ZipperJJ may have more info, but they apparently exist as an alternative to the hardcore, angry ska scene. And if you have the pleasure of spending time with any kids under four, check out Nickelodeon’ Yo Gabba Gabba. The Aquabats are a house band (and the other musical guests are equal parts notable and awesome,too)
Hmm never got in to them. They must not have showed up any any of my interest-fueling CD compilations.
The Darkness
Man, I forgot about them. This.
Any Jack White project.
Flight of The Conchords: decent voices and decent musicians.
Garfunkel & Oates. They’re cute, too.
A Mighty Wind
Dewey Cox is worth mentioning. Although Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story was a comedy and parody, the soundtrack is pretty damn good, with John C. Reilly as Cox.
The Fools
I was a bit surprised that wasn’t the OP’s main example.
Spike Jones’s band(s) deserve mention in this thread.
When I think about it, I’m having a harder time coming up with “joke bands” that aren’t musically talented, at least not any with much success or longevity. Don’t you almost have to have musical talent to pull off good musical jokes?
Spike Jones and his City Slickers
Here Come the Mummies
Big Daddy.
I particularly like their cover of Sgt Peppers in 50’s style. The way they handled ‘Within You Without You’ was great.
Steel Panther Warning: Really offensive.
Tommy Ill, a Kiwi MC who specialises in jaunty hip-hop songs about robots and zombies: Robot and Living Dead. Very funny, and seriously talented.
Saw them a few years ago. Recommend highly!
Beatallica. Here’s their song ‘Hey Dude’ off of their ‘Sgt. Hetfield’s Motorbreath Pub Band’.
Youtube links too ‘Jazzallica’ and ‘Jazz against the Machine’, which I must now listen to, as well.
Oh, and I like Bob Rivers’s ‘Burgers on the Grill’, a joke rendition of The Doors’ ‘Riders on the Storm’
Re: The Darkness - I seem to recall that in spite of their clear outrageousness, they took themselves pretty seriously? Are they really a joke band?
Edit: Neither of the following videos are safe for work.
Jesus H Christ and the Four Hornsmen of the Apocalypse - Liz the Hot Receptionist
Electric Six - Gay Bar
It is tough to define “Joke” band. I am using the term loosely, neither of these bands take themselves very seriously, but are quality musicians.
The Bonzo Dog Band. Incredible musicians and songwriters. Here are some clips:
“Look Out, There’s a Monster Coming.” (A modern rendition.)
“By a Waterfall.”
“Can Blue Men Play the Whites?”
“Mr. Apollo”
“Doctor Jazz”
“Jazz, Delicious Hot, Disgusting Cold” Probably their showcase of their instrumental talent.
The Bonzos were able to play and compose in all sorts of musical styles – hard rock, British music hall, blues, pop, traditional jazz, and many more. The live performances were synched, of course, but they could do just the same (even wilder on stage).
Co-leader Neil Innes has been called “The Seventh Python” because of his contributions to Monty Python’s Flying Circus – many of the songs in the TV show were written by him (you can spot him singing “Brave Sir Robin” in Monthy Python and the Holy Grail). He’s also done a lot of solo work including the amazing Beatles parodies for Eric Idle’s All You Need is Cash.
Didn’t see the Lt. Dan Band on here yet, but here it is.