Who's your favorite obscure band, musical artist?

[Mystery_Meat]

Brandi Carlisle

Heard her leading off for Train last summer. She was outstanding.

Don't know if Anna Nalick can qualify anymore, but...

Both quality choices. Ditto Kathleen Edwards, mentioned by Bill Horton.

 

[Songbird]

Oingo Boingo
ViperHouse when Heloise Williams sang
Co-Deez

 

[Guerrillascribe]

Too many for me to name, which is probably a testament to taste in bands that, while good, don't stick together for long, but I do particularly like Ireland's Cactus World News and England's Screaming Blue Messiahs. The former cut just one LP that made it to U.S. shores (a second was recorded, supposedly, but I've not been able to find it). The latter cut three LPs and several singles but is, unfortunately, notorious for its "I Wanna Be a Flintstone" track that made its way into one of the film adaptations.

The band's LP, "Gun-Shy," is utterly brilliant and I play it on the turntable so often that everytime I find a copy of it at a flea market, I buy it since it's usually just 20 kronor.

And, for what's worth (I may be unveiling my southern roots here), is anyone a fan of Drivin' n' Cryin or a Month of Sundays or Southern Culture on the Skids?

 

[ARD]

Kevin Gordon

 

[Huggy]

I loved the early-90s debut album from Gutterboy, a New York band that seems to have faded into bolivian. Saw them open for the Stray Cats one night at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto. One of the best opening shows I've ever seen.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

Emmylou does a great live cover of Clark's "New cut road" on the CD of "Quarter Moon."

He and Delbert are two of my faves.

As far as ATS goes, I always thought my first novel would be called "Dancers All," one of the best songs on their self-titled LP. Didn't know they're still around but I haven't been in the DC area for 30 years.

They're touring clubs as an anniversary deal. Keep an eye out.
Also, I forgot Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

 

[andyouare?]

Mary Lou Lord -- this jangly singer-songwriter. "Some Jingle-Jangle Morning" is one of my alltime favorite songs. Why she didn't get to be as big as Jewel or Alanis Morrisette during the mid-90s, I'll never know.

I'll second Mary Lou Lord, who, sadly, doesn't have a record deal currently.

FYI Tyler, Mary Lou Lord has a My Space page where she has some pretty racy pictures of herself. Caution: NSFW. It's kind of odd because you don't expect that from an indie/folk artist, but if you have a crush on her like most fans, it's worth checking out on your personal time.

 

[wedgewood]

Before I answer...By obscure do mean independent artists who put out their own albums on their own labels or lesser known artists on smaller labels? Or both?

I guess I'd say both.

 

[Cosmo]

Sorry, shot. Anna Nalick is all over XM's two hit stations (Flight 26 and Hitlist), not to mention Mix 22. She's far from obscure.

 

[SportsDude]

I don't know if you could call them obscure, but Matthew Sweet, Pixies, Fugazi, Husker Du.

Love blues guys like Chris Duarte, Joe Bonamassa and Robin Trower.

 

[Franklin]

they're not really obscure per se (critics and music snobs are always talking them up), but not many folks today listen to them, so i'd throw mission of burma into the ring.

 

[Killick]

I'll second Mary Lou Lord, who, sadly, doesn't have a record deal currently.

From wiki:

"She announced in 2005 that she suffered from a rare vocal chord affliction known as spasmodic dysphonia. She thereafter became more involved in A&R work and started a new management company with her husband Kevin Patey."

Guy I really enjoy is Bob Schneider, another Texas guy. He had "Bullets" on the Jay and Silent Bob soundtrack, and I got hooked on him from there.