Obscure 90's indie

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I have a competition on with my mates to come up with the most obscure 90's indie band, any names?

― Reverend merrrick, Sunday, 27 November 2005 20:39 (twenty years ago)

the raymond brake

― cutty (mcutt), Sunday, 27 November 2005 20:40 (twenty years ago)

Wanton Loveboy

― dbricks, Sunday, 27 November 2005 20:47 (twenty years ago)

I think it's a tie between 9,327 bandz.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Sunday, 27 November 2005 20:54 (twenty years ago)

My New Boyfriend

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 27 November 2005 20:55 (twenty years ago)

Wingtip Sloat

― Edward III (edward iii), Sunday, 27 November 2005 21:09 (twenty years ago)

the fresh air kids

true: an indie-rap band out of ithaca NY that specialized in raps about being drunk and falling down

― gear (gear), Sunday, 27 November 2005 21:11 (twenty years ago)

Are there any conditions? Must the band have at least undertaken a national tour or released a full-length album etc?

― Eoin (eoinot), Sunday, 27 November 2005 21:41 (twenty years ago)

Prickly

― Guayaquil (eephus), Sunday, 27 November 2005 21:58 (twenty years ago)

the smoothies

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Sunday, 27 November 2005 22:13 (twenty years ago)

the regrets/vitreous humor

― naturemorte, Sunday, 27 November 2005 22:19 (twenty years ago)

Weeping in Fits and Starts

Carnage Asada

Salt Chunk Mary

Brown Supper

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Sunday, 27 November 2005 22:28 (twenty years ago)

Bomb Pops

Is This Bob

John's Black Dirt

Sweet Things

Hed

Cornelius Gomez

Art Space

Bagpipe Operation

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Sunday, 27 November 2005 22:33 (twenty years ago)

tear jerks

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Sunday, 27 November 2005 22:33 (twenty years ago)

slack

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Sunday, 27 November 2005 22:34 (twenty years ago)

re there any conditions? Must the band have at least undertaken a national tour or released a full-length album etc?

-- Eoin (tuairis...), November 28th, 2005.

yeah - as i'm sure i could list a hundred local groups that played a handful of shows and never recorded.

― chris andrews (fraew), Sunday, 27 November 2005 22:40 (twenty years ago)

the goobers
once in a fortnight
sandwich junkies

― latebloomer: Do I have a large frog in my hair? (latebloomer), Sunday, 27 November 2005 22:42 (twenty years ago)

my favourite would be: le mot cafe
crazy 'french-instrumental-ish' spin-off from local legends the puffins... still occassionally play shows now some 5 years later.

― chris andrews (fraew), Sunday, 27 November 2005 22:45 (twenty years ago)

the urethra franklins

― latebloomer: Do I have a large frog in my hair? (latebloomer), Sunday, 27 November 2005 22:59 (twenty years ago)

malarkey ninjas

― latebloomer: Do I have a large frog in my hair? (latebloomer), Sunday, 27 November 2005 23:22 (twenty years ago)

the raymond brake birthed Tussle. (in case you didn't know.)

My answer based on refiling all my 7"s today...

Herzfeld. 1 single on Duophonic, sounds exactly like Stereolab.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Sunday, 27 November 2005 23:23 (twenty years ago)

haha i was so going to say herzfeld!! he had a mini-lp too, very very un-stereolab-like..

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Sunday, 27 November 2005 23:25 (twenty years ago)

Parva!

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 27 November 2005 23:30 (twenty years ago)

I think my choice existed for one month and only recorded one song. And yet they were definitely indie.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 27 November 2005 23:31 (twenty years ago)

honcho overload
hula hoop

― my name is john. i reside in chicago. (frankE), Sunday, 27 November 2005 23:48 (twenty years ago)

I used to review records for a NW magazine called Snipehunt in the 90's. There were vast swathes of obscure 7" releases. Sometimes I would even muster up the will to listen to them and give them bad reviews. Sadly, there is still a good handful of them in my house. Here are some:

Wonder "Obsession For Men"
Spine "Tiny Bones/Jack's Hit"
Bill Racine s/t
Harvest Theory "From The Back"

― sleeve (sleeve), Monday, 28 November 2005 00:14 (twenty years ago)

― sleeve (sleeve), Monday, 28 November 2005 00:16 (twenty years ago)

I like Weeping in Fits and Starts!

― Guayaquil (eephus), Monday, 28 November 2005 00:47 (twenty years ago)

you're on the right thread, then

― gear (gear), Monday, 28 November 2005 01:10 (twenty years ago)

the raymond brake birthed Tussle. (in case you didn't know.)

I KNEW THIS

― cutty (mcutt), Monday, 28 November 2005 01:20 (twenty years ago)

baked bean teeth will win this shit with both hands tied behind his back, he ain't even got warmed up yet

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Monday, 28 November 2005 01:42 (twenty years ago)

sammy

― cutty (mcutt), Monday, 28 November 2005 01:45 (twenty years ago)

space needle

― cutty (mcutt), Monday, 28 November 2005 01:46 (twenty years ago)

pumpernickel

― cutty (mcutt), Monday, 28 November 2005 01:46 (twenty years ago)

two dollar guitar

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Monday, 28 November 2005 01:48 (twenty years ago)

shiva speedway

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Monday, 28 November 2005 01:48 (twenty years ago)

milky wimpshake

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Monday, 28 November 2005 01:48 (twenty years ago)

sammy was terrible. what was their indie-cred connection? I vaguely remember something...

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Monday, 28 November 2005 01:53 (twenty years ago)

smells like records was their cred

― cutty (mcutt), Monday, 28 November 2005 01:57 (twenty years ago)

also they were from great neck, long island

― cutty (mcutt), Monday, 28 November 2005 01:57 (twenty years ago)

wade

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Monday, 28 November 2005 02:08 (twenty years ago)

anything on the toothpick label outta Belgium

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Monday, 28 November 2005 02:43 (twenty years ago)

the ah club

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Monday, 28 November 2005 02:48 (twenty years ago)

sukpatch

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Monday, 28 November 2005 02:58 (twenty years ago)

victory at sea

hurl

― m bott, Monday, 28 November 2005 02:58 (twenty years ago)

ender

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Monday, 28 November 2005 02:59 (twenty years ago)

victory & hurl aren't that obscure, surely?

go sailor, whose "fine day for sailing" single I still have to this day.
hypnolovewheel obscure enough?
sohcahtoa.

