything. If you counted local groups, I’d include the McKrells (Celtic bluegrass 🆒 ). And some other great (though not commercial) musicians: Otis Taylor Deborah Coleman Siegel Schwall Band Bonzo Dog Band Tom Lehrer ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181/24 "2004-10-26T16:44:49Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > And ones I’ve only heard a couple of songs from so far but are promising > > … > McLusky (“Without MSG I’m Nothing” rocks in a bizarre, bizarre way) > … Great band, but since a lot of their other stuff sounds like someone throwing a handful of magnetic poetry at a wall and then singing it with tourettes like invections of profanity, you won’t hear much of it on the radio. That said, go out and buy McLusky Do Dallas. ---
**Author:** ![sleeepy2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@sleeepy2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeepy2)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181/25 "2004-10-26T16:51:53Z")
Supergrass My Morning Jacket (incidentally, the world’s best live band) Built To Spill Neutral Milk Hotel I should go check my iPod, there’s tons more… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181/26 "2004-10-26T16:53:23Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > I heard Modest Mouse’s “Float On” on the radio once around here (DC area). Meanwhile, here in Chicago you can’t get away from it. I swear that song and Franz Ferdinand’s “Take Me Out” is on a neverending loop on WXRT (93.1). ---
**Author:** ![mbacko1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@mbacko1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbacko1)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181/27 "2004-10-26T16:54:45Z")
## Never Heard on the Radio King Crimson Spock’s Beard Porcupine Tree - my favorite band Braindance Marillion (the older stuff) ## Maybe once or haven’t heard them in years on the radio Dream Theater - haven’t had any play since 1993 Ben Folds - I’ve heard Brick years ago, nothing recently Tori Amos - Used to hear her all of the time in the early-mid 1990s, nothing now ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181/28 "2004-10-26T16:59:00Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Meanwhile, here in Chicago you can’t get away from it. I swear that song and Franz Ferdinand’s “Take Me Out” is on a neverending loop on WXRT (93.1). And does it count if I saw the video for that at Target once? ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181/29 "2004-10-26T18:28:03Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > Being a headbanger, it’s not so much that bands I like don’t get airplay, as my two or three favorite styles of music will _never_ see airplay. No point in making a list–it’d be damn near everything in my CD collection. Long long ago (ok, five years) we had the most blissfully wonderful indie radio station here that played all kinds of stuff you would never hear on the radio. I’m betting that some of your CD collection was in their rotation, because metalheads all over Indianapolis sat down and cried the day they got bought out. Ah, Rock 107, we barely knew yee. Have you ever listened to the internet station Tundra Trash? They play all the cool metal and other heavy stuff. Check it out. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181/30 "2004-10-26T18:52:05Z")
Being from NB, Canada, I heard lots of **Sloan** and **Moist/Dave Usher** on the radio. 🙂 I haven’t heard that much of either on the radio lately, though since moving to Seattle, I have few complaints, as I hear a much wider variety and receive far more radio stations than I did back in my small town. And there’s a cool little college station that plays dance/techno music, so I get to hear one of my favourites, **Assemblage 23** , often, as Tom Shears seems to be a favourite of theirs, as well. A few bands I adore but never hear on the radio, ever, are: **Air** , **Stereolab** , **Postal Service** , **Aphex Twin** , and **Her Space Holiday**. I’m sure there are many more I’m just not thinking of, these are just off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181/31 "2004-10-26T21:23:37Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > Have you ever listened to the internet station Tundra Trash? They play all the cool metal and other heavy stuff. Check it out. Never heard of that one, but I’ll check it out when I get a chance. There’s no shortage of good internet metal stations, but that’s not what this thread is about. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181/32 "2004-10-26T21:33:09Z")
Another vote for Tori Amos and I add Kate Bush. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181/33 "2004-10-26T21:37:25Z")
This confirms it. Radio stations are weird. \*\* Hunter Hawk\*\* hears half the bands I don’t. Meanwhile, on the stations I listen to Air, Postal Service, Supergrass, Rammstein, and My Morning Jacket all get airplay. And they play the hell out of Rage Against The Machine, Modest Mouse, Marilyn Manson. In fact on the top 5 at 5 countdown, both of the last two have been on it within the past month, and are heavy rotation as well. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181/34 "2004-10-26T21:46:19Z")
Neutral Milk Hotel Ted Leo and the Pharmacists CKY (though 96 Quite Bitter Beings was in everrrrything) Reggie and the Full Effect Appleseed Cast The Good Life Rilo Kiley Dntel Spare me your EMO labels, please. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181/35 "2004-10-26T22:15:25Z")
> [@Anastasaeon](#): > > A few bands I adore but never hear on the radio, ever, are: **Air** , **Stereolab** , **Postal Service** , **Aphex Twin** , and **Her Space Holiday**. I’m sure there are many more I’m just not thinking of, these are just off the top of my head. You’re in Seattle? KEXP is 90.3 and 91.7. They play all of those bands. (No, I’m not affiliated with the station; I just like it a lot.) ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181/36 "2004-10-26T22:22:42Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Another vote for Tori Amos and I add Kate Bush. Tori Amos was all over the radio when I was in high school in Columbus, OH. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181/37 "2004-10-26T22:26:04Z")
For a band of their importance, it is very rare to hear Peter Gabriel era Genesis on the radio. They don’t fit the “classic rock” strict format very well. Plus, most of their important songs are around 7 minutes long. In the past ten years, I think I’ve heard **I Know What I like** and **The Lamb Lies **** Down on Broadway** on the radio. How I hate corporate radio. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181/38 "2004-10-26T23:05:55Z")
> [@hammos1](#): > > Wow, someone else has heard of Frou Frou! Terrible name, great album (Details). > > **Aesiron** , you should check out Goldfrapp. One of my best friends is a fan and another poster on the board, I can’t remember who at the moment, gave me a long list of bands to listen to once s/he found out I liked them so they seem to be a bit of an underground hit. Have you seen the movie _Garden State_? It’s where I discovered them… wonderful movie and soundtrack. I have Goldfrapp saved in a word.doc on bands and books I should try. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181/39 "2004-10-26T23:13:07Z")
I’ve never heard [Self](http://www.selfmusic.net) on the radio, despite the fact that they had songs on the soundtracks for _Shrek_ and _Dead Man on Campus_. It’s a shame too, because I think this is a band that could be really popular if they were given airplay in the right markets. Also, I’ve never personally heard Sleater-Kinney on the radio, but I know they do get airplay in other places. ---
**Author:** ![Liz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/liz/32/17737_2.png) [@Liz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liz)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181/40 "2004-10-26T23:22:12Z")
Lean Andreone Chantal Kreviazuk The Hail Marys PJ Harvey Bjork Another vote for Motorhead scarling. Hole Courtney Love [solo] I’ve also _never_ heard The Ramones or Joey Ramone [solo] on the radio. I know that’s just my personal experience, though… I’m sure they’re played lots elsewhere. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-artists-you-like-but-have-never-heard-on-the-radio/271181.md?page=3)