July 11, 2002
11:25 PM   Subscribe

Tonight, I saw (for the 4th time) one of the greatest live bands on the planet: Sweep The Leg Johnny. They played to a half-empty room in Toronto. Recently, the band put out their fourth CD. Sadly, they're calling it quits after this tour. What are some of the bands you've told folks to Go see now!, but no one seems to listen?
posted by dobbs (36 comments total)
 
SushiRobo. Are you the rat? Are you the moooooole? Damn, they're good. But folks do tend to listen--they get addicted to the CD once they hear it. Click on "MP3 sample of Rat or Mole" at the top of the linked page to hear them. And no, I don't get a commission--I wish.
posted by GaelFC at 11:37 PM on July 11, 2002


The Beating.

You have to get under their music.
posted by WolfDaddy at 11:57 PM on July 11, 2002


That's so sad when a great band calls it a day, dobbs.

I've been raving about Faun Fables, the bizarre and dreamy Oakland-based post-Apalachian pseudo-gothic duo. They're the soundtrack to the end of the world: the yodelling of sad voyages. Kind of Azure Ray meets Siouxsie Sioux with a dash of Nina Simone? Sample here and on this show.
posted by RJ Reynolds at 11:58 PM on July 11, 2002


You have a problem with that, Mr. Lawrence?


I am sorry. The Karate Kid is one of my favorite childhood films.
posted by McBain at 12:03 AM on July 12, 2002


I've heard a little Sweep The Leg Johnny, and I concur that they're quite good.

The band I'm absolutely obsessed with right now is The Dismemberment Plan. Their 1999 album Emergency & I, which I sadly came to late, is a work of genius. It generated one of the few Pitchfork reviews that I can tolerate reading, because it's completely spot-on.

Seriously, go get that record right now.
posted by toddshot at 12:13 AM on July 12, 2002


Alabama 3! You must see them if they come to your home town.

They did the Soprano's theme (which is about domestic abuse, not gangsters) Woke Up This Morning

On CD, they are an original mix of blues, country, techno and social comment. Live, they are dynamite! Download a sample today...
posted by dash_slot- at 12:23 AM on July 12, 2002


OOO000ps!!

Alabama 3 Website - also worth a visit (if you don't mind creative use of Flash + streaming audio...)

Quote: "Drug War: This time it's Prozac"
posted by dash_slot- at 12:38 AM on July 12, 2002


GaelFC, I know Rick Roberts from SushiRobo, he's a good gadge.
As for me, I just dragged several friends to see Cousteau tonight, I think they all had a good time! Now if only Scott Walker would tour...
And for something completely different, I would also suggest y'all check out Madredeus...Miguel, have you seen these guys live?
posted by black8 at 12:59 AM on July 12, 2002


Now if only Scott Walker would tour...

Heh... another one of my 'favorite bands nobody's heard of' are named after one of Walker's albums. Serendipitous.
posted by toddshot at 1:10 AM on July 12, 2002


Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey

These guys just blew up High Sierra Music Festival, have been touring coast to coast for over two years straight, and have played with many, many great muscians: Les Claypool, Mike Clark (drummer of Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters fame), John Scofield, Karl Denson and others.

They have a new CD that was just released on Knitting Factory Records: All Is One: Live in New York City

You can also download complete live shows from their website (as MP3s).
posted by leaveok at 1:25 AM on July 12, 2002


Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers. Bar rock beautiful.
posted by eyeballkid at 1:41 AM on July 12, 2002


People are always annoyed when I suggest what they should be listening to.


posted by planetkyoto at 3:12 AM on July 12, 2002


Jonas Hellborg Trio with Shawn Lane and Jeff Sipe (Apt Q-258). The link is to a site with a webcast of a show they played in a private home this spring, very nice. There may be some fall tour dates in the U.S. and Europe.
posted by crunchburger at 3:50 AM on July 12, 2002


'N*sync! I swear I keep telling everyone about this totally unknown band, but everyone's afraid to try something 'new and different' Take a chance I bet if you ever got a chance to hear one of their songs you'd like 'em.

/sarcasm
posted by KnitWit at 5:31 AM on July 12, 2002


You all have to see the Oxes (follow the link for lots of mp3s). Incredible live band - especially the way they stalk around the audience with wireless guitars.
posted by jonathanbell at 5:32 AM on July 12, 2002


But, anyway, give a listen to John Wesley Harding if you haven't. The t-shirt is from The Onion, BTW.
posted by planetkyoto at 5:32 AM on July 12, 2002


How about Ominous Seapods, Gridley Page, or Conehead Buddha, a few really cool bands from mid/upstate New York.
posted by KnitWit at 5:39 AM on July 12, 2002


Clem Snide.

Saw them play to an almost empty room in Detroit back in April and I felt bad for them. Anyone I've played their albums for has dug them right away.
posted by ice_cream_motor at 6:21 AM on July 12, 2002


Yeah... what the heck is up with Clem Snide, though? Do they tour? I've been waiting for 'em to come down to Philly, but they have not yet obliged.

