# Best Band No One Ever Heard Of ... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 18, 2001, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338 "2001-09-18T05:30:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lance\_the\_Advancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Lance\_the\_Advancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_the_Advancer)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338/41 "2001-09-20T00:08:22Z")
Dillinger Four-- WOW! Best punk band now, if not ever. It eats your brain from the inside. The Pixies-- I’m sure a lot of people know them, but you’d be surprised. They are the alt-rock equivalent to Dillinger Four. BEST BAND EVER. Faust 65-- Local Houston band. They’re pretty new, but they have their shit together. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338/42 "2001-09-20T00:26:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FallenAngel \* > > My question is this: “A couple of years ago” would be in the so-called “Fat Dulli” era, right? How could that have happened? > > My whatever gods may be bless you for the “I like Tv…” quote. If you drink, and we ever run into each other, your first round is on me. Pretty funny story, actually… As I was leaving a local hipster bar with a friend of mine, piss drunk on Burger, I stopped by the corner of the bar to buy a pack of cigarettes. Greg was sitting there with some label schmuck an a girlfriend with these completely obvious, almost grotesque breast implants. I decided the evening hand’t been quite exciting enough, so I interrupted their conversation… “Hey Greg.” “Yeah?” He asked, with a look that said _great… another ass-kissing alterna-dweeb_. “Do you own those?” “What are you talking about?” “Do… you… own… those,” I said, pointing at the knockers in question. He looked confused, then furious, and hauled back like he was going to punch me. I ran all the way to my car. ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338/43 "2001-09-20T01:52:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by black455 \* > \*\ ***The Cosmic Psychos** > > I understand they’re pretty big in Australia, but they never tour in the US so I’m not suprised they haven’t hit it that big. They were on Sub Pop for awhile back in 90-91. > > They’re also my favorite band of all time. > > “Give us some wah-wah, Dirty!!!” \*\* Black455, you are a bloody legend! The Psychos are still around, still pumping out great records, and after a brief brush with fame when Prodigy covered a rewrite of one of their songs (L7’s Fuel My Fire/CS’s Lost Cause), they seem set to take on the world. Maybe in 20 years they’ll be seen as forerunners to the grunge movement, for better or worse. People interested can check out their new compilation ‘15 years - A million beers’, and any Melburnians can visit drummer Bill Walsh’s bar ‘The Cherry Bar’ off Flinders Lane in the city, opposite the Flight Centre (go down the lane and go downstairs the first door on the left). “Gee I wish pubs lent money” As for my own vote, I’d have to say **The Electric Eels** - maybe the earliest band to have the 100% punk sound (from 1975) that would take off in the late 70’s. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338/44 "2001-09-20T04:56:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HenrySpencer \* > “Gee I wish pubs lent money” > > As for my own vote, I’d have to say **The Electric Eels** - maybe the earliest band to have the 100% punk sound (from 1975) that would take off in the late 70’s. \*\* Ain’t no words to describe our Jaguar ride… I’m making friends all over this damn thread. I’ve got a theory that Oz and Ohio have had more kickass bands per capita than any other places on the planet… X, Birdman, Saints, Psychos, Onyas, Rejects, Birthday Party, Asteroid b-612, Brother Brick, and that Powder Monkeys disc I just got. FTR, my username is a combination of the line from “Custom Credit” and “455-SD.” When my band was still together, we played with the Onyas on their last US tour… “You said that I would never hit a girl… Wanna bet???” ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338/45 "2001-09-20T05:13:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by black455 \* > **I’ve got a theory that Oz and Ohio have had more kickass bands per capita than any other places on the planet… X, Birdman, Saints, Psychos, Onyas, Rejects, Birthday Party, Asteroid b-612, Brother Brick, and that Powder Monkeys disc I just got.** I was going to recommend the ‘Murder Punk’ CDs to you, but judging by your hotmail address, I guess you’ve probably come across them already. If not, don’t hesitate to get both volumes. > [@](#): > > \*\*When my band was still together, we played with the Onyas on their last US tour… \*\* The Onyas are even less known than the Psychos. I remember standing next to Bill Walsh at a Psychos/Onyas show a couple of years ago, while the young Brisbane band were playing, and he was grinning like a maniac, yelling at me about how stupid people must be, because of the fact that the Onyas aren’t the biggest band in the world. Are you going to go for the hat-trick and say you like the **Urinals** as well? ---
