Is there any major city that has never produced a single artist of any commercial or critical success?

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Inspired by Huckleberry's question "Are there any non-local Cincinatti bands?" on the Worst Lps of 2004 thread, I ask:

Are any large to semi-large cities in either the US or UK that have never produced an artist of any note (either commercial or critical)?

Cincinatti might be a good choice, unless we could DJ Hi-Tek or there is some other band/artist I'm forgetting about...

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:07 (twenty-one years ago)

bootsy collins

― cinniblount (James Blount), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:08 (twenty-one years ago)

afghan whigs, ass ponys

― Keith Harris (kharris1128), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:09 (twenty-one years ago)

How many bands hail from Salt Lake City?

― ddrake, Monday, 17 November 2003 17:11 (twenty-one years ago)

How major does the city have to be? Trenton? Harrisburg? Albany? (State capitols seem like a good place to start.)

― Keith Harris (kharris1128), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Doh, man I feel bad now, I love the ass ponys and afghan whigs!

I suspect there may not be an answer to this question.

Were the Osmonds from Salt Lake City?

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Ohio Players were Dayton, not Cincinnati, right?

― M Matos (M Matos), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:13 (twenty-one years ago)

And I think Poison came from Harrisburg!

And "Back to the Rocking Horse" = "Crazy Horses," sort of, wow!

― chuck, Monday, 17 November 2003 17:14 (twenty-one years ago)

osmonds were from ogden

poison were indeed from harrisburg

― cinniblount (James Blount), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Somewhere in Ohio, Chuck Cleaver sheds a single, betrayed tear after your post, Matt

― Keith Harris (kharris1128), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Ohio Players are Columbus, as are Great Plains/TJ Slave Apts and Royal Crescent Mob and Scrawl

― Keith Harris (kharris1128), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:15 (twenty-one years ago)

How about 200,000+? Hmm..state captials seem like they should be in, but then you have the dakotas and western state captials that might be shooting fish in a barrel (not that I'm a western states rock n' rap expert or anything)

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Phoenix?

― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 17 November 2003 17:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Roger & Zapp were from the Cincinatti area, too.

― arch Ibog (arch Ibog), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Nope, Meat Puppets represent Phoenix!

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:16 (twenty-one years ago)

King Records was in Cincinnati, right?

― Keith Harris (kharris1128), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Birmingham

― Dr. Pongo, Monday, 17 November 2003 17:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Ronald and Ernie Isley were both born in Cincinnati.

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Gin Blossoms are Phoenix, too, right?

― chuck, Monday, 17 November 2003 17:19 (twenty-one years ago)

(keith, I guess it's true when they say that we always hurt the ones we love)

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Pongo, is that supposed to be some kinda backhanded Black Sabbath dis?

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Stevie Nicks also Phoenix.

Albany and Trenton looking good (Ray Charles from Albany GA!)

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Wasn't Alice Cooper from Phoenix?

How about New Haven? Unless you count the Carpenters, but I think they really blossomed in Downey, CA.

― Arthur (Arthur), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I think alice cooper is tempe

― cinniblount (James Blount), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Ozzy singularly does not rule, my friend

― Dr. Pongo, Monday, 17 November 2003 17:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Sun Ra representing Birmingham!

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:21 (twenty-one years ago)

What's the difference, blount?

RJD2 is from Cinci, no?

― oops (Oops), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:23 (twenty-one years ago)

So no one's got something on Salt Lake?

RJD2 is from Columbus.

― ddrake, Monday, 17 November 2003 17:24 (twenty-one years ago)

If 200,000 is our minimum, I think there are a lot of contenders.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:24 (twenty-one years ago)

RE: New Haven: Buddy Morrow (great jazz trombonist from Tommy Dorsey's group who now leads it) is from there.

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha Salt Lake = Roseanne!

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:26 (twenty-one years ago)

And New Haven = Michael Bolton.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:27 (twenty-one years ago)

And San Diego Padres fans remember Roseanne's musical talents!

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Isn't Mr. Dibbs Cincinatti?

― chuck, Monday, 17 November 2003 17:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Jimmy Eat World also from the Phoenix metro area. Oh, and I think Michelle Branch... yay.

― Blood and sparkles (bloodandsparkles), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I merely meant "how can a band not be local to the place that they're from" you twisted mentalists!

― Huckleberry Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Think so, chuck. 5 Deez as well?
Mood definitely is, though I don't know if they have any commercial or critical success. Doom is a pretty good album, with some a few nice Hi-Tek beats.

― oops (Oops), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:39 (twenty-one years ago)

huckleberry
It's doesn't matter what your posts mean to you, only what they mean to me!