― Special Agent Dale Koopa (orion), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:06 (twenty years ago)

go sailor have too much rose melberg to be truly obscure. oh the crush i had on rose back in the day

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:07 (twenty years ago)

the i live the life of a movie star secret hideout

― Guayaquil (eephus), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:13 (twenty years ago)

creeping jenny

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:15 (twenty years ago)

landis

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:18 (twenty years ago)

what other bands was rose melberg in? i never bothered to check.

― Special Agent Dale Koopa (orion), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:22 (twenty years ago)

she is in the softies.

― svend (svend), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:23 (twenty years ago)

also tiger trap and gaze

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:28 (twenty years ago)

rose melberg was also in tiger trap, gaze, a couple of other short-lived projects, and had a solo album, too. she actually has another coming out next year, which i'm looking forward to sooo much.

her complete (i think) discography: http://www.doubleagentrecords.com/rose/disco/

― andy dale (andy dale), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:30 (twenty years ago)

c/z records

― cutty (mcutt), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:31 (twenty years ago)

oh, jim p. beat me to posting tiger trap and gaze.

that discography is only up to 2000 too, by the way. maybe there's been a single or something since.

― andy dale (andy dale), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:32 (twenty years ago)

Trough Lolly

― The Velvet Overlord (The Velvet Overlord), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:33 (twenty years ago)

fudge

and that dischord band that had, a la branca 7 guitarists.

― m bott, Monday, 28 November 2005 03:35 (twenty years ago)

dis-

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:36 (twenty years ago)

wolfie

many would argue that they were obscure for a reason, though... but i love 'em.

― andy dale (andy dale), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:38 (twenty years ago)

spatula

― cutty (mcutt), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:38 (twenty years ago)

nord express

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:41 (twenty years ago)

cuppa joe

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:42 (twenty years ago)

schrasj

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:43 (twenty years ago)

the satnam puppets

I so totally win

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:46 (twenty years ago)

children's ice cream

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:47 (twenty years ago)

wwax

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:48 (twenty years ago)

wolfie isn't obscure though they are horrible.
i don't know how obscure milky wimpshake is either what with running a label and all.

― keyth (keyth), Monday, 28 November 2005 03:52 (twenty years ago)

i don't know how obscure milky wimpshake is either what with running a label and all.

you're right, they're huge

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Monday, 28 November 2005 04:00 (twenty years ago)

the eyesores.

― Special Agent Dale Koopa (orion), Monday, 28 November 2005 04:06 (twenty years ago)

c.o.r.n. corn

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Monday, 28 November 2005 04:07 (twenty years ago)

stumpy joe

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Monday, 28 November 2005 04:07 (twenty years ago)

finger

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Monday, 28 November 2005 04:07 (twenty years ago)

sone

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Monday, 28 November 2005 04:08 (twenty years ago)

monkey 101

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Monday, 28 November 2005 04:08 (twenty years ago)

powderburns

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Monday, 28 November 2005 04:12 (twenty years ago)

and which Sone would that be, US or NZ?

― loxmyth, Monday, 28 November 2005 04:24 (twenty years ago)

Milky Wimpshake are pretty highly regarded in some places, Slampt was pretty influential and they get talked about and referenced a lot more then most of the bands listed here.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Monday, 28 November 2005 04:34 (twenty years ago)

uh, I was thinking of the Portland US band ... but if you want an obscure NZ band can I nominate The Weeds?

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Monday, 28 November 2005 04:40 (twenty years ago)

Sone (U.S.) released a massively great single, "High Frame Audio" -- described well by Douglas here.

― Guayaquil (eephus), Monday, 28 November 2005 04:43 (twenty years ago)

both Sones are pretty obscure, but Sone NZ was an arty A/V collective that didn't have the benefit of Darla distro. so they prolly have the edge.

i nominate Frog Records superstars Bushpilot and pre-Ganger outfit Reid. oh, and the somewhat related Aspidistra.

― loxmyth, Monday, 28 November 2005 04:43 (twenty years ago)

luxembourg girl

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Monday, 28 November 2005 04:51 (twenty years ago)

bright

― cutty (mcutt), Monday, 28 November 2005 04:54 (twenty years ago)

how about "BIG HEIFER", eh????? anyone know that one?

http://www.mikroknytes.com/supernova/images/bigh.gif

― corey c (shock of daylight), Monday, 28 November 2005 05:10 (twenty years ago)

Nod, who I bet Stormy knows.

― Special Agent Dale Koopa (orion), Monday, 28 November 2005 05:24 (twenty years ago)

Apollo 9

Sabalon Glitz

(with nods to Stormy)

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Monday, 28 November 2005 05:28 (twenty years ago)

glee club. chimera. both were quite good ... and quite obscure :-(

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Monday, 28 November 2005 05:32 (twenty years ago)

Belreve

Whopping Big Naughty

Bricks

VPN

Snake River

Gerogerigegege

Pica Huss

Millipede

Blaise Pascal

Wade

The Meek

Big Satan Inc.

Los Marauders

Liquorball

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Monday, 28 November 2005 05:33 (twenty years ago)

it is frightening how many of these bands i know/like/own records by.

wade are so obscure they've been mentioned twice ;)

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Monday, 28 November 2005 05:37 (twenty years ago)

Blairmailer

Hanshalf Trio

Flap

Vitapup

Hooker

Good Horsey

Pork Torta

Pork

Bargoye

Vix Crater

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Monday, 28 November 2005 05:38 (twenty years ago)

ha .. Nod ... I think it's coming to me ... Albany ? ERL records?? I don't think I've ever even heard them! BBT I seriously have an old catalog on the floor here, let me see....

Ockatracker?
Pop Smear?
Jasmine Love Bomb?
Crowbar Massage?
Moss Icon?
and Mr. K3nn3th Ya0's favorite ... BENCH!

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Monday, 28 November 2005 05:42 (twenty years ago)

molasses

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Monday, 28 November 2005 05:42 (twenty years ago)

Oh, and C.O.R.N. Corn = 80s. Sorry to burst any bubbles.

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Monday, 28 November 2005 05:44 (twenty years ago)

Nod were a Rochester area band I think. I've got the 1 sided 12" on I Was French In The Morning records (how's that for pretentious.) It's really bizarro lo-fi jazzy clatter rock.

Moss Icon = emo stand-by

― Special Agent Dale Koopa (orion), Monday, 28 November 2005 05:44 (twenty years ago)

Real Cool Rain

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 28 November 2005 05:45 (twenty years ago)

Holy shit, Octatrackter! I was obsessed with their first 7".

And yeah, pretty much any release on Noiseville might qualify: Unholy Swill, Drunk John Lennon, Bootbeast...same with Funky Mushroom, home of Crowbar Massage.