**Author:** ![23skidoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f04885/32.png) [@23skidoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/23skidoo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338/46 "2001-09-20T05:20:20Z")
The Judy’s are a fun band. Back in the 80’s, when new-wave meant jangly-crazy music, instead of synthesizer-driven pop music, the Judy’s were making music in Texas. I don’t know how far outside of the South the word of them has spread. Always seemed to remind me of a cross between Buddy Holly and the B-52’s. You can hear some low-quality clips at [http://www.thejudys.com](http://www.thejudys.com). Washarama and Moo are full of good songs. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338/47 "2001-09-20T05:37:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HenrySpencer \* > \*\*Are you going to go for the hat-trick and say you like the **Urinals** as well? \*\* Ack Ack Ack Ack? I like Big Bongin’ Baby, too. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338/48 "2001-09-20T05:43:16Z")
Forgot to add that while I missed out on the “Murder Punk” CDs, I _do_ have the “Where the Birdmen Flew” LPs, so, same difference. ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338/49 "2001-09-20T16:42:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by uberDave \* > \*\ ***Runrig**. I think they did alright in the UK and Canada but never got anything much going in the states. They > are/were a Celtic/rock band. Great stuff. > > Oh, and **Kilt-wearin’ Man**. I’ve seen Cladestine twice (both times at celtic festivals). Bought a CD from their table at the last. they’re very good. \*\* Which one? “To Anyone At All” is (in my opinion)their best so far, and I’ve heard rumors of a new (fourth) album on its way. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338/50 "2001-09-20T23:53:50Z")
**The Model Rockets** Never heard of them until I caught them opening up for \*Chixdiggit![/]. Blown away, bought the CD at the merch table. Haven’t heard anything from them since. I believe they were from Seattle. All the old school punks rave about _Buzzcocks_, and they were damn good, but I was always more of an **Undertones** man myself. Seems like no one in the US remembers them. ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338/51 "2001-09-21T02:41:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness \* > \*\*All the old school punks rave about _Buzzcocks_, and they were damn good, but I was always more of an **Undertones** man myself. Seems like no one in the US remembers them. \*\* Hmmph. _Almost_ no one, perhaps. I not only remember them, I had _The Undertones_, _Hypnotised_, and _Positive Touch_ on vinyl, and now have the Rykodisc CD reissues of _The Undertones_ and _Positive Touch_, as well as the _Teenage Kicks_ best-of disc. One of my all-time favorites. I’d hate to have to choose, but like you, I’d take them over **Buzzcocks**. In any event, they really were too well-known to be the best band no one ever heard of. ---
**Author:** ![uberDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f04885/32.png) [@uberDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uberDave)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338/52 "2001-09-26T17:52:14Z")
**Kilt-wearin’ man** , I had to look. It is ‘To Anybody at All’. I’m going to see Clandesdine this weekend at the [Celtic Classic\*\* in Bethlehem, Pa. Just down a piece from my place. Maybe there will be a new one. Dave ---
**Author:** ![epolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@epolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epolo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338/53 "2001-09-26T20:36:57Z")
I nominate **Supertouch** They were friends of my brother. They released one album: _The Earth is Flat_ It rocked. 🙂 They broke up. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Ich\_Bin\_s](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Ich\_Bin\_s](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ich_Bin_s)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338/54 "2001-09-26T21:09:29Z")
In the Ohio catagory, I nominate the late, great **Brainiac**. Hell, even my wife likes them. Crazy crazy live show, fun with a moog. I miss them. In the Cosmic Psychos catagory, I nominate the late, great \*\* Cows\*\*. They hold the first place in my personal contest of how many times I’ve seen the same band, coming in at an even sixteen. I’ve lost friends and made friends at Cows shows. Kevin is the bass player I aspire to be, minus the drooling, but with the snappy dressing. Shannon is, or was, the scariest man alive. He’s mellowed a bit, and bought me a cup of coffee as I waited outside for his newest band to play, the Heroine Sheiks. In the rock catagory, the late great **Didjits** , who had an extended middle finger for anyone who happened to be looking. Potentially the biggest mistake I’ve ever made was yelling “f\*ck you” to Mr. Simms, who merely made me look like an ass when he could have smacked me in the head with a mic stand. In the drumnbass catagory, I nominate **Amon Tobin** and **Ponga**. Two albumns that made me get my drum kit out again. Drumnbass that even people that don’t like drumnbass like. If that makes sense. In the folksey kind of rock catagory, I nominate the ever-present and perpetually downtrodden **Mekons** and the striking **Sixteen Horsepower**. Lyrically brilliant and uncompromising. In the keeping-the-torch-of-punk-alive catagory, the wonderful **Les Savy Fav**. Now that **Refused** is gone, who will beat you into submission? Jazz, my longtime favorite **John Zorn** , though I think most have heard him. In the noise-smoke-fire-scary catagory, the late, great **Crash Worship**. They set my pants on fire. Last but not least, the late great **Jesus Lizard** , who deserve honorable mention for being the greatest live band on Earth and two other planets. ---