(sorry my brain doesn't work right anymore - I now take obvious statements and turn them into convoluted threads!)

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:40 (twenty-one years ago)

I vote maybe we limit this to cities that have professional sports franchises.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:42 (twenty-one years ago)

albuquerque

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Regina

― Huckleberry Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Okay then, jaymc.
Grand Rapids! Beloit!

― oops (Oops), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Is Over the Rhine considered local still?

― dave225 (Dave225), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:49 (twenty-one years ago)

GR = Judy Garland

Beloit wins, no-one has ever come from Beloit

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:51 (twenty-one years ago)

The Shins are from Albuquerque.

― o. nate (onate), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:53 (twenty-one years ago)

I thought the Shins were from Portland?

― Huckleberry Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Nope. See here.

― o. nate (onate), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:57 (twenty-one years ago)

there was also a punk band called The Eyeliners from Albuquerque a couple of years ago that were supposed to be good... still neither the shins nor the eyeliners have had much "commercial or critical success", right?

I'm not bashing Albuquerque here. It's one of my favourite cities. Just kind of surprised it doesn't have a Flaco Jimenez or a Freddy Fender or a Doug Sahm-type or even a Thee Midnighters to its name.

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:57 (twenty-one years ago)

huh. I always thought they were from Portland Oregon. That's fucked up.

― Huckleberry Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 17 November 2003 17:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Side track: What do you like about Albuquerque, Fritz. I LOVE NM--it's my fav state--but I've just passed through Albuquerque.

― oops (Oops), Monday, 17 November 2003 18:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 212 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Springfield = the U.S. Navy boy band that Bart Simpson was in once.

― chuck, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 00:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm thinking, all due respect to Ice Burn and J. Majesty and Roseanne, I think Salt Lake might be the winner

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 00:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Baltimore = Good Charlotte!

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 00:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually, this reminds me of a funny story. A couple summers back, I spent a month at Norman, OK, which is where both the Flaming Lips and the Starlight Mints were based from originally (not OKC!, although that's where Wayne Coyne and co. are from), at my cousins'.
The Soft Bulletin had already been released to wild acclaim by this time. NOBODY and I mean NOBODY I met knew who the hell the Flaming Lips were. Yet everybody had been raving 'bout the Nickelback concert a few weeks previous. Maladroit came out during that time, and I remember buying it, because it was the only CD my cousin would let me play in her car, since she had actually read about Weezer on Time Magazine.

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 02:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Jacksonville has a sports team.

― Shmuel (shmuel), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 02:45 (twenty-one years ago)

and a couple of bands, two of which are well-known for being from there, not to mention a guy goes by last name Betha

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 02:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Anchorage?

― A Nairn (moretap), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 03:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I mean Juneau

― A Nairn (moretap), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 03:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Juneau's pretty durn small. Plus you can't drive to/from it, which is hell on touring.

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 03:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Aren't the Used from Salt Lake City?

― Kris (aqueduct), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 03:55 (twenty-one years ago)

What about the Mormon Tabernacle Choir? Do they count? They're pretty well-known. Hell, they've won a Grammy - so that's a measure of success isn't it?

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 04:03 (twenty-one years ago)

"Is there any major city that has never produced a single artist of any commercial or critical success?"

So, the answer's "No" then, right?

― Keith Harris (kharris1128), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 04:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Richmond, Virginia exists within the vast radius of mediocrity of which Washington D.C. is the center and anchor. The most ass-backwards "it's gotta rock" Fugazi-worshipping zero-creativity bands you could possibly imagine call the city home, bands that have taken Fugazi's basic sound and stilted, awkward experimentation and turned it into their own form of pub rock. It's gotta be Richmond.

― Clarke B. (stolenbus), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 05:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Shit, nevermind -- Labradford. DOH!!

― Clarke B. (stolenbus), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 05:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Didn't we decide on San Jose?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 05:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Young Pioneers sounded like Fugazi?

― hstencil, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 05:38 (twenty-one years ago)

No way, Adam! San Jose = Smash Mouth! (and Xiu Xiu, but c'mon, Smash Mouth!)

Charlotte, NC?

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 05:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I could easily see Charlotte, NC producing absolutely nothing of value.

― hstencil, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 05:54 (twenty-one years ago)

"value this, bitch"
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/pic200_web/drp200/p237/p237833h3u3.jpg

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 05:57 (twenty-one years ago)

well that ring has gotta be worth at least $50 at the pawn shop.

― hstencil, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 06:08 (twenty-one years ago)

besides the geto boys and scarface, what the hell has houston ever contributed to the world of music?

