OT: Good music others may not have heard of...

William · #1 11-17-2012, 06:50 PM

I know musical tastes vary from person to person, and even across genres for the individual. My own tastes vary from classical, to rock. Punk, jazz, metal, blues, bluegrass, and even some country and gospel.

One of the things I like about Pandora and even this forum is that you constantly "discover" music you may not have heard before. With that in mind, what is some music you like that is out of the mainstream that others may not have heard?

I am fond of gritty, hard driving guitar so I'll throw out one for you...

Scott H. Biram

Quote:

Scott H. Biram offers up a unique blend of "real" country, old-school acoustic blues, and punk, with influences ranging from Minor Threat and Slayer to Bill Monroe and Mississippi Fred McDowell. Biram is a one-man band, playing all his songs on a 1959 Gibson hollow body, yet each song he plays differs vastly from one to the next, and Biram dishes out a rare sense of self-confidence and independence only rivaled by the originators of outlaw country music themselves.

Biram's number one love is the blues. Next in line come punk, metal, country, bluegrass, Tejano, and zydeco. The one-man band was born and raised in a rural area in the Black Land Prairie region of Texas, a stretch of land characterized by tall grass and rich fertile soil that stretches from north Texas to the San Antonio area. Biram regards Lightnin' Hopkins and Doc Watson as two of his major musical influences. He was exposed to blues during childhood and has played guitar and other instruments since. He played in a punk band throughout high school and college called the Thangs, and later played in two bluegrass bands: Scott Biram & the Salt Peter Boys and Bluegrass Drive-By. He got a taste of life on the road by touring with Bluegrass Drive-By, but has been a one-man band since the late '90s.

In 2003, Biram was nearly killed when his truck was involved in a head-on collision with a semi on a Texas highway. Less than two months later, Biram played a legendary show at Austin's Continental Club, performing on-stage in a wheelchair with IVs still dangling from his arms -- and that set has helped define his rebellious and relentless attitude ever since.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOEgtOXhcts

The song lyrics are a bit violent but that's not what draws me.

William

echelon_john · #2 11-17-2012, 07:22 PM

Boy, music is a deep well. I grew up on mostly punk and avant garde jazz, and have favorites across a whole bunch of different genres. If I were to pick a few things that I came across kind of randomly and really liked, regardless of type of music, these are a few that come to mind:

- Scud Mountain Boys. People compare them to Wilco and Uncle Tupelo, both of whom I hate. It's Joe Pernice, who has been in different bands, and the mood is kind of country/noir. Great covers, including 'Please, Mister, Please" and "Wichita Lineman"

- Sarah Jarosz is a bluegrass player/singer; I think I may have heard her on NPR at one point or another. Really soulful, like a cross between Tegan & Sara and Bonnie Raitt

- Veda Hille is a protege of Andy Partridge of XTC who is very eclectic; kind of a disjointed, Kate Bush meets Sonic Youth sound. The album I have is Return of the Kildeer.

- Richard Morel is a fixture in the gay club scene as a DJ; I got into him via Bob Mould. Tunes like "If You Love Me" and "Merry Christmas to Everyone" are infectious and worth a listen.

- The Legendary Shack Shakers are a very cool punk band with a serious attitude and twang. I saw them open for The Damned, never having heard of them before. Album isn't as strong as live, but live was pretty damned strong, and their studio stuff is good. Think Stray Cats meets Dead Kennedys.

- Karkwa is a great Francophone Canadian band that's really strong; pretty much straight ahead guitar rock with a lot of loud/quiet/loud dynamics.

slidey · #3 11-17-2012, 07:24 PM

Ahh yeah!!

You got my attention now random-emoticon mod-man!

Here are some pieces which I think are relatively unpopular, but which I love (in descending order of my-perceived relevance to your link):

1. Roky Erickson - Unforced Peace (http://youtu.be/g9JgpKtduRc)

2. The Troggs - Wild Thing (http://youtu.be/gwRrXjWgkaY)

3. Zammuto - Groan man, don't cry (http://youtu.be/SAP1YaxRIIM)

4. Tommy Bolin - Lotus (http://youtu.be/4tk2SOsP_nY)

5. Explosions in the Sky (everything)

6. Bob Dylan - http://youtu.be/qKOG3yRYoaQ

7. BoDeans - http://youtu.be/uBpc9lq8cWU (had the pleasure of watching these guys perform live, at a music club...to date, its been the best live performance I've been to tied with The Chieftains...and my concert list I'd like to think is not too bad: Ian Anderson, Bob Dylan, Pat Metheny, Wynston Marsalis, Death Cab for Cutie, and more).

8. Rolling Stones - Midnight Rambler, Monkey Man, Jumpin' Jack Flash, Beast of Burden, Gimme Shelter, and many many more!
Of course, these are all very common songs, but putting it here since for some reason the Stones don't get the recognition they deserve.
Yeah, I'm one of those who loves the Stones as well as the Beatles!

