# Bands named after public services **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 31, 2016, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353 "2016-07-31T02:58:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/61 "2016-08-01T14:59:30Z")
For administrative issues, call in MGMT (management). ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/62 "2016-08-01T15:39:04Z")
And of course any modern city needs [reliable public transportation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Train_(band)), and the ability to [spy on neighboring towns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U2). ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/63 "2016-08-01T15:40:27Z")
For the really classy you can go to Spandau Ballet. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/64 "2016-08-01T15:44:56Z")
You’ll need a defense ministry, I guess. Let’s just call it, [War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_(band)). ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/65 "2016-08-01T16:54:45Z")
> [@Belowjob2.0](#): > > You’ll need a defense ministry, I guess. Let’s just call it, [War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_(band)). But their hit was, “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” You sure they’re up to it? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/66 "2016-08-01T17:28:40Z")
You need _White Stripes_ on every 4-lane road. ---
**Author:** ![epolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@epolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epolo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/67 "2016-08-01T18:01:59Z")
Unemployment benefits provided by UB40. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/68 "2016-08-01T19:22:17Z")
**The Fix** , general repairs. **Tool** also. **Drive-By Truckers** , for all your delivery needs. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/69 "2016-08-01T21:22:08Z")
Every city needs a bunch of thugs, so **Spanky and Our Gang** should fit the bill. The city orchestra would be, of course, **The Band**. For firefighters, you would need [Quench](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quench_(band)). ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/70 "2016-08-02T12:51:01Z")
[Micky & The Motorcars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micky_%26_the_Motorcars) could run a taxi service. [Old Crow Medicine Show](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Crow_Medicine_Show) are there for all your medical needs. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/71 "2016-08-02T12:57:37Z")
[The Goddamn Gallows](http://www.thegoddamngallows.com/) will deal with the worst criminals, and [The Pine Box Boys](http://www.pineboxboys.com/) can come along afterwards. [The Sad Bastard Book Club](https://sadbastardbookclub.bandcamp.com/) run the public library. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/72 "2016-08-02T13:08:23Z")
[Seguridad](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seguridad_Social_(banda)) [Social](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kssmr7Nhgyk) provides public healthcare. First link to their spanish wiki page, second to one of their hits. [Tako](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tako) is an ambiguous name, as the word [taco](http://dle.rae.es/?id=YvQrYuw) has… 27 official meanings without counting locutions, but an obscure unofficial meaning is a local cop. If you don’t comply they’ll sing real, real loud. And they can also [provide burial services](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIbkiyFK3aA)! (That song is called “the gravedigger”) Border and customs services, courtesy of [La Frontera](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BPzYRk4N34). [Barón Rojo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6HolknMwIQ) and [Obús](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj3RSZCpNtA) on defense. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/73 "2016-08-02T14:05:57Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > [Micky & The Motorcars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micky_%26_the_Motorcars) could run a taxi service. > [Old Crow Medicine Show](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Crow_Medicine_Show) are there for all your medical needs. To keep rates competitive, **Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show**. (It’s a little disconcerting that all our medical personnel belong to medicine shows.) ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/74 "2016-08-02T14:58:43Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > To keep rates competitive, **Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show**. > > (It’s a little disconcerting that all our medical personnel belong to medicine shows.) There’s always [Doctor And The Medics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_and_the_Medics), but as their biggest song was about sending people up to the spirit in the sky, I’m not sure they’d be much better… Could be worse, could be [these](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr_and_The_Crippens)though! ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/75 "2016-08-02T14:58:36Z")
> [@Jamicat](#): > > Manhattan Transfer? > > Sounds like a junction on the subway. It was a Pennsylvania Railroad transfer station that operated from 1910 to 1937. It was located in New Jersey. People who wanted to travel to NYC got off and transferred to a train that took them to Penn station (probably where Penn station got it’s name, but it is still the major station for coming and going from in and out of Manhattan, and probably even busier than Grand Central Station, which is so called because it serves all lines). John Dos Passos wrote a book about life in Manhattan in 1925, called _Manhattan Transfer_, and that’s probably where the group got the name. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/76 "2016-08-02T16:47:07Z")
**The Sisters of Mercy** , non-profit public service. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/77 "2016-08-02T19:39:30Z")
For airport services, it has to be **Wings** or **Jefferson Airplane**. For road repairs, **Buffalo Springfield**. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/78 "2016-08-02T20:04:27Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > It was a Pennsylvania Railroad transfer station that operated from 1910 to 1937. It was located in New Jersey. People who wanted to travel to NYC got off and transferred to a train that took them to Penn station (probably where Penn station got it’s name, but it is still the major station for coming and going from in and out of Manhattan, and probably even busier than Grand Central Station, which is so called because it serves all lines). Not exactly. Pennsylvania Station was built by and named for the Pennsylvania Railroad, but Grand Central was built by and named for the New York Central Railroad. ---
**Author:** ![Doyle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doyle/32/439_2.png) [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/79 "2016-08-02T20:21:25Z")
REO Speedwagon was a firetruck. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353/80 "2016-08-02T21:27:34Z")
Educational needs can be taken care of by [London Grammar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Grammar), spiritual by [The Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_(band)) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-named-after-public-services/761353.md?page=5)