**Author:** ![pezpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@pezpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezpunk)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338/55 "2001-09-26T21:16:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ich Bin’s \* > In the Ohio catagory, I nominate the late, great **Brainiac**. Hell, even my wife likes them. Crazy crazy live show, fun with a moog. I miss them. Grass records band! I liked em too. Ever hear of **Sunbrain**? I am pretty sure that Brainiac was on a double CD of frank sinatra covers called _chairman of the board_ released on grass records. Anyone know where to find that cd? I used to have it and someone stole it ☹ > [@](#): > > Jazz, my longtime favorite **John Zorn** , though I think most have heard him. Great pick! I haven’t heard him for years. He does a great version of the batman theme song. > [@](#): > > Last but not least, the late great **Jesus Lizard** , who deserve honorable mention for being the greatest live band on Earth and two other planets. [waiting for mouthbreather to check in] I think you may find 1 or 2 other jesus lizard fans around here. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338/56 "2001-09-26T22:13:18Z")
You rang? 🙂 Also right about now I’d like to give a shout out to my main man **Ich Bin’s** for metioning **16hp**. They are the goods, especially _Low Estate_. Didn’t someone from **Brainiac** die in a car crash? They’ve always been one of those bands that from what I’ve read/heard, I think I’d like them bunches but I never got around to listening to them. ---
**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338/57 "2001-09-26T22:21:40Z")
This might not apply because they do have a bit of a cult following, but I would be remiss if i failed to mention XTC. They have put out(not counting best-of collections and side projects)thirteen albums of the best pop music you’d ever wanna hear. Their cd’s Apple Venus and Wasp Star(parts 1 & 2 of a 2-part series)alone should have been nominated for albums of the year. Theirs has been an incredible journey from a late 70’s punk-pop band to making music that is nothing short of beautiful(check out Easter Theatre and We’re All Light from the previously mentioned cd’s!). Chris W ---
**Author:** ![Stiletto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Stiletto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stiletto)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338/58 "2001-09-26T22:32:59Z")
I have two nominations, actually. The first has a relatively large following in the UK from what I’ve been able to gather, but anywhere in the midwest/southwest US, if you mention the name, then people just sorta blink at you and look really confused. My favorite band of all time, **[New Model Army](http://www.newmodelarmy.org/fhome.htm)**. I’ve thought and thought about how to describe them, but as Justin Sullivan, lead singer & songwriter said _“We’ve been labelled as punks, post-punks, goths, metal, folk, the lot, but we’ve always been beyond those kind of style confines. I think people that try to define us miss the point completely.”_ And for my second nomination, a band out of Minneapolis, MN, **[Boiled in Lead](http://www.omnium.com/bil/)**. They’ve been described as everything from Rock’n Reel, folk, country, punk-folk, and heavy metal celtic. But with an absolutely astounding bunch of musicians like this, the live shows are second to none. Absolutely awesome. -Stil ---
**Author:** ![Ich\_Bin\_s](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Ich\_Bin\_s](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ich_Bin_s)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338/59 "2001-09-26T23:02:56Z")
Hello again mouthbreather. I still owe you a beer. Yes, the lead singer of Brainiac died in a car accident as they were finishing recording for a new album. The story I heard was that the engine of his car caught on fire. The band promptly disbanded. While it their music doesn’t grab me now the way it did (probably because so many people caught on…) it’s still great stuff. Check them out; anything you can find will be worth it. 16hp is incredible. My favorite is Sackcloth 'n Ashes. To pezpunk; unfortunately, never heard Sunbrain. I think the only other grass band I listened to was **Mousetrap**. By the way, it’s “Bored”, if that helps in your search. Good luck finding it, I think Grass is kaput now. I’m getting old. Thanks to Stiletto for reminding me of two bands I had tapes of but never got around to buying. I should re-examine those… ---
**Author:** ![Ich\_Bin\_s](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Ich\_Bin\_s](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ich_Bin_s)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338/60 "2001-09-26T23:11:37Z")
Sorry, not trying to artificially boost my post count, but also wanted to comment to riserius1. While I didn’t count myself a fan, I always appreciated the obvious craft present in **XTC**. I don’t think I was mature enough to appreciate them when MTV was paying attention to them, and now they are, from a pop-culture standpoint, mostly ignored (well, I guess everyone on this list is, to some degree). My musical tastes have since broadened to embrace the sensibilities of a well crafted pop song, a la **Built to Spill** , and I think I would be well served in giving them a second chance. Thanks for the reminder. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-band-no-one-ever-heard-of/82338.md?page=4)