9. Toad the Wet Sprocket - Crazy Life (http://youtu.be/KqZ4FZHEZAI)

Hope this helps, sure helped me!

slidey · #4 11-17-2012, 07:33 PM

By the way, I hope you've got the main-stream geniuses* covered?

*Geniuses = Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Doors, The Beatles, already mentioned the Stones, Dire Straits, Fleetwood Mac, maybe a few more (in my opinion)

93legendti · #5 11-17-2012, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slidey

Ahh yeah!!

You got my attention now random-emoticon mod-man!

Here are some pieces which I think are relatively unpopular, but which I love (in descending order of my-perceived relevance to your link):

1. Roky Erickson - Unforced Peace (http://youtu.be/g9JgpKtduRc)

2. The Troggs - Wild Thing (http://youtu.be/gwRrXjWgkaY)

3. Zammuto - Groan man, don't cry (http://youtu.be/SAP1YaxRIIM)

4. Tommy Bolin - Lotus (http://youtu.be/4tk2SOsP_nY)

5. Explosions in the Sky (everything)

6. Bob Dylan - http://youtu.be/qKOG3yRYoaQ

7. BoDeans - http://youtu.be/uBpc9lq8cWU (had the pleasure of watching these guys perform live, at a music club...to date, its been the best live performance I've been to tied with The Chieftains...and my concert list I'd like to think is not too bad: Ian Anderson, Bob Dylan, Pat Metheny, Wynston Marsalis, Death Cab for Cutie, and more).

8. Rolling Stones - Midnight Rambler, Monkey Man, Jumpin' Jack Flash, Beast of Burden, Gimme Shelter, and many many more!
Of course, these are all very common songs, but putting it here since for some reason the Stones don't get the recognition they deserve.
Yeah, I'm one of those who loves the Stones as well as the Beatles!

9. Toad the Wet Sprocket - Crazy Life (http://youtu.be/KqZ4FZHEZAI)

Hope this helps, sure helped me!

You had me at Toad and Tommy Bolin. I didn't think there was another person in America who liked both - glad to know I am not alone.

DHallerman · #6 11-17-2012, 07:53 PM

I dunno, I'm an old guy, so maybe everyone else already knows about the group Other Lives, but I've been loving their music much recently.

Timeless stuff.

Here's them on YouTube doing a live version of a song called "For 12" at a radio station in Seattle.

And here's another YouTube link, with the amazing Tiny Desk Concert for NPR's "All Songs Considered."

maxdog · #7 11-17-2012, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHallerman

Here's them on YouTube doing a live version of a song called "For 12" at a radio station in Seattle.

And here's another YouTube link, with the amazing Tiny Desk Concert for NPR's "All Songs Considered."

Thanks Dave.

mike p · #8 11-17-2012, 10:57 PM

slidey · #9 11-18-2012, 01:51 AM

Haha...the feeling's mutual!

In fact, I'm listening to Post Toastee right now...

Quote:

Originally Posted by 93legendti

You had me at Toad and Tommy Bolin. I didn't think there was another person in America who liked both - glad to know I am not alone.

BryanE · #10 11-18-2012, 06:10 AM

8 Ball Aikens/Black Swamp Creek-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNnON...feature=relmfu

C.C. Adcock/Ya'all Thinks She'd Be Good To Me-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFCDl...eature=related

And just for fun maybe some Tex Edwards.I couldn't find my fav song of his I'm A Gonna Kill Ya so this one,LSD Made A Wreck Outa Me,will have to do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emplb...eature=related

Lafeyette Afro Rock band for some 70s funk that flew under just about everybodys radar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3ckIovZRwk

93legendti · #11 11-18-2012, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slidey

Haha...the feeling's mutual!

In fact, I'm listening to Post Toastee right now...

Teaser is still one of my favorite cd's

buldogge · #12 11-18-2012, 08:43 AM

Hmm...I'll just stick to a couple "newer" bands I've "discovered" in the recent past (coupla years):

Judith and Holofernes (Central Valley/SF)
Wu Lyf (Manchester, UK)
Kelli Schaefer (Portland)

More longtime listening, more mainstream stuff, that most would recognize, but in a similar vein as above:

Billy Bragg (prefer solo)
Nick Cave
Neko Case

Beyond that, we're getting into older punk/hardcore/"commie" folk/etc....and 80's stuff of course (as a child of)!

-Mark in St. Louis

AngryScientist · #13 11-18-2012, 08:55 AM

lot of good links in this thread, thanks for the leads folks.

here's a question: for those of you who are relatively busy with life, like myself, and love music - how do you find the good stuff out there?

NYC radio sucks, like big time sucks. what's your outlet to search and hear good stuff you have not previously been exposed to?

sc53 · #14 11-18-2012, 08:58 AM

For super guitar how about Bo Ramsey? I've been listening to his album Fragile again recently. Also Rickie Lee Jones, "Balm in Gilead" and "The Devil You Know." The new Cat Power album is great, so is Van Morrison's new one "No Plan B." Stupid title but great album for once.

djg · #15 11-18-2012, 09:24 AM

Another NPR tiny desk concert -- Gogol Bordello:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSM7S...eature=related