NGC: Favorite Offbeat Musicians

[JoeW]

Went and saw John Prine a few weeks ago, he's got a new album out. My Pandora stations include, Leon Russel, John Clearly, Mose Allison, The Cure, The Subdudes, Dave Brubeck, Taj Mahal, Jimmy Smith, John Mayall (he's still touring at 83) and a few more. I have a couple local New Orleans bands I enjoy, The Jazz Vipers, Cottonmouth Kings, Smoking Time Jazz Club, and Kristina Morales

[bad Chad]

Laurie Anderson.

[RinkRat II]

       Frank Zappa
       John Prine
       Tom Waits
       Lyle Lovett
       Leo Kottke
       Willy DeVille
                    Paul B

[oldbike54]

Well, definitely bookmarking this thread for further research - last night my local college station kksm turned me on to John Grant - see GFM on Youtube. I called the DJs and they were speculating he influenced Father John Misty - I believe it. Or they're cousins ...

The Rev and Zappa are great, Buckethead is technically proficient but a bit of a head case.

I wrestled a bear once? The name reminds me of some kids I met who called themselves Uncle Tom's Cabin - I'll have to check the bear out.

Lots of homework to do - thanks much fellows.

 IWABO borrowed their name from a Gary Busey quote . My friend who is the drummer told me they didn't even really know who Busey was , they just though it was a funny name .

 Their , er , music is really jarring , a couple of bars of lounge music followed by some growling noise , but they have a decent following , playing 100 live dates a year , mostly in places like Albania  It's kinda weird , their videos and music are very strange , but in real life they are a bunch of nice kids , the female singer refuses to call me anything but Mr Dusty , or sir . No drugs except for the occasional beer , heck Mike (the drummer) comes home to visit his family a couple times a year and just hangs out .

 Dusty

[rdbandkab]

1. Tom Waits.
2. Crack the Sky.

[CT Dharma]

NRBQ [with Al Anderson]; once acknowledged as the best bar band in America

[Lannis]

NRBQ [with Al Anderson]; once acknowledged as the best bar band in America

Annette Strean and "Venus Hum".   Way underappreciated.

[slowmover]

Any Jack Bruce solo stuff
The Golden Palominos
Blodwyn Pig
Kip Hanrahan
John Prine
Loudon Wainwright III
Walter Becker 11 Tracks of Whack
The Drones
 

[LowRyter]

I am afraid I am going down the rabbit hole into Dead-nation now.  Perhaps it's an obsession or just a window into the past, both cultural and personal.  Most of the Dead Shows have been archived and many have been packaged into CDs and downloads by the keepers of the vault.  So as I fished around, I found Dick's Pick, Vol 19.  Dick Latvala was a Dead recording archivist who put out 36 CD sets.  Vol 19 was the very first Grateful Dead show that I attended back in 1973. 

The only vivid memory I had was some drunk Okie yelling "Truckin'" throughout the show.  Of course they never played it.  After hearing it, some of the memories have come back, the country sound, Bill was the single drummer and really rocks when he plays alone, the Godchauxs' and many more but songs and fewer jams, and Jerry.  It's the beginning of the "wall of sound" and the recording is surprisingly good for the time.

So here is a link

https://archive.org/details/gd73-10-19.sbd.nayfield.187.sbeok.shnf


 

There are several other shows I'd like to get, some are only available with a few songs in larger sets. Some might be poor recordings that were never released unless bootlegged.  In fact there are so many authorized commercial Grateful Dead recordings on the market, most 2- 3 hours long, that members of the band have not listened to them all.

Fish around, you might find your own memories here.

 

[SteveRivet]

Zappa
The Meatmen
Rev Billy C Wirtz
Michael Hedges
Type O Negative
John Spencer Blues Explosion

[Guzzistajohn]

http://www.kwpq.org/


I mostly listen to this blues station on the web now. 24-7 no talk no commercials, from a dudes basement in Springfield, Mo. 

[britman]

Paul Thorn and Ray Wylie Hubbard.......

Have nearly every song they have ever recorded.....

[janguzzi]

Rush
Fates Warning
Listened to Primus in the 90s but later I decided that they really suck. 

[oldbike54]

 Neil Young , because while he may have had a good bit of commercial success , no one is any stranger than Neil .

 Dusty

[John A]

https://youtu.be/9lNZ0cjWnOU
David Bromberg
Really good

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

of course all you old weirdos like Zappa, some of the worst music ever produced!!

I once worked for a chef who, when he was in a bad mood or angry with the staff, he would punish us by playing a frank zappa CD on repeat for upwards of 8hrs straight...  it was torturous

Then two guys said they really dug Zappa, so he switched to playing the Deliverance Soundtrack on repeat.....  dueling banjos all day will drive you insane...