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Monday, 28 November 2005 05:46 (twenty years ago)

uh, I was thinking of the Portland US band ... but if you want an obscure NZ band can I nominate The Weeds?

I have 2 Weeds singles, wasn't a pre-Dead C/Wreck Small Speakers/Gate Michael Morley a member.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Monday, 28 November 2005 05:47 (twenty years ago)

hehehe ... I figured as much about the Indiana's finest C.O.R.N. Corn .. that was more for yours and Banana's benefit :)

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Monday, 28 November 2005 05:48 (twenty years ago)

S&D: Blackbean & Placenta Record And Tape Club.

― Special Agent Dale Koopa (orion), Monday, 28 November 2005 05:49 (twenty years ago)

x-post

oh, I didn't know the Weeds had more than one single! The one I have is "Wheatfields" / "Heartbreak Hotel". and yes, Mr. Morley was a member. "Wheatfields" is an awesome song.

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Monday, 28 November 2005 05:49 (twenty years ago)

Anybody remember Trunk, from San Francisco? They put out at least 2 LPs and toured the U.S. at least once.

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Monday, 28 November 2005 05:52 (twenty years ago)

toystore

classic if you know it

― andy dale (andy dale), Monday, 28 November 2005 06:31 (twenty years ago)

which i don't, by the way.

does anybody know that album? anybody actually heard it?

― andy dale (andy dale), Monday, 28 November 2005 06:35 (twenty years ago)

The Dennis Lillees

― acb (acb), Monday, 28 November 2005 09:31 (twenty years ago)

golden starlet/international strike force

― w cowper, Monday, 28 November 2005 10:00 (twenty years ago)

emperor julian

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Monday, 28 November 2005 10:08 (twenty years ago)

parva - haha.

and as for wimpy milkshake - 'they' are still going - new album in the pile. not really got into it yet.

as for my answer : the fabians

really bad second rate mix of these animal men and early Manics.

one single (maybe 2), pressed up by the band themselves and available through local shops in leeds.

got a support slot with manics, and were mentioned in the nme due to their post gig party (that they origanised) as this was where one of the Blaggers ITA blokes (also on the tour with the manics i think) thumped someone from NME - thus resulting in the Blaggers never getting press again.

― mark e (mark e), Monday, 28 November 2005 10:30 (twenty years ago)

olivia honey

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Monday, 28 November 2005 10:33 (twenty years ago)

I got a split single with Thrush Puppies on one side and Flatback Four on the other after hearing it on John Peel. Never heard of either ever again.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Monday, 28 November 2005 10:59 (twenty years ago)

i'd like to contribute but i only started listening to indie a few years ago

― Idle Idle (idleidleidle), Monday, 28 November 2005 12:10 (twenty years ago)

This Kind Of Punishment
Look Blue Go Purple
the Great Unwashed
Wreak Small Speakers On Expensive Stereos
,or were these the 80s

― Jacobs (LolVStein), Monday, 28 November 2005 12:44 (twenty years ago)

I just got sent (from a largish UK PR) an album by John Parkes, "frontman for BBC Radio 1 night time indie guitar heroes Greenhouse, Fuzzbird, The Sinister Cleaners and other great bands that almost broke through but never got the lucky break". I can just about remember Fuzzbird from those

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Monday, 28 November 2005 12:56 (twenty years ago)

Blairmailer

holy crap

I'll see your Blairmailer and raise you Fruitcake

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:19 (twenty years ago)

This has become a US version of This is the thread where we reminisce over not particularly good Evening Session bands from the late 90s, huh?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:26 (twenty years ago)

cold water flat

― d90 (d90), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:30 (twenty years ago)

To be a proper equivalent to that it would have to be more geared towards bands whose tentative steps into the big time were halted by their total forgettable mediocrity. Like, er, Cold Water Flat

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:37 (twenty years ago)

Jacob, those are totally hipster cred NZ bands. In any case, if you don't have the Nocturnal Projections stuff get it asap, pre-This Kind of Punishment post-Joy Division style NZ punk from the Jefferies.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Monday, 28 November 2005 13:57 (twenty years ago)

I don't want to add any local bands, but how about the Monkey Power Trio?

― Matt B. (Matt B.), Monday, 28 November 2005 17:14 (twenty years ago)

the Veronica Cartwrights
the Wee Turtles
Brittle Stars
Joe Christmas
the Congratulations Fruit/Fleet
Mercury Birds
Dumbwaiters (bigger now, I guess)
Bob
Tim
Massey Ferguson
the Martians
kincaid.

― Garrett Martin (Garrett Martin), Monday, 28 November 2005 17:24 (twenty years ago)

* Shoebox Full of Love
* Kumari
* Nik-L-Nip
* Musical Chairs
* The Ah Club
* Small World Experience
* Incinerator

― mike a, Monday, 28 November 2005 17:50 (twenty years ago)

thrilled skinny! peel session too!

― earnest (earnest), Monday, 28 November 2005 18:02 (twenty years ago)

The Restroom Poets
Whirring Road
When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water
Jellyfish Babies (not Jellyfish. Appeared on the soundtrack to Canadian film Highway 61).

Or you could flip it and go for The Latents.

― js (honestengine), Monday, 28 November 2005 18:08 (twenty years ago)

i'm amazed at how few of these bands i've heard of! i get caleld an obscurist indie scumbag almost every day, but i've heard of literally two bands on this entire list - and one of those is only retrosepctive knowledge on the back of subesquent post name-change fame! (Parva obv)

And the other? Sammy - isn't there a Lemonheads connection? And a You Am I/some other Australian band connection? Sodastream, perhaps?

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Monday, 28 November 2005 18:12 (twenty years ago)

Charlie: That's because there's an infinite supply of obscure bands that maybe put out an album or two and then disappeared without ever getting out of their home towns. Sometimes those albums are even good, but usually not so much.

― js (honestengine), Monday, 28 November 2005 18:22 (twenty years ago)

I work with the former drummer from Tribute To Nothing. Do I win £5?

― Pvt. Dave Goes To Far (scarlet), Monday, 28 November 2005 18:23 (twenty years ago)

God's Favorite Band
Drop Acid
The Plaid Pantry Project
Nusfo Dogstar

― Terrible Cold (Terrible Cold), Monday, 28 November 2005 20:06 (twenty years ago)

Pencil

― earlnash, Monday, 28 November 2005 20:08 (twenty years ago)

how about "BIG HEIFER", eh????? anyone know that one?

