# Musicians with a strong "sense of place" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 9, 2008, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-with-a-strong-sense-of-place/455779 "2008-07-09T01:07:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-with-a-strong-sense-of-place/455779/21 "2008-07-09T15:51:09Z")
Kinky Friedman is a Texan through and through. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-with-a-strong-sense-of-place/455779/22 "2008-07-09T16:23:43Z")
The \*Boston Phoenix \* has compiled a list of 50 Bands 50 States, with the “best all-time band, best all-time solo artist, and best new band from each state.” [http://thephoenix.com/Supplements/2008/50States/](http://thephoenix.com/Supplements/2008/50States/) For my Ohio, they list Pere Ubu, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, and Times New Viking, respectively. I can’t argue with Screamin’ Jay, though the McCoys might have gotten some votes (_Hang On Sloopy_, anybody?), but HELLO? DEVO? Are the Black Keys not a “new band” anymore? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-with-a-strong-sense-of-place/455779/23 "2008-07-09T16:27:24Z")
Dwight Yoakam sings quite a few songs about Kentucky. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-with-a-strong-sense-of-place/455779/24 "2008-07-09T16:37:28Z")
Doesn’t Bob Seger sing about Detroit/Ann Arbor/Michigan pretty often? ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-with-a-strong-sense-of-place/455779/25 "2008-07-10T03:13:03Z")
Pretenders/Chrissie Hynde: Ohio (“My City Was Gone,” aka the theme to the Rush Limbaugh Show, is about urban sprawl in her hometown of Akron) The Smiths: Manchester, UK (lyrics often namecheck parts of the city) Oasis: Manchester again Stevie Ray Vaughan: Texas XTC: Swindon, UK (their album _The Big Express_ is essentially all about the town and its railway history) Sting: he avoided it for a while, but between his acting foray in _Stormy Monday_ and _The Soul Cages_, he talks about his hometown of Wallsend, Newcastle, UK. Midnight Oil: politically, historically, and geographically about Australia. I found out who Ned Kelly was through them. The Jam: Woking/London John Mellencamp: Indiana I agree with The Clash, but they’re pretty specific about being a London band. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-with-a-strong-sense-of-place/455779/26 "2008-07-10T05:35:40Z")
[QUOTE=neutron star] I think you mean [LBC](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=L.B.C.), not LBZ, unless that was just a typo. [/QUOTE] Sorry. I don’t get out of Norwalk much. :o :o :o ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-with-a-strong-sense-of-place/455779/27 "2008-07-10T05:52:26Z")
The Replacements and the Twin Cities. I haven’t picked up as much of a Minnesota connection with other MN bands like Husker Du and Prince. Although when Prince sings “how can you just leave me standing/ alone in a world so cold?” you know he’s not kidding about the cold part. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-with-a-strong-sense-of-place/455779/28 "2008-07-10T06:39:55Z")
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are also Boston-centric. Jimmy Buffet and tropical beaches, Key West, etc. Harry Connick, Jr. and New Orleans. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/59ef9b/32.png) [@FlyingRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRat)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-with-a-strong-sense-of-place/455779/29 "2008-07-11T15:20:28Z")
Bruce Hornsby and Southeast Virginia. I grew up there and his stuff makes a great soundtrack when I think back/go back to visit (although maybe it’s a self-fulfilling thing, since I listened to his stuff while I was growing up!) Brilliant musician. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-with-a-strong-sense-of-place/455779.md?page=1)