# Musicians that should be mega-superstars, but aren't. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 9, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183 "2009-06-09T03:33:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/1 "2009-06-09T03:33:06Z")
Nicole Atkins [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2_NVsPM87eI/hqdefault.jpg "๐“ฃ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ ๐“ฆ๐“ช๐”‚ ๐“˜๐“ฝ ๐“˜๐“ผ (๐“›๐“ช๐“ฝ๐“ฎ ๐“ข๐“ฑ๐“ธ๐”€ ๐“ต๐“ฒ๐“ฟ๐“ฎ) - ๐“๐“ฒ๐“ฌ๐“ธ๐“ต๐“ฎ ๐“๐“ฝ๐“ด๐“ฒ๐“ท๐“ผ & ๐“ฃ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ ๐“ข๐“ฎ๐“ช") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_NVsPM87eI) Mika [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPUpxIBkcjM) I think Warren Zevon deserves more credit than he gets also. Who are your under-appreciated artists? ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/2 "2009-06-09T04:19:56Z")
Any band I like that isnโ€™t super-popular! ---
**Author:** ![mambocrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@mambocrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mambocrow)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/3 "2009-06-09T04:38:13Z")
Irma Thomas. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/4 "2009-06-09T04:46:18Z")
WordMan, Le Ministre, An Arky, Ogre, Crotalus. And me. ๐Ÿ™‚ Darryl Trucks is pretty okay as well. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/5 "2009-06-09T04:53:59Z")
Everyone mentioned in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=520481). ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Awesome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Captain\_Awesome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Awesome)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/6 "2009-06-09T04:55:56Z")
Hmm, how long have you got? Iโ€™d best just stick to a few examples (maybe not mega-superstar potential, and not unheard of - but definitely under appreciated), [Martha Wainwright](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzPHHpi1bUA&feature=related), [Blitzen Trapper](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqtlcHiSHTE), the [New Young Pony Club](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7498vlSx5CU), [Jonathan Richman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu3TvC9CH18) and [The Kinfe](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKhjaGRhIYU); to name a handful out of a countless number. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/7 "2009-06-09T04:57:29Z")
[Chris](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isSELGLGqoM) [Smither[/url [url=[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irOmUnfcXwU](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irOmUnfcXwU)]Dave]([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzLa8nI3nDg](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzLa8nI3nDg)) [Alvin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqsF2bwq6PQ) ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/8 "2009-06-09T10:17:05Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > WordMan, Le Ministre, An Arky, Ogre, Crotalus. And me. ๐Ÿ™‚ > > Darryl Trucks is pretty okay as well. Haha, thanks! Iโ€™d settle for cult status rising to the level of justifying (somebody elseโ€™s) expenditure for next recording session. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/9 "2009-06-09T10:38:37Z")
I think Wilco has been cited after just about every album release as being on the brink of superstardom. โ˜น ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/10 "2009-06-09T11:07:49Z")
MODERATOR NOTE: There were two threads with exactly the same OP. I have merged them together. ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/11 "2009-06-09T11:08:38Z")
> [@Captain\_Awesome](#): > > Hmm, how long have you got? [New Young Pony Club](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7498vlSx5CU) These folks have had a fair bit of โ€“ deserving! โ€“ fame in the UK, I think partially hyped up due to the fact that one of them is dating a member of Klaxons. But I would like to see them getting more attention over here. (How confusing is it that there is a **Captain Amazing** , a **Captain Awesome** , and a **Captain Carrot**?) My list: Cold War Kids Spoon Elliot Smith Mystery Jets ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/12 "2009-06-09T11:45:32Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Darryl Trucks is pretty okay as well. Is he any relation to Derek Trucks? ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/13 "2009-06-09T11:49:20Z")
[The Nuclears](http://www.thenuclears.com/) Not really but if they make it big I will be able to stop helping my son with his rent. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/14 "2009-06-09T12:24:36Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Is he any relation to Derek Trucks? [Bill Murray thinks so.](http://blogs.msdn.com/rick_schaut/archive/2008/01/08/the-music-of-derek-trucks.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/15 "2009-06-09T12:28:07Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > [Dave](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irOmUnfcXwU) [Alvin](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqsF2bwq6PQ) Second Dave Alvin! ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/16 "2009-06-09T12:53:27Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > WordMan, Le Ministre, An Arky, Ogre, Crotalus. And me. ๐Ÿ™‚ > > Darryl Trucks is pretty okay as well. Double ๐Ÿ˜ƒ So manyโ€ฆ - **Social Distortion** - they rock as hard and consistently as AC/DC and some of their songs have great lyrics and hooks. - \*\*Television \*\*- why Marquee Moon isnโ€™t held up as commonly and played as frequently as the Talking Headsโ€™ material is beyond me. - **Big Star -** power pop at its finest. The double CD #1 Record/Radio City is a must-own, if only for Mod Lang, Back of a Car, Sheโ€™s a Mover and September Gurls. These guys are like, the secret code that insider song-writers and popsters listen to - **The Replacements** - โ€ฆlike these guys, who were huge Big Star fans (witness the song Alex Chilton, about the lead singer ofโ€ฆ). Once they moved off punk to their Americana Punk stuff - I will Dare, Answering Machine, Here Comes a Regular, Unsatisfied - you had, I dunno, perhaps the Paul Simon of his day with a snottier attitude, ruder guitars and a band drinking problemโ€ฆ Plenty moreโ€ฆ ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/17 "2009-06-09T14:03:06Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Is he any relation to Derek Trucks? Oops. Umโ€ฆ yes! His cojoined twin! :o ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/57b2e6/32.png) [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/18 "2009-06-09T14:06:08Z")
Me! ๐Ÿ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/19 "2009-06-09T14:23:10Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Oops. Umโ€ฆ yes! His cojoined twin! :o Donโ€™t you go makinโ€™ up rumors about my husband. Iโ€™m actually kind of glad heโ€™s not (yet) a mega-superstar โ€“ it means that I can see him once a year in one or another small, local venue for about $40 โ€“ which is astonishing yet delightful. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183/20 "2009-06-09T14:47:13Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > Haha, thanks! > > Iโ€™d settle for cult status rising to the level of justifying (somebody elseโ€™s) expenditure for next recording session. Heck, Iโ€™d settle for somebody to carry my amp. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-that-should-be-mega-superstars-but-arent/499183.md?page=2)