Your all-time favorite band

Depending on the decade and my mood, Chicago, Michael Stanley Band, Eagles, Def Leppard, Alice in Chains, STP, Foo Fighters, Black Keys, Nathaniel Rateliff, My Morning Jacket

 

As others mentioned, tough to single out just one. Even at age 50, I go through phases and spurts of listening or re-listening to the depths of musical acts' catalogs. For instance, after watching the "Get Back" series, I pulled out all the Beatles CDs and vinyl I own and re-listened to them, some for the first time in a long while (Let it Be).

Same thing with some of my 1990s (and beyond) alt-country stuff. Just went through a phase of that, playing Uncle Tupelo's first two albums and then remembering how good Ray LaMontagne's "God Willing and the Creek Don't Rise" album is.

But if we're going to go by the combination of concerts attended and records/cassette tapes/CDs owned, the answer is Rush.

 

Gaslight Anthem was really good. Hate that their run was so short. I didn't discover them until after they broke up.

 

Funny you should say that...



Just announced last week that they're back together. And they're working on a new album.

I saw the Gaslight Anthem about ten years ago at a club on the shore of a giant man-made lake. Great show. When it ended I walked outside... and the lake was gone. The dam had burst while I was inside.

 

Like a lot of others, I think I've had several favorites over the years as my musical tastes and attitudes evolved.

The one that's carried on over time, though, is Cowboy Mouth. Just a solid, kick ass rock and roll show every time. Unless maybe they mix in "Amazing Grace." Or some Zeppelin covers. Or go full-blown Phish and play a 90-minute, non-stop medley of whatever the hell they're feeling that night. They play their songs, always finish with their one modest hit "Jenny Says," but it's never the same show twice. It's hard to describe their show because it's really unlike anything out there, between the style and the energy and the way the lead singer/drummer works the room.
No matter what they play, it's impossible to leave one of their shows feeling worse than you did going in. On a really good night it's damn near a religious experience.
If you've lived in the South, and Louisiana in particular, at any point in the last 25 years, going to a Cowboy Mouth show is a box you've probably checked. It's like a rite of passage.

 

Sweet! I hadn't seen this.
Too bad their nearest tour stop is 800 miles away from me.

 

You are so correct, and thank you.
Tina's bass drives all of their songs so well.

ZZ TOP

TALKING HEADS

ALLMAN BROTHERS

 

Can pick only one?

No fun ...

 

Rateliff is a strange one. His albums with the Night Sweats are among my favorites of the last decade, but a lot of his solo stuff is awful.

 

In 1964, when I was 12, I would have debated you on Beatles vs. Beach Boys. Of course, I grew up at the beach. When I got more into music over the next 8-10 years, Chicago jumped into my focus. I love the horn bands -- instruments ahead of singing.

 

I believe they've hinted that they will be adding more dates. I'm the same way...need an NC date. And they always came through here in the past, so I'm hopeful.

 

If one band, you guys probably know which one. Rush is up there, though.

Thing is, if you combine Genesis and the solo acts - Pete, Phil, Mike Rutherford (who had one really good solo album years before he formed Mike + The Mechanics), Mike + The Mechanics, Tony Banks and Steve Hackett - I think I'm at near 50 CDs. And to be a completist - just studio releases, not live albums and bootlegs - that number would double.

Not at all a fan of Rush's first three albums (neither was Neil Peart, and he played on two of them). But their stuff is also top-notch.

But then there's also Billy Joel (sorry, PCLL), Elton John (especially much of his two-studio-albums-a-year run in the early and mid '70s), EWF and James Taylor. And Chuck Mangione. And especially John Williams.

All did their own stuff (except for Mr. Dwight's lyrics by Bernie Taupin). All bring different skills and sensibilities.

OK ... will stop. Flame away. Make jokes.