They played the first show I ever booked, along with a guy who went on to play drums for the eyesores. Does that make me an obscure 90's promoter?

― ianinportland (ianinportland), Monday, 28 November 2005 20:18 (twenty years ago)

Vitapup

They're sort of emo Dragonfly 7" was all the rage at my campus radio station when it first came out- then I blinked and they were passe, accused of being sell-outs. I saw them a few months later at some club in NYC ('96 or so) and they were doing some kind of live instrument hip-hop/poetry thing. I think they got signed, but don't recall anything ever coming out.

Some other obscure bands that come to mind:
Blowhole
Rrope
Three Day Stubble

― o. nate (onate), Monday, 28 November 2005 20:29 (twenty years ago)

Strange Boutique

― Guayaquil (eephus), Monday, 28 November 2005 20:47 (twenty years ago)

Tokyo Sexwhale

― patita (patita), Monday, 28 November 2005 21:01 (twenty years ago)

and you don't stop:

Lida Husik
Wandering Lucy
Shambling Mounds
Geek
Inkling
Gaze
Holiday
Holiday Flyer
beanpole

― mike a, Monday, 28 November 2005 21:04 (twenty years ago)

evergreen; the california band, not the slint-related band.

― Special Agent Dale Koopa (orion), Monday, 28 November 2005 21:41 (twenty years ago)

Travis.

― Vinegar and Artichoke Hearts (Bimble...), Monday, 28 November 2005 21:43 (twenty years ago)

MONSTERLAND
VERONICA LAKE
CRAYON
TWIG
CRACKERBASH

I have a 7" by a NYC band called THUMPER that is pretty KILLER.

― ddb (ddb), Monday, 28 November 2005 21:48 (twenty years ago)

Lily Liver

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 28 November 2005 21:48 (twenty years ago)

shit...LOVECHILD!!!

WHO I PROBABLY SAW PLAY TWENTY TIMES AT LEAST.

― ddb (ddb), Monday, 28 November 2005 21:49 (twenty years ago)

christie front drive
cringer

― Special Agent Dale Koopa (orion), Monday, 28 November 2005 21:53 (twenty years ago)

NOTHING PAINTED BLUE

― ddb (ddb), Monday, 28 November 2005 21:55 (twenty years ago)

They Eat Their Own

― Dan (Like A Drug) Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 28 November 2005 21:59 (twenty years ago)

geezer lake?
m.

― msp (mspa), Monday, 28 November 2005 22:21 (twenty years ago)

Were Christie Front Drive, Crayon, or Nothing Painted Blue all that obscure? Maybe compared to Pavement, or something, but aren't all three relatively well-known and respected within their respective subsubgenres?

anyway, a couple more, from Chapel Hill: the Minerva Strain, and 81 Mulberry.

― Garrett Martin (Garrett Martin), Monday, 28 November 2005 22:27 (twenty years ago)

shit...LOVECHILD!!!

that guitar solo on "Six of One" is one of favourite bits of 90s music. yey Alan Licht!

― zappi (joni), Monday, 28 November 2005 22:27 (twenty years ago)

christie front drive was great... npb too.

argentina was a good band for a time. they could've been much less obscure.

i'm curious who above deserved more than they got.... the brittle stars were also pretty great for example.
m.

― msp (mspa), Monday, 28 November 2005 22:34 (twenty years ago)

Chevy Heston

― morris pavilion (samjeff), Monday, 28 November 2005 22:35 (twenty years ago)

I nix They Eat Their Own on the grounds that I've heard of them (something only about two other bands on this thread can claim).

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 28 November 2005 22:38 (twenty years ago)

the bands are getting a lot less obscure.

fretblanket

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Monday, 28 November 2005 22:38 (twenty years ago)

stone temple pilots

― j blount (papa la bas), Monday, 28 November 2005 22:39 (twenty years ago)

it would've been a nice treat if stp had stayed obscure.
m.

― msp (mspa), Monday, 28 November 2005 22:42 (twenty years ago)

Baked Bean Teeth oughta know. He sold it all at his store. But...he forgot the Zen Vikings, which he conned a friend of ours into buying.

― kwhitehead (stephen schmidt), Monday, 28 November 2005 22:50 (twenty years ago)

ettil vrye.

― Special Agent Dale Koopa (orion), Monday, 28 November 2005 23:19 (twenty years ago)

the magpies

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Monday, 28 November 2005 23:24 (twenty years ago)

Benjamin Kitestring

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 28 November 2005 23:31 (twenty years ago)

silver

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Monday, 28 November 2005 23:34 (twenty years ago)

pearl jam

― latebloomer: Do I have a large frog in my hair? (latebloomer), Monday, 28 November 2005 23:58 (twenty years ago)

not sure how obscure these are but i do not think any have yet been mentioned (full disclosure i may have released music by some of them on various comp.s):

crain
ruby falls
dumbhead
eggs
sleepyhead
kicking giant
swirlies
grifters
uncle wiggly
spawnbath
dungbeetle
fly ashtray
big tube squeezer
blue hippos
...shit, so many!

― Michael J McGonigal (mike mcgonigal), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 00:23 (twenty years ago)

Sorry about that Zen Vikings 7"...dunno what I was thinking.

More:
Crunt
Crust
Slub
Balloon Guy
Gear Jammer
Modern Vending
Jot
Datura Seeds
D.O.G. (Chicago)
Sugar Boom
Rotor
Ditch Croaker (big in Hull, I've heard)

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 01:28 (twenty years ago)

kissyfur!

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 01:30 (twenty years ago)

some Chicago names:

Zeek Sheck
Dot Dot Dot
Brise Glace
Frontier
Math
Specula
Elliot
Nectarine
Etaoin Shrdlu
Shorty
Cherry Rodriguez
Desert Storm

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 01:32 (twenty years ago)

kissyfur!

The Suzanne Lewis band? What's she up to lately, do you know?

― morris pavilion (samjeff), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 01:39 (twenty years ago)

Dirt Clod Fight
Duh
Meices

― joygoat (joygoat), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 02:12 (twenty years ago)

juned

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 02:15 (twenty years ago)

we should have a companion thread where people list which bands of these they saw live.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 02:17 (twenty years ago)

and now we do.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 02:25 (twenty years ago)

D.O.G. (Chicago)

hahaha ... I fucking LOVED D.O.G. ! I still have the single. on Casting Couch records wasn't it? (and doesn't that mean there is a New Rob Robbies connection there?? not to mention a Mol Triffid connection. and a Tortoise connection!! the first Tortoise track ever came out on Casting Couch when they were called Mosquito, didn't it? but back to D.O.G., featuring everyone's favorite engineer Casey Rice! Not only did I see 'em live once or twice, I think I still have a cassette of a radio performance they did on WHPK.

