Lots of choices here:
Kak
Renaissance (no, not that Renaissance. The original Renaissance)
Siegel-Schwall Band
Bonzo Dog Band
Cat Mother and the All-Night Newsboys
Soft Machine
Spirit
Steve Kazarowski (aka Steve Martin. No, not that Steve Martin)
Flash and the Pan
The Research Triangle area of North Carolina, to be a little more specific.
They’re also great guys. I’ve had a chance to hang out with them a couple of times – once in Little Rock when they were touring in support of their first album Darker Days (summer of 1986) and my roommate’s band opened for them, and a few months later in Atlanta at the 688 Club when, because they scheduled the show at almost the last minute and because the paper screwed up their name in the ad, only 11 people showed up, and most of those not for a couple of hours after they were supposed to go on. George Huntley in particular was a lot of fun to talk to.
i don’t know if they are really unknown at all, but neither are some in this thread… but i really like the inbreds.
they are a duo from kingston, ontario. one plays drums. they other plays bass. hooray!
i don’t think they are making anything anymore.
so there.
correction… they are from halifax. i think their label is in kingston.
or maybe i just pulled kingston out of my ass.
whatever.
ahem.
ahem.
they are from kingston, after all.
the band was based out of halifax.
i’m done now.
Trauma School Dropouts Awesome band, when i worked with Marky Ramone and the Intruders we toured with them. They are probably my all time favorite “local” Punk Rock band. There are so many good ones here in the city though.
I’m not sure too many people heard of The Red Elvises. It seems that they are mostly known only in Santa Monica, CA.
The Bogmen–they’re funny and good
Space–the recent British group, not the earlier one
And not really obscure, but relatively unknown to those who are entirely too well-versed in the 80s–Oingo Boingo
And yes, the Red Elvises rock. They’re Russian, they play surf guitar. Does it get any better?
Swiddles, of COURSE I’ll be your SDMB best friend!! And I’ll check out Guster…I heard Great Big Sea by accident one, and now I love them.
And rundogrun, I love the Connells!! They played at William and Mary once…it was great. Own every one of their albums.
My old best friend loves Clutch. They’re a lot of fun live too.
My favorite ska bands are Hepcat, The Scofflaws, NY Ska-Jazz Ensemble & The Slackers.
Hepcat is so good, even my boring old mom likes them. They were on Conan once.
The Connells were really popular when I was at school in Virginia. Not my kind of stuff, tho.
Herman’s Throo Osmosis
Clutch rules! but i didn’t figure them for an unknown band…
Does anybody here know the following?
Old 97s
Jimmie Dale Gilmore
The Mountain Goats
Check them out. All are relatively unknown, but not ridiculously obscure.
They did the soundtrack for some awful “horror” movie that had Skippy from family ties in it. The band is Fastway. I recommend looking up some of their stuff on Napster, most expecially If You Could See.
The most unknown band in my CD collection is Dada. Their album “Puzzle” is pretty good.
Chapel Hill, NC to be even more specific. They are pretty good live too.
Mr. Cynical: I remember Fastway. They had one MTV hit with “Say What You Will.” And the movie you’re thinking of is Trick Or Treat.
Anyway, since most people aren’t limiting themselves to one, I won’t either. I’ll pick three:
Fuzzy, from Boston. A four-piece fronted by two female singer-songwriters. They had two great albums on Atlantic before being dropped, and are recording on small labels now. If you like the Boston pop sound (think Pixies/Lemonheads/Juliana Hatfield), they’re for you.
The Posies, from Seattle, loves of my life. They were the first act ever signed to Geffen Records, before Nirvana, before anybody. They took the power-pop of Cheap Trick and Big Star and brought it into the '90s. Every good pop fan should own every single one of their records. Their ability to write fantastic lyrics and incredible melodies amazed me time and time again.
The Jellybricks, out of Harrisburg, PA. Another four-piece pop band; I went to college with singer/songwriter/guitarist Larry Kennedy. They’ve made a lot of regional success for themselves, playing at several festivals across the country and landing some terrific opening gigs throughout PA and Northeastern Ohio.
Alicin’s Journal–out of Newport, Tennessee. They used to have a website but it’s not working any longer. Come to think of it, I’m not even sure they’re still together. I know they played CBGB’s in New York a few years back and they played a Lolapalooza kick-off show too. Anyone with info, please e-mail me!
Alice Doughnut - how could i forget, these guys are totally hilarious, and great sounding. Check them out if you can.