# Who are the quintessential New York bands? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 12, 2004, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496 "2004-08-12T05:25:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496/1 "2004-08-12T05:25:47Z")
When you think “music” and “New York City,” which are the quintessential New York bands? Who are to NYC what the Beach Boys and Red Hot Chili Peppers are to southern California? If NYC recorded an album, who would it use as artists? The bands that spring to mind: **The Velvet Underground.** Inarguable, I think. The band seemed to use the subway as a circulatory system, oxygenating their fervid collective brain. **The Ramones.** CBGBs punk. **Television.** CBGBs punk-influenced experimental pop-rock, or whatever the hell genre they are. **The Beastie Boys.** To the five boroughs, indeed. Talking Heads are probably more Providence than NYC, even though they also played the CBGBs stage. Who else? ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496/2 "2004-08-12T06:24:48Z")
**Blue Oyster Cult**. But I suspect that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496/3 "2004-08-12T06:35:31Z")
Anthrax = NY speed metal ---
**Author:** ![Nightime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nightime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightime)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496/4 "2004-08-12T06:49:54Z")
The New York Dolls. ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496/5 "2004-08-12T07:00:18Z")
Nobody can top the Velvet Underground. They’re simply the answer to this question. Good call on Television, too. Other bands that may not be the NY bands, but New York is them - Suicide the Ramones Richard Hell and the Voivoids the Wu-tang Clan EL-P and Aesop Rock ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496/6 "2004-08-12T07:09:56Z")
Simon & Garfunkel, of course. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496/7 "2004-08-12T12:43:59Z")
Not a band, per se, but a musician: **Billy Joel** - I am not all that big of a fan, but after moving out to NY from California it became very clear to me that NY’ers love the guy. And with his song “New York State of Mind” he gets the love. I personally go with the Ramones and the Velvets, with the New York Dolls and **Run-DMC** close behind (how the heck could this thread have gone this far without props to Run, Darryl and Jam Master Jay?!?). And, yes, the Beasties have endured and are very NY. **Public Enemy** gets a special mention as well - not only the best rap group, to my mind, but quintessential NY. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496/8 "2004-08-12T12:53:15Z")
> [@AndrewT](#): > > **Blue Oyster Cult**. But I suspect that’s just me. I’ve always thought of them as non-NYC, even though I know they played a lot in upstate NY (Schenectady/Albany/Troy area). Even caught them at The Roadhouse one night in the mid-'80s playing under Soft White Underbelly. ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496/9 "2004-08-12T13:45:40Z")
[The Dictators](http://www.thedictators.com) and [The Fleshtones](http://www.fleshtones.org). ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496/10 "2004-08-12T15:07:36Z")
[The Blues Project.](http://www.softshoe-slim.com/lists/b/blues_project.html) ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496/11 "2004-08-12T15:34:59Z")
Jeez, what is it with you people. Sinatra. Frankie-baby. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496/12 "2004-08-12T15:55:18Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > Jeez, what is it with you people. > > Sinatra. Frankie-baby. Why, because he sang a cover or two about the city? He did the same thing about Chicago, London, and dozens of other places. Even “New York, New York” became his signature tune only after his recording career was largely over; though that’s the song that most associate with him now, I’ve never heard him associated much with the city itself. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496/13 "2004-08-12T17:13:36Z")
Sinatra originally hailed from Hoboken, anyway. But if Hoboken-ers count as New Yawkers, then Yo La Tengo has to make the list. (Or better yet: start a Jersey list: Yo La Tengo, The Smithereens, Fountains of Wayne, The Glands, From Good Homes,…) Back to NYC: DNA, The Lounge Lizards, Sonic Youth, Blondie, The Golden Palominos, and The White Stripes come to mind. The The (Englishman Matt Johnson) has been living in Chinatown for a number of years now… at what point do we get to call him a New Yorker? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496/14 "2004-08-12T17:22:49Z")
**They Might Be Giants** , founded on Bedford Ave in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and who have performed over 50% of their concerts within city limits, have many many references to NYC in their songs…although their song actually titled “New York City” is a cover of a song by a Canadian band ---
**Author:** ![SpartanDC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@SpartanDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpartanDC)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496/15 "2004-08-12T18:51:02Z")
> [@The Scrivener](#): > > Back to NYC: DNA, The Lounge Lizards, Sonic Youth, Blondie, The Golden Palominos, and The White Stripes come to mind. You’re getting your neo-garage rock bands confused, my friend. **The White Stripes** are from my wonderful hometown, the city of Detroit. I was too lazy to look up the city-of-origin of the others you listed, although I’m pretty sure you’re right about Blondie. On the other hand, **The Strokes** (who I think are a smidge overrated) are very much from New York. I could tell the first time I heard them. Another hip-hop selection: **LL Cool J** ; after all, he represents Queens but was raised in Brooklyn. 😉 But, per the OP, there is no band that is more NYC than The Velvet Underground. The two simply cannot be separated. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496/16 "2004-08-12T19:34:11Z")
the Patti Smith Group(!) Vanilla Fudge the Fugs the Duke Ellington Orchestra ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496/17 "2004-08-12T19:35:20Z")
the Patti Smith Group(!) Vanilla Fudge the Fugs the Duke Ellington Orchestra and Paul Schaffer & the Late NIght show band ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496/18 "2004-08-12T19:36:33Z")
:eek: Oh well, Add Blondie to the list as well. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496/19 "2004-08-12T23:21:11Z")
:smack: Thanks. I really meant The Strokes, honestly. At least I’ve got The Vines and The Hives straight in my mind. Mostly. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496/20 "2004-08-13T00:16:54Z")
Hey, Jazz has “quintessential” bands, too. The Manhattan Transfer. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-quintessential-new-york-bands/259496.md?page=2)