Specula of course were awesome, saw them (him) a ton of times, still have all three singles.

How about everyone's favorite noise musician Kevin Drumm's short-lived combo BULL! also featuring Dave Riley from Big Black. single and an EP.

how about everyone's favorite pre-Fischerspooner combo, TABLE! two singles, I think I still have them both lying around somewhere...

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 02:29 (twenty years ago)

what about june? they were from chapel hill. i enjoyed them.

kissyfur!
The Suzanne Lewis band? What's she up to lately, do you know?

dude, i dont know! if anyone has info, please let me know.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 02:31 (twenty years ago)

the first Tortoise track ever came out on Casting Couch when they were called Mosquito, didn't it?

wasn't their first thing on like a 7" boxset thingy?

Specula of course were awesome, saw them (him) a ton of times, still have all three singles.

something makes me think i saw specula.

How about everyone's favorite noise musician Kevin Drumm's short-lived combo BULL! also featuring Dave Riley from Big Black. single and an EP.

wtf?!?!? kevin was in BULL? holy fucking shit, that's funny.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 02:34 (twenty years ago)

yeah, I have the Bull single. never heard the ep...

and yeah, that Mosquito track was on a 7" box with a bunch of other bands that could place on this thread.

dude, if you lived in Chicago, I'm *sure* you saw Specula at least once ... solo guy with a guitar and lots of tape effects / noise backing

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 02:40 (twenty years ago)

now i wish i had that bull 7" and the box with mosquito. i know i saw 'em back in stores back in the day.

yeah, that specula thing sounds familiar.

― hstencil (hstencil), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 02:43 (twenty years ago)

I have that 3x7" box thing, and Tortoise was still called Mosquito then (I think that was around the time that the Tim Shelley [or was it Tim Foljahn] Mosquito was around).

Wow, I'd forgotten about the Table/Fischerspooner connection. I remember Table as being a *really* terrible Big Black wannabe band...or maybe it was Slint. I think they got Homestead to put out one of their 7"s, too.

D.O.G. was future drum & bass legend Casey Rice, Joaquin de la Puenta (sp?), soundman extraordinare Elliott Dicks (later in Rome and the Nerves), and one other guy. They were sort of NY Dolls-ish as I recall. They were part of this mini Columbus, OH invasion in Chicago around 1990/91, but I'm completely blanking on what other musicians were part of that group.

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 02:53 (twenty years ago)

I have both Specula singles.

Any band on this thread that I've heard of (and there have been a LOT) is by definition not obscure enough for the original poster's needs.

― sleeve (sleeve), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 02:58 (twenty years ago)

Dirt Clod Fight are still around! They live in Eugene, Oregon now. They're really fucking good.

― sleeve (sleeve), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 03:02 (twenty years ago)

I have that 3x7" box thing, and Tortoise was still called Mosquito then (I think that was around the time that the Tim Shelley [or was it Tim Foljahn] Mosquito was around).
Wow, I'd forgotten about the Table/Fischerspooner connection. I remember Table as being a *really* terrible Big Black wannabe band...or maybe it was Slint. I think they got Homestead to put out one of their 7"s, too.

THIS IS WHAT I AM TALKIN' ABOUT PPL

do not fuck with ninjas, they will straight kill you

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 03:14 (twenty years ago)

Lovechild was great but not obscure by any means. Half the people here know 'em. Their praises aren't sung often, but they're sung.

Vambo Marble Eye

― TRG (TRG), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 03:21 (twenty years ago)

*blush*

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 03:22 (twenty years ago)

Vambo Marble Eye

And ladies and gentlemen, I do believe we have a winner. Holeee shit.

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 03:23 (twenty years ago)

Also, that D.O.G. 7" had a 'special edition' featuring a holographic cover, which I also happen to own.

My god, I've turned into the Comic Book Store guy on the Simpsons...

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 03:25 (twenty years ago)

were the grifters really very obscure? subpop + spin reviews, etc.

brice glace ownz. used to listen to that all the time.

zeek sheck still plays yes?

i asked pete larsen if he'd reissue the math stuff and he responded with a polite, "quintron would kill me!"

hardeeharhar.

where's the bottom line here? at least one achievement?
m.

― msp (mspa), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 03:32 (twenty years ago)

"Etaoin Shrdlu"?

Surely you made this one up.

― kwhitehead (stephen schmidt), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 03:33 (twenty years ago)

the i live the life of a movie star secret hideout

I've got two of their records perched on my mantle at this very moment. Not sure I've ever actually listened to them, I just like the cover art.

And also...

Autoclave, Difference Engine, and if only they weren't from the 80's, Blue Clocks Green.

― mattS, Tuesday, 29 November 2005 03:33 (twenty years ago)

Vambo Marble Eye

yeah, let me just second BBT's "whoa" on this one

― Banana Nutrament (ghostface), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 03:53 (twenty years ago)

Enormous Richard
(St. Louis band, put out 3 albums or so, opened for Uncle Tupelo, toured, claimed to play something called "skuntry.")

― Roy Kasten, Tuesday, 29 November 2005 03:58 (twenty years ago)

Etaoin Shrdlu were friends of Shrimp Boat during their Phyllis' Musical Inn days, but I don't think they ever recorded.

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 04:39 (twenty years ago)

The Rosemarys

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 04:53 (twenty years ago)

msp wrote: "were the grifters really very obscure? subpop + spin reviews, etc. brice glace ownz. used to listen to that all the time."

grifters were not obscure at the time but they appear to be to "kids today" -- anytime i DJ them out and about people freak and say "what's that, never heard that band," etc. this is clearly stretching the def. of obscure, but for me they were one of the best bands of the '90s.

i love how o'rourke was so upfront about brise glace being a blatant this heat rip-off, and his tape-splice "cover" of ac/dc on that 4-band 2 7" split on skin graft is just mind-blowing to this day...

one more i forgot: AUGUST SONS

― Michael J McGonigal (mike mcgonigal), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 05:20 (twenty years ago)

Whatever happened to Dave Shouse's post-Grifters band Those Bastard Souls, anyway? They sorta broke out real big for a second and then were gone in a flash.

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 05:41 (twenty years ago)

I've heard of one band here, and that was because I downloaded it totally at random in slsk. Maybe the thread is long enough to do a search/don't bother destroying, assuming the default is awful/boring?