Of course no one was brave enough to turn it off or change it, that was a scary dude!

[80CX100]

     I've been a John Prine fanatic for 45 yrs, he's like Shakespeare on steroids when it comes to painting pictures with simple words.

     Ben Harper, especially his material with the Blind Boys of Alabama, pure gold.

     Jack Johnson embodies a laid back groove, with a good soul and conscience.

     Anders Osborne, live and solo, ripping it up on his Strat with Hot Rails pickups, is in a league of his own.

     Mem Shannon is the real deal when it comes to the Blues, no posing in his music, 45 yrs as a cab driver in New Orleans gave him lots of material to work with.

     Sonny Boy Williams ll if like me, you love raw low keyed harp grooves.

     The Devil Makes Three, are the real deal, hardcore in life and music, raw and real.

     I've seen a lot of good performers over a life time, but hands down, the most naturally gifted is a relatively unknown fringe artist by the name of Coco Love Alcorn. She is extremely demure and unassuming in person, almost librarian in appearance, but when she takes the stage, the transformation is unbelievable. Her natural stage presence and control is off the charts. She oozes "groove" from her pores. The sonic masterpieces that she puts out with only her voice and a looping peddle is mind boggling. Here's a taste for those not familiar with her yet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5LMM_5Mmns


     Kelly
     

[LowRyter]

http://www.kwpq.org/


I mostly listen to this blues station on the web now. 24-7 no talk no commercials, from a dudes basement in Springfield, Mo.

I didn't know you had a basement.  I thought you're station was in the garage. 

[Guzzistajohn]

I didn't know you had a basement.  I thought you're station was in the garage.
[/quot.     more of a bunker actually 🤔

[bmc5733946]

Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Brian

[jdgretz]

Damn near forgot -

Victory Wainright and The Train - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc0LpgC2gtw

jdg

[rocker59]

Guzzi owners are an offbeat, intelligent and discerning group who knows what they like whether it’s mainstream popular or not. 

So ... what musicians do you guys like who are not mainstream popular?  Don’t give me your Bob Seger, Johnny Cash, Elton John, Taylor Swift.  I’m looking for offbeat.  Acquired taste.   Under-rated.

I’ll start. 

I’m a big fan of American folk singer Slaid Cleaves.  Out of Austin, previously from Maine. 

And Iris Dement.    You either like her vocals or not.

Your choices don't seem off-beat, to me.  Pretty well known in Red-Dirt / Alt-Country circles.

Here's another I consider well-known, but top-40 listeners may not know:  Ray Wylie Hubbard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89VR_lZehw4

[larrys]

NRBQ [with Al Anderson]; once acknowledged as the best bar band in America

Yeah! Saw them more than a couple times at THEIR home bar! The Shaboo in Willimantic. Sadly burned many years ago.
Larry

[rocker59]

Don’t give me your Bob Seger, Johnny Cash, Elton John, Taylor Swift.  I’m looking for offbeat.  Acquired taste.   Under-rated.

 

LOL.  As expected, lot's of Top-40 and superstars mentioned in the responses.

Here's another that will be familiar to those who hang in Austin:  Ryan Bingham.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zelvaxvTaUk

[oldbike54]

LOL.  As expected, lot's of Top-40 and superstars mentioned in the responses.

Here's another that will be familiar to those who hang in Austin:  Ryan Bingham.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zelvaxvTaUk

 He is very talented , have been listening to him for years . He has however been on SNL with his rock and roll band , so maybe he isn't too offbeat.

 Dusty

[Dilliw]

The Rev Horton Heat
Rick And Mary And Dave Southen Culture on the Skids
Calum Graham
Catfish Hodge

[Guzzistajohn]

The Rev Horton Heat
Rick And Mary And Dave Southend Culture on the Skids
Calum Graham
Catfish Hodge
[/quot

I’ve seen the SCOTS 2x what a show! AND fried 🍗!

[Guzzistajohn]

Two of my all time faves are Django Rhinehardt and Berelli LaGrene

[sdcr]

Just thought of a few more that I like...

Marcus King band
JD McPherson
Low Cut Connie

[Utrider]

I listen to a bit of off the wall stuff, but "Here Come the Mummies" is by far the best all round band/music I get to listen to. Their story is cool, the music has a great vibe, their live shows are KILLER!  I've seen them 5 times myself, and anytime I'm going somewhere I check their tour schedule to see if they are playing anywhere within a couple of hundred miles.

The story behind them is they are a group of studio and label musicians who are based out of Nashville, and this is their fun goof off stuff.  They have to perform in costumes because they can't perform as who they are due to various contract and label commitments. 

Their ability to have such creative lyrics and totally bring the FUNK is icing on the cake!

Did I mention.......horn section!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB5EE42So7I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG2117ELIUU

Just a couple of examples.