# Best piano rock/pop bands **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 30, 2007, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101 "2007-01-30T12:57:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101/1 "2007-01-30T12:57:29Z")
I love old Elton John. Ditto Billy Joel. And now I love Tori Amos, Something Corporate, Ben Folds, Five for Fighting, Keane, and many others. It seems that [piano rock](http://static.last.fm/groupavatar/41de05a7c36894ec99862627e07df3cf.jpg) (I **want** that t-shirt!) is making a very big comeback, so I’m looking for some good bands. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101/2 "2007-01-30T13:13:29Z")
I recommend [LittleHorse](http://www.littlehorsemusic.com/littlehorse/index.htm). They have _two_ pianos, and some really fun songs. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101/3 "2007-01-30T13:19:49Z")
For something a bit more orchestral (but still often with piano in the foreground), Rufus Wainwright is crafting some very unique and interesting pop. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2007, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101/4 "2007-01-30T14:18:20Z")
Piano: Nick Cave Non-piano keyboards: The Dresden Dolls, Heather Duby ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101/5 "2007-01-30T14:37:53Z")
Another Aussie band is [The Whitlams](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:d06atr7qkl2x~T00) who have been popular for years now. Personally I find them a little dirge-like and mournful but everyone else I know that likes Ben Folds is a fan of theirs. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101/6 "2007-01-30T14:52:51Z")
**Warren Zevon** ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101/7 "2007-01-30T16:19:03Z")
The classic player was Leon Russell – check out the Joe Cocker album _Mad Dogs and Englishmen_, for which he was the musical director (and did some very funky playing). ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101/8 "2007-01-30T16:25:33Z")
No mention of Steely Dan?! Listen to their first album, _Can’t Buy A Thrill_, first. Then listen to all their other albums. You might also like Dean Friedman. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2007, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101/9 "2007-01-30T16:52:27Z")
I assume you’ve seen the [Wikipedia entry](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_rock) on piano rock? Madness had a number of songs with prominent piano parts (off the top of my head, “Disappear,” “Shut Up,” “The Sun and the Rain,” and their version of “Swan Lake”). And (from the same producers, coincidentally or not) Elvis Costello’s album _Punch the Clock_ has some wonderful piano on it. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101/10 "2007-01-30T17:27:39Z")
Bruce Hornsby ---
**Author:** ![Smith8762](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Smith8762](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smith8762)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101/11 "2007-01-30T17:36:21Z")
If you want to explore the avant-garde side of piano rock a little more then checkout anything by Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Specifically…their album _[Brain Salad Surgery](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:mw0qoarawijp)_. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101/12 "2007-01-30T18:17:57Z")
Ben Folds Five. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101/13 "2007-01-30T18:38:42Z")
Nellie McKay ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101/14 "2007-01-30T18:39:53Z")
[QUOTE=John Corrado] Ben Folds Five. [/QUOTE] And Keane. And Something Corporate 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101/15 "2007-01-30T19:54:00Z")
How come I immediately thought Joe Jackson? There is no mention of him on that Wikipedia piano rock article. Am I way off base here? ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101/16 "2007-01-30T20:13:01Z")
[QUOTE=NoCoolUserName] Bruce Hornsby [/QUOTE] It’s too bad that Bruce is known only by his hit **The Way It Is**. I caught him in concert as an opening act and he was fantastic. [QUOTE=MrSquishy] How come I immediately thought Joe Jackson? [/QUOTE] Joe definitely makes the list. How about **Jerry Lee Lewis**? ---
**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:** [January 30, 2007, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101/17 "2007-01-30T20:16:33Z")
Aqualung… You probably know the song “Brighter than Sunshine” from any number of recent movie soundtracks. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101/18 "2007-01-30T20:56:33Z")
[QUOTE=snowblindfrog] If you want to explore the avant-garde side of piano rock a little more then checkout anything by Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Specifically…their album _[Brain Salad Surgery](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:mw0qoarawijp)_. [/QUOTE] And if we’re mentioning ELP, we must then follow with Kansas. Check out “Song for America.” Yeow. ---
**Author:** ![Hugh\_Mongoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8dc957/32.png) [@Hugh\_Mongoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hugh_Mongoose)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101/19 "2007-01-30T22:15:10Z")
Augustana recently had a hit with their song “Boston”, which I thought was quite good. From a quick listen to iTunes’ samples of the rest of the album, however, it seems it was the lone piano ballad on the album. Disappointing. ---
**Author:** ![indierock82](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f14d63/32.png) [@indierock82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indierock82)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2007, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101/20 "2007-01-30T22:28:55Z")
I second Ben Folds. You ought to check out his myspace sight and listen to the song bitches. Haha… that from the guy that wrote the soundtrack for Over the Hedge. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-piano-rock-pop-bands/390101.md?page=2)