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 05:49 (twenty years ago)

I would mention Supercollider (the Emigre one) but Banana and donut know, so.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 05:52 (twenty years ago)

"this is clearly stretching the def. of obscure, but for me they were one of the best bands of the '90s."

put that way i think it's a nice choice.
m.

― msp (mspa), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 07:12 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, the Grifters definitely got lost in terms of what bands have been remembered from that era.

Whoever mentioned Sabalon Glitz upthread: they played the Chicago date of Lollapalooza '95!!

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 07:20 (twenty years ago)

I have an album made by some kids from Ypsilanti, MI, circa 1999, where the CD is enclosed in a Ziploc bag and taped to a cardboard sleeve. The band: a spastic pop act called Cornish in a Turtleneck.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 07:23 (twenty years ago)

I used to fantasize that BBT would throw all his scenester muscle in to promoting a UK tour that would kick off at the Hull Adelphi
The headliners would be Ditch Croaker,supported by Weird Paul (guest featuring the roadie from the Repulse Kava 'dance' offshoot, N.U.D.G.E on acoustic theremin) and a fully reformed Wingtip Sloat (with the addition of the drummer's dad on 'organic' chainsaw).
BBT failed to deliver and my soul remains desolate.

Meanwhile, the bulk of these great bands''editions of 200 in Ulcer Red' remain shrinkwrapped or cardboard boxed somewhere in a Chicago basement...together with all the flotsam and jetsam that came with them (bits of the drummer's car, pebbles , dog hair, dried fish etc.)

On the other hand,I must mention the Grifters seeing as others have nodded to them.
The Grifters are one of my favourite bands ever.They were not obscure though were they? They DID play the Hull Adelphi! Perhaps their songs coincide with some significant non events in my life that sends chills and tingles down my spine when I play them. Usually when I'm paralytic . They had soul and of course, the blues which then fractured into some fuzzed up punk in some far off galaxy. Shut up man.
BBT, you mentioned Shouse's, Those Bastard Souls. They did seem to be prominent on the radar for a time (five years ago?) but then gone.

I kept picking up on a possible Grifters re- union but reading between the lines, there was some sort of fall out? Or maybe, just a fall? I guess that they're pretty old now, like me? Think the bassist Tripp is still in bands. Not sure about Scott Taylor or Stan
What do I know,I don't even live in the States, let alone Memphis. do I even care ? Obviously so.

― Jessie the Drunk Dutch Mountain Dog (Jessie the Drunk Dutch Mountai), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 10:39 (twenty years ago)

The Brady Bunch Lawnmower Massacre (I believe they were around in 1990)

― acb (acb), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 10:40 (twenty years ago)

Do Flophouse count or were they more late Eighties> Classy nonetheless

― Jessie the Drunk Dutch Mountain Dog (Jessie the Drunk Dutch Mountai), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 12:52 (twenty years ago)

Ear Go FFF!

(A prolapse offshoot featuring Geordie Mick's 9 year old cousin)

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 13:01 (twenty years ago)

holly hobby

― zappi (joni), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 13:13 (twenty years ago)

kooky monster

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 13:39 (twenty years ago)

john hogg and the incredible cigars

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 13:39 (twenty years ago)

jeremy, who's only release was a song called "i wish i was john peels son". and john peel played it!

― zappi (joni), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 13:41 (twenty years ago)

He's still going apparently, tho' only plays gigs to snoozing cats nowadays.

Whatever happened to the late lamented 'John Sims' and 'discordia' tho'?

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 13:46 (twenty years ago)

i love injokes!

― zappi (joni), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 13:48 (twenty years ago)

"I have an album made by some kids from Ypsilanti, MI, circa 1999, where the CD is enclosed in a Ziploc bag and taped to a cardboard sleeve. The band: a spastic pop act called Cornish in a Turtleneck. "

At least one of the Cornish guys moved to Athens, Georgia, to go to college, and wound up starting a few obscure early '00's indie rock bands. Like the Sugar Shakers, and Col. Knowledge and the Lickety-Splits.

Cornish in a Turtleneck were very popular at the campus radio station back in '98 or '99.

― Garrett Martin (Garrett Martin), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 13:59 (twenty years ago)

I'll see your Jot, Modern Vending and Datura Seeds and raise you:

Steve Kowalski's Army
The Walking Ruins
Helen Shields

― earlnash, Tuesday, 29 November 2005 14:01 (twenty years ago)

do not fuck with ninjas, they will straight kill you

Speaking of which: The Ninjas. Two of which later formed Black Dice.

― mike a, Tuesday, 29 November 2005 14:20 (twenty years ago)

Hahaha, Cornish in a Turtleneck is great! Tim Screiber (the guy who moved to Athens) was also responsible for the infamous "The Ypsilanti All-Starz/Dope Assed Booty Dominataz/A Collection of 10 Songs About Booties" cassette. Juan Garcia had a label (Tiny Hands?) for a little while, and he still puts out solo records (he did a split record with Fred Thomas from Saturday Looks Good to Me).

― Matt B. (Matt B.), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 14:24 (twenty years ago)

I am in awe that other people know this band. Awesome.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 14:47 (twenty years ago)

(I mean, I just randomly ended up at a house party in Ann Arbor and they were playing in the basement!)

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 14:48 (twenty years ago)

Baby Tooth

― ianinportland (ianinportland), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 16:17 (twenty years ago)

earlnash, you MUST have spent time in Bloomington Indiana. But I thought Steve Kowalski's Army (that was Rob Rowe and whoever, yeah?) was an 80's band. I left B-ton in '90 so I wouldn't know, but I DID live with the Walking Ruins on 1st Street for a year.

― sleeve (sleeve), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 16:25 (twenty years ago)

Baby Tooth or Baby Teeth? Cuz there's a band in Chicago right now called Baby Teeth.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 16:26 (twenty years ago)

Baby Tooth. The main guitarist/singer now runs a recording studio in NY and has worked records by fischerspooner, black dice, ted leo and many more...

― ianinportland (ianinportland), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 16:32 (twenty years ago)

yeah I never thought of the Grifters as all that obscure, but I'm from their neck of the woods, so perhaps my pov is a bit skewed.

Tripp plays with Tim Prudhomme (from Fuck. remember them?) in a band called Staff. I'm guessing that they're all in their late 30's, except for Shouse who's probably getting near his mid-40's. He's got a new band called The Bloodthirsty Lovers (Frenchkiss records). Good stuff. They did a west-coast leg w/ Flaming Lips. Scott was playing with a sorta goofy, recently defunct trash/blues band, The Porch Ghouls, who opened for Aerosmith on their last (or 2nd-to-last?) big tour. Stan? wife and kids, I think.

