Foo - Who are your favorite non-mainstream musicians?

I'm tired of my music collection. A lot of it I've listened to over and over or it's old enough that I've heard it for so long that it's not fresh to me anymore. Radio gets boring after one day. I don't bother watching vh1, mtv, mtv2, or whatever because most of it is junk anyways.

So, who are some musicians who produce good music, but don't necessarily get the big contracts? That doesn't necessarily mean they're not well known, just that you don't have their music jammed down your throat every day.

Some that come to mind in my library are:

Robert Randolph, Minus the Bear, Brother Cane (is ok), Gov't Mule, Kaiser Chiefs, LCD Soundsystem, Seu Jorge, Quantic, Rob Dougan, Rory Gallagher, Soulive, The Toasters, etc. Those are just a couple quick ones that I picked out from my library. What are some of your off beat favorites?

www.myspace.com/mstrkrft

JJ Grey and Mofro (http://www.mofro.net/home.shtml)

Honchie (http://www.honchie.com/)

Fever in the Funkhouse (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=115447212) - Dallas band of Edie Brickell New Bohemians vintage that never quite made it big.

What kind of music do you listen to?

These are mine (hard-rock-ish):

Lo-Pro (http://www.amazon.com/Lo-Pro/dp/B0000AYL1I/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-0110277-5336974?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1190236652&sr=8-1) (actually currently unsigned)
Red (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FIHJLU/ref=s9_asin_image_1/102-0110277-5336974?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=074ZZ68GSVJ71PKB54FF&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=278240301&pf_rd_i=507846)
Evans Blue (http://www.amazon.com/Pursuit-Begins-When-This-Portrayal/dp/B000PKG7HA/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-0110277-5336974?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1190236703&sr=1-1)
Edgewater (http://www.amazon.com/South-Sideways-Edgewater/dp/B0001XAJQQ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/102-0110277-5336974?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1190236728&sr=1-2)
Submersed (http://www.amazon.com/Due-Time-Submersed/dp/B0002X7GI4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/102-0110277-5336974?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1190236779&sr=1-2)
Allele (http://www.amazon.com/Point-Origin-Allele/dp/B000B5KQXU/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-0110277-5336974?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1190236808&sr=1-1)

http://www.myspace.com/streamlineny

Cowboy Junkies (had a mainstream hit or two, but are typically pretty non-mainstream)
Camera Obscura
The SuperJesus
Neko Case
Cheryl Wheeler
Tres Chicas

Os Mutantes
Bob Log III
TTGP
The Mountain Goats
Supersuckers
Will Oldham

check out some north of the border music such as the tragically hip (yer favorites is a gh collection) and 54-40 (you might have heard Hootie and the Blowfish covering "I Go Blind"). The hip play arenas in canada, clubs in the states.

MUSE!

also,

Sigur Ros
Radiohead (They have a couple songs that are now totally played out, but all their stuff is still pure genius.)
Massive Attack
Regina Spektor
Portishead
Imogen Heap
OK Go (See note for Radiohead. The fact that people know them as "that treadmill video band" annoys the crap out of me.)
Sufjan Stevens

Pappa Chubby

http://www.wnyblues.org/links/localbands.php?Id=287

MUSE!
I like MUSE, but I wouldn't call them non-mainstream. They play them on the radio constantly.

Bela Fleck and The Flecktones - a couple of grammys for best jazz albums but I wouldn't consider them mainstream. It's not your typical jazz either, don't think Kenny G. Worth a listen, even better catch them live when they come near you.

Bela Fleck and The Flecktones - a couple of grammys for best jazz albums but I wouldn't consider them mainstream. It's not your typical jazz either, don't think Kenny G. Worth a listen, even better catch them live when they come near you.

Bela Fleck is AWESOME!

RebbeSoul (http://www.rebbesoul.com/)

The Gourds, the Meat Purveyors, Patty Griffin.

Dennis McGregor http://www.dennismcgregor.com/

He has two CD's solo (but not really) and a few with the band "Blue D'arts"

This guy ROCKS! Bluesy, laid backy, with a hint of country, great if your a bit smokey ;-)

Buy his new CD, you will not be disappointed.

Check out

The National , new album is Boxer. Amazing Amazing Amazing.
It should win Album of the year.


oh and LCD Soundsystem is Amazing as well.

My Dad. He plays classical guitar.

Me:D. I'm about as non-mainstream as it gets. Mostly because I suck

Bela Fleck is AWESOME!

Third that!

Free live BFF HERE (http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=collection%3Aetree%20AND%20creator%3A%22Bela%20Fleck%20And%20The%20Flecktones%22)

Also be sure to check out the Steve Kimmock Band HERE (http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=collection%3Aetree%20AND%20creator%3A%22Steve%20Kimock%20Band%22)!


(I knew this place had good taste!)

Strata.

Mainstream around here is super duper mainstream. Rock city gets damn little variety.

My favorites that get little to no air play include Motorhead, The Misfits, Diamondhead, Steppenwolf, Joe Satriani, and Thin Lizzy. Mid to late 80's AC/DC gets an honorable mention too with modern times turning its back to it.

Strata.

Hey, I have some of their songs.

Laurie Anderson
Ani Difranco

I don't bother watching vh1, mtv, mtv2, or whatever because most of it is junk anyways.

they don't play any music on those channels, anyways.

Bela Fleck and The Flecktones - a couple of grammys for best jazz albums but I wouldn't consider them mainstream. It's not your typical jazz either, don't think Kenny G. Worth a listen, even better catch them live when they come near you.

If you're implying that Kenny G embodies jazz, well, thems fightin' words.

If you're implying that Kenny G embodies jazz, well, thems fightin' words.

I think we're entering a catch 22 situation, because I would like to fight against Kenny G. But would that make me good or evil? Because if I'm good, then he is evil, but I don't think calling someone as frail and pathetic as Kenny G evil. If I'm evil then that means Kenny G is good, which we all know isn't true. What side do I pledge my allegiance to in this battle?

My ones are or were mainstream(ish) but thankfully aren't played on the radio that frequently.

Jethro Tull
Yothu Yindi
Enya
Hevia: - plays an electronic bagpipe.:D

To name a few...

The Porkers
Spiderbait
Frenzal Rhomb

If you're implying that Kenny G embodies jazz, well, thems fightin' words.

Trust me I'm not. But a lot of people think that that is jazz, and I'm not the type to just come out and say Kenny G sucks,.........even though he does. :D

And for those of you who already listen to Bela. Go out and get his latest; recorded with his musical hero Chick Corea.

"The Enchantment"

Came out in May