I did have the pleasure of seeing MANOWAR here a month or so again. Totally insane.
posted by ph00dz at 6:31 AM on July 12, 2002


Mmmm. Clem Snide. Dismemberment Plan. When I saw the Plan in Montreal, I was amazed at how small the turn-out was. When I first saw the posters - they were playing at some tiny hole of a bar, with a mere $8 cover - I couldn't understand why such an indie-huge band was playing for such a meager supper. Arriving, and finding only 25 or so people in the crowd, well, I didn't know what to think. I still don't know what the deal was. Bad promotion? Low recognition in Canada? Shitty, shitty sound?

My vote is for Ballboy, an Edinburgh indie-pop band who are making better music than Belle & Sebastian, these days.
posted by Marquis at 6:52 AM on July 12, 2002


Blown. Another great Chicago band. Hard rock at it's best. I will be seeing them tonight before they get huge.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 7:10 AM on July 12, 2002


The Men They Couldn't Hang

Never seem them live, since I live in Brazil and their gigs are mostly in Scottland, England and Germany, but it's one of my favorite bands and one of my goals for the next year is to make it to a show and meet some other fans from the discussion group and drink some beer together.
posted by rexgregbr at 7:33 AM on July 12, 2002


Modey Lemon. Live, they're amazing. They're just amazing..always.
posted by modularette at 7:46 AM on July 12, 2002


Acid Mothers Temple. Completely insane. (Also kind of makes up for not having seen some of the great psychedelic / space rock bands in their heyday)
posted by snarfois at 7:52 AM on July 12, 2002


Oh oh oh - The Frames -- Ireland's best kept secret. Moving, revelatory rock (a la Radiohead), with heavy layerings of folk (a la Bonnie Prince Billy) and drone (a la Mogwai).
posted by Marquis at 8:17 AM on July 12, 2002


mike keneally, the planet's best kept secret!
posted by modge at 8:28 AM on July 12, 2002


How about Ominous Seapods, Gridley Page, or Conehead Buddha, a few really cool bands from mid/upstate New York.

I'll second Conehead Buddha. I'd second the Seapods but they broke up about a year ago. If you miss the Pods, then try catching a Psychedelic Breakfast show. Their guitarist is the real deal. It's funny how so many great bands, mostly jam bands, came out of that upstate NY/Vermont area in the early 90s.
posted by euphorb at 10:51 AM on July 12, 2002


Pittsburgh's Finest....

The Clarks

Buzz Poets

New Invisible Joy

3 different sounds from one great city.

go. listen. enjoy.
posted by berk at 11:01 AM on July 12, 2002


I've seen Sweep the Leg Johnny a few times here in SF; they're a good band, that's for sure. Their drummer's kit is SO LOUD and vocalist/saxophonist Steve Sostak's short mic-stand stylings are just awesome. Friends tell me that Steve is an incredibly nice guy, too. Mitch Cheney (ex-Rumah Sakit) is a recent addition to the band, as well.

The Dismemberment Plan deserves all the hype they can possibly receive. A truly magnificent rock outfit. Shiner is ever-amazing, and Bats & Mice and Engine Down have been turning my head lately.

But without a doubt, the most cohesively kick-ass piece of rock in recent months has been "Go Forth" by Brooklyn's Les Savy Fav. Friggin' brilliant.
posted by redshifter at 12:41 PM on July 12, 2002


For bands from my general area I'd have to go with Weston since everybody did listen to me when I said Live and Fuel kicked ass...
posted by RevGreg at 12:44 PM on July 12, 2002


Ooops, this is a thread about live shows, not great bands. In that case, I haven't seen Bats & Mice or Engine Down, so I can't vouch for their live shows. But if you get the chance to see Shiner, The Plan, or The Fav, (and you like that breed of rock) do yourself a favor and get there.

Incidentally, Les Savy Fav is playing the Siren Festival at Coney Island on July 20. Great lineup, that show is.
posted by redshifter at 1:00 PM on July 12, 2002


i just found some mp3s online from some of the bands mentioned in this thread. there's a superb live track of Sweep among them.

if you dig hardcore, check out the rockets red glare track as well. they opened for sweep last night and were superb.
posted by dobbs at 1:05 PM on July 12, 2002


Being old and out of the loop, I'm not sure how many people across the U.S. know about the 'progabilly' trio Dreadnaught. I came across them last month in Portland, Maine when I was m.c. for an outdoor festival stage. They continued to impress me a week later, when they happened to be coming to my town. And I can't wait till they come back next month.

Hey, hey, they're Dreadnaught. And people say they travel around. . . .
posted by LeLiLo at 8:52 PM on July 12, 2002


I've only just discovered them myself, but Cardiacs fit the bill here nicely (and were the inspiration for the last "best band no one's ever heard of" thread).
posted by Grangousier at 12:30 AM on July 13, 2002


Candiria
Drive-By Truckers
The Lolas
...and a band that has long since broken up but had the greatest band name ever, Vacation Bible School
posted by BitterOldPunk at 4:54 PM on July 13, 2002


I'm a bit late to this thread, but Agents of Good Roots are an excellent band, now "on hiatus."
posted by andrewraff at 5:01 PM on July 13, 2002


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