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 06:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Charalambides. ZZ Top.

― hstencil, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 06:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Newcastle, because gazza doesn't count.

Belfast?

Portsmouth?

― Jacob (Jacob), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 06:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Savannah, GA? (I know of some sludgey sexploitation rock band called SPOITS there, but that's it)

El Paso, TX? (were trail of dead originally from there or not?)

Las Cruces, NM?
Santa Fe, NM?

Kansas City, MO?

Reno, NV?
Carson City, NV?

Shreveport, LA?

Spokane, WA? (The Makers were originally from there, but do they really count?)

Nanaimo, British Columbia?

Salem, OR? (apparently, Joe Preston grew up there then escaped)

Fresno, CA and Charlotte, NC are probably the best answers so far.

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 07:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Kansas City produced tons of great jazz musicians. Also, the Rev. Dwight Frizzell.

Reno, Nevada = 7 Seconds

El Paso, Texas = At the Drive In (yugh)

― hstencil, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 08:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Charlotte is a good call.

Big Boi was born in Savannah.

― Antmusic78 (Antmusic78), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 08:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Denver. Nothing good comes from Colorado.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 08:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Eminem is from Kansas City.

― bnw (bnw), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 09:14 (twenty-one years ago)

The Czars are from Denver.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 09:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Baltimore = Dru Hill (Good Charlotte are big, but not from Baltimore).

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 12:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Plano, TX is listed at a population of 238,000 (74th overall)

― christoff (christoff), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 15:35 (twenty-one years ago)

i wish new york wouldn't produce so many critical and commercial successes.

― Bob Shaw (Bob Shaw), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 15:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I poop too much.

― Labia, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 16:12 (twenty-one years ago)

the vast radius of mediocrity of which Washington D.C. is the center and anchor

Um...no. Okay, you don't like Fugazi. Then take Duke Ellington, Jawbox, Trouble Funk, Bad Brains, Mary Timony, Dismemberment Plan, Q and Not U, Pussy Galore, etc etc etc. Dag.

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 16:19 (twenty-one years ago)

the astronauts (one of the better surf bands in the early 60s) were from denver (seek: "baja").

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 17:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Firstly, I remembered at work today that the Proclaimers aren't from Edinburgh, they're from Auchtermuchty. Then to discount some other British cities listed above...

Newcastle, because gazza doesn't count Paddy McAloon, The Animals, er, Jimmy Nail?

Belfast
David Holmes, SLF, Van Morrison

Portsmouth Cranes.

And anyone who keeps suggesting places like Beijing and Tel Aviv, since when were they in the UK or the US?

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 18:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Based on population of the city itself, Salt Lake doesn't make the top 100 in the US, so maybe we don't meet the "major city" criteria.

― fffv (fffv), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 19:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Orlando?
Honolulu?

― A Nairn (moretap), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 19:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Orlando is boyband capital of the universe.

As for your 2nd choice, have you ever heard the song "tiny bubbles"?

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 19:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Fresno, CA and Charlotte, NC are probably the best answers so far.

fred durst grew up in gastonia, which is suburban charlotte. does that help or hurt charlotte's case?

― fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 19:46 (twenty-one years ago)

weren't jodeci from charlotte?

― cinniblount (James Blount), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 19:48 (twenty-one years ago)

see my K Ci and JoJo pick upthread

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 19:49 (twenty-one years ago)

well then charlotte's off the list

― cinniblount (James Blount), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 19:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Fresno:

Faxed Head (well, Coalinga...)
The guy who behind The Chipmunks
Brian! Fucking! Kinney! Fresno!

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 19:52 (twenty-one years ago)

also: Let's Go Bowling

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 20:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Isn't GWAR from Richmond, VA?

― earlnash, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 20:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Indeed. And Shevreport, LA is home to The Residents!

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Thursday, 20 November 2003 01:51 (twenty-one years ago)

...not to mention of John Fred and his Playboy Band, who (just like the Residents on their first album, right?) parodied the Beatles in "Judy in Disguise with Glasses". Coincidence? I don't know....

― chuck, Thursday, 20 November 2003 02:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Doobie Brothers=San Jose. Next up (f@#@$) smashmouth. Dreamworks is releasing Prozack. Stonethrow records came from San Jose (Peanut Butter Wolf) as well as the newly released Charizma album which has been in process for over ten years and we finally get to hear it. Ask the question in five years.

― cs appleby (cs appleby), Thursday, 20 November 2003 04:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Adelaide, AUS?

― Colin Beckett (Colin Beckett), Thursday, 20 November 2003 04:53 (twenty-one years ago)

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