Crackerbash drummer is my boss!

― Will (will), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 23:00 (twenty years ago)

Cell

Released an album "Living Room" which I remember liking

Also, bassist from Urethra Franklin was later in Liars.

― cdwill, Wednesday, 30 November 2005 04:07 (twenty years ago)

Urethra Franklins was real!?!

― latebloomer: The Corridor (Yes, The Corridor) (latebloomer), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 04:17 (twenty years ago)

Who can forget:

Patsy
Frown
The Motor Morons
Daisycutter
Baxter
Orifice
Nudeswirl
Wellwater Conspiracy
Dime Bag

(apparently everyone)

Difference Engine
Containing future members of obscure indie bands V for Vendetta and Fern Knight!

Vitapup

-- o. nate (syne_wav...), November 28th, 2005.

They put out a full-length, An Hour With Vitapup, that's worth tracking down. There's some really fantastic stuff on it, but a lot of filler, too. If it were called Twenty Minutes With Vitapup it would be one of the best of the 90s. Their drummer Melissa went on to Team Dresch / The Butchies fame.

― Edward III (edward iii), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 16:29 (twenty years ago)

Difference Engine were fantastic. Fern Knight is on a totally different trip from Breadmaker or Calidad, but still very nice. i dig 'em. FK appear to be part of the less visible freak-folk faction in Providence. bad blood between Margie and Jeffrey since the end of Iditarod?

tell me more about V for Vendetta. isn't there a movie of the same name coming out?

― loxmyth (echoinggrove), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 16:42 (twenty years ago)

Agree that Fern Knight are quite nice. I think Greg Weeks from Espers produced their last one? Not sure about the bad blood stuff, as far as I know everyone in RI loves each other and everybody loves us.

V For Vendetta is a pretty well-known graphic novel by Alan Moore, and a film version is coming out by the guys who did the Matrix. It's also the name of the band Cara started after Difference Engine broke up. Check out http://www.vforvendettarocks.org. Two piece emotional math rock (but not emo). Not sure how active they are anymore, though.

― Edward III (edward iii), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 17:05 (twenty years ago)

Would Too Much Joy be considered obscure?

― Terrible Cold (Terrible Cold), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 21:51 (twenty years ago)

Urethra Franklins was real!?!

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov75/dre000/e029/e02947a6lqq.jpg

― cdwill, Thursday, 1 December 2005 00:08 (twenty years ago)

Jettison Records roster in its entirety: Mind Sirens, Blue Chair, Blue-Green Gods, Minerva Strain (already mentioned), Crowsdell, Finger, Bicycle Face, Shiny Beast, Picasso Trigger (although vaguely infamous via the Guided By Voices film).

Antiseen would be the exception to the rule.

― R3000, Thursday, 1 December 2005 00:27 (twenty years ago)

I have not forgotten Wellwater Conspiracy, in fact I am sorry I got rid of that 1st single. Cool Mudhoney side project.

― sleeve (sleeve), Thursday, 1 December 2005 01:19 (twenty years ago)

Also featuring ex-Monster Magnet riff lord John McBain...

― Edward III (edward iii), Thursday, 1 December 2005 01:49 (twenty years ago)

wasn't Wellwater Conspiracy a Soundgarden offshoot (rather than Mudhoney)? wouldn't call them obscure (less so than one-off Hater).

― loxmyth, Thursday, 1 December 2005 03:40 (twenty years ago)

i think i have a picasso trigger 7". maybe. i know i have a vitapup one for sure.
m.

― msp (mspa), Thursday, 1 December 2005 06:02 (twenty years ago)

wasn't Wellwater Conspiracy a Soundgarden offshoot (rather than Mudhoney)?
-- loxmyth (doodlehu...), November 30th, 2005.

Yes, this is correct.

― Edward III (edward iii), Thursday, 1 December 2005 14:31 (twenty years ago)

how about Rats of Unusual Size?

(yes, a real band, though I never saw them live)

― James, Friday, 2 December 2005 20:39 (twenty years ago)

endless upteens
full story here...

― sjrobb, Friday, 2 December 2005 21:01 (twenty years ago)

how about Rats of Unusual Size?
(yes, a real band, though I never saw them live)

-- James (datapani...), December 2nd, 2005. (later)

I saw them live....openning for king missle at the old knitting factory. They were pretty funny.

― ddb (ddb), Friday, 2 December 2005 21:12 (twenty years ago)

SMALL 23

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 2 December 2005 21:13 (twenty years ago)

I actually saw Math play at legendary performance art venue/bar now defunct Club Lower Links. Chicago, early 90s

Brise Glace was a Gastr Del Sol spinoff, or just O' Rourke by himself with tapes I forget. i have a cassette somewhere

How about:

Boys' Life

Giants' Chair

― Tate (Tate), Friday, 2 December 2005 21:25 (twenty years ago)

boys life wasn't obscure. see the above comments on christie front drive.

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 2 December 2005 21:31 (twenty years ago)

Jaymc: Cornish put out three albums, all in the same ziploc/cardboard casing. Two great, one decent. I remember being at a party where they just showed up, while they were still in high school, and all these people mobbed them. It had to be weird...

― js (honestengine), Friday, 2 December 2005 21:38 (twenty years ago)

The only 90's indie rock band I know of to have emerged from my small home town of Kearny, NJ...

Jeff Humphrey Trio

(an early act on the Troubleman Unlimited label)

― James, Friday, 2 December 2005 21:56 (twenty years ago)

Flop, Some Velvet Sidewalk.

I'm not positive about their obscurity rating though.

― Will (will), Friday, 2 December 2005 22:45 (twenty years ago)

[quote]"I have an album made by some kids from Ypsilanti, MI, circa 1999, where the CD is enclosed in a Ziploc bag and taped to a cardboard sleeve. The band: a spastic pop act called Cornish in a Turtleneck. "
At least one of the Cornish guys moved to Athens, Georgia, to go to college, and wound up starting a few obscure early '00's indie rock bands. Like the Sugar Shakers, and Col. Knowledge and the Lickety-Splits.

Cornish in a Turtleneck were very popular at the campus radio station back in '98 or '99.[/quote]

hey, i have this too! i thought i was the only person in the world with that album.

― andy dale (andy dale), Saturday, 3 December 2005 00:32 (twenty years ago)

Andy: I live in Ann Arbor, so this those guys were around a lot during their time. Their concerts were hilarious. Have you heard their "20 Songs About Booties," recorded anonymously with Ben from Midwest Product?

― Steve Gertz (sgertz), Saturday, 3 December 2005 01:17 (twenty years ago)

Spare Snare
See Saw
Pipe
Spent
Blumfeld
Push Kings

― goodoldneon (goodoldneon), Saturday, 3 December 2005 03:26 (twenty years ago)

That Spare Snare single rules.

― sleeve (sleeve), Saturday, 3 December 2005 03:31 (twenty years ago)

I own 4 Spare Snare albums! They're all really good though I play _Live at Home_ and _Westfield Lane_ the most. Their "Thorns" at the Middle East upstairs = one of the great live revelations evah.

I remember a very good Push Kings show at the same place. One was not really supposed to like them but they put on a good show and would have been much more popular in 2003 than they were in 1997 or whenever it was.

― Guayaquil (eephus!), Saturday, 3 December 2005 05:37 (twenty years ago)

Full Red
Raina No Reply
Autosleeper

― Tate (Tate), Saturday, 3 December 2005 08:47 (twenty years ago)

assembly line people program
duster / valium aggelein
old hearts club
the yind

― naturemorte, Saturday, 3 December 2005 19:23 (twenty years ago)

DUSTER. yes. amazing.

― cutty (mcutt), Saturday, 3 December 2005 19:30 (twenty years ago)

Have you heard their "20 Songs About Booties," recorded anonymously with Ben from Midwest Product?

Is one of these songs called "Booty Conniption"? Cause I'm pretty sure I saw this CD at Wazoo two or three years ago. I regret not purchasing it, just because of the sheer genius of a song named "Booty Conniption".

― joygoat (joygoat), Saturday, 3 December 2005 21:23 (twenty years ago)

"In the year 2025, if man is still alive. If woman can survive, they might find...Chinese Democracy on sale this week at Walmart."

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Sunday, 4 December 2005 00:21 (twenty years ago)

i think that maybe i've heard one song of that project. i have a we're twins records sampler from 2003 with a song called "oh my god issa booty in my face" by dope-assed booty dominataz. it's hilarious, i love putting it on mixes. that song has something to do with it though, right? if not, then i don't think that i've heard that...

i found my cornish in a turtleneck cd just a couple of years ago, actually. i was visiting some friends in ann arbor, and we were at encore, and i was shifting through the local section searching fred thomas cds. and, i just remember the cornish in a turtleneck cd popping out at me, with it's packaging and everything, and i just had to own the weird-wonder. it's still probably the weirdest/coolest-ly packaged album i own. and, it's also a nice, weird/cool-sounding album that i own. i think i'll be giving it another spin, soon.

― andy dale (andy dale), Sunday, 4 December 2005 10:14 (twenty years ago)

That Spare Snare single rules.

hahaha.. this has me wondering if there's already a thread about "bands with immense discographies that nobody has heard of"

― jim p. irrelevant (electricsound), Sunday, 4 December 2005 10:20 (twenty years ago)

Yeah that Booty cassette/CD has kind of a bizarre release history. AFAIK these are all the different titles it's been released under:

1. "10 Songs About Booties" cassette--Cornish in a Turtleneck
2. Found Magazine's "Ypsilanti All-Starz--The Booty Don't Stop" CD, using the cassette as source material
3. "20 Songs About Booties + Special Remix" CD--Tim Schreiber
4. #3 reissued by We're Twins, credited to Dope-Assed Booty Dominataz

The Found Mag edition is the only one still available, I think. Which is too bad, cause it's missing such gems as "Wide Ass Whumpin'" (downloadable from WFMU here), "Booty Coniption," and "Booty Ass Delight."

― Matt B. (Matt B.), Sunday, 4 December 2005 15:20 (twenty years ago)

the billy crosbys -- a central new jersey mid-90's indie band in the vein of the mountain goats crossed with more twee things. i believe some of these dudes went on to play in need new body and other bands.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Sunday, 4 December 2005 16:17 (twenty years ago)

crowsdell mention upthread -- that was shannon wright's previous band, right? steve malkmus produced a record for them.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Sunday, 4 December 2005 16:18 (twenty years ago)

v for vendetta [the band] -- played ladyfest philly in 2003, broke up around then. cara lives in philly, performs solo every now and then. goes to temple university, i think? i recall something about her coming out as a man. she/he is the the bee's knees in my book.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Sunday, 4 December 2005 16:22 (twenty years ago)

other bands i recall:

slam dunk = pre-rye coalition band
my favorite citizen
latimer = RIP geoff dor1ng [committed suicide last week?]

i should know more of these, as plain parade pretty much exists on obscure indie.

― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Sunday, 4 December 2005 16:25 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

Guided By Voices!

― scott seward, Friday, 6 July 2007 16:39 (eighteen years ago)

Roffle.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 6 July 2007 16:40 (eighteen years ago)

Have you guys ever heard of a band called Built To Spill?

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 6 July 2007 16:41 (eighteen years ago)

weren't they that halo benders side project?

― M@tt He1ges0n, Friday, 6 July 2007 16:42 (eighteen years ago)

v for vendetta [the band]

Saw them at a completely different basement show in Ann Arbor, oddly enough, summer of 2000.

― jaymc, Friday, 6 July 2007 16:45 (eighteen years ago)

hahaha raymond brake was the first thing i thought of when i saw this thread title

― pretzel walrus, Friday, 6 July 2007 16:48 (eighteen years ago)

fourteen years pass...

I did a quick search and this seemed like and apt thread to bump - I’ve woken up today haunted by a tune I’m pretty certain existed, and wonder if anyone can help.

It was a power song based with a chorus that went “Mary Warner”. Google is drawing blanks due to the lame weed pun nature of the title.

It must have been mid 90’s as I’m sure I recall it on the BBC Evening Session, and I’m pretty sure it was out around the same time as Number One Cup - Divebomb and Fountains of Wayne - Radiation Vibe, with that kind of vocal as well.

― Agnes, Agatha, Germaine and Jack (Willl), Sunday, 16 January 2022 10:57 (four years ago)

*power pop / post punk even

― Agnes, Agatha, Germaine and Jack (Willl), Sunday, 16 January 2022 10:58 (four years ago)

Whatever happened to Dave Shouse's post-Grifters band Those Bastard Souls, anyway? They sorta broke out real big for a second and then were gone in a flash.

He followed it up with another project called the Bloodthirsty Lovers that was quite good live. They put out one CD on Frenchkiss that I had for the longest, but I think it just stopped playing at some point.

― concentrating on Rationality (the book) (will), Sunday, 16 January 2022 12:26 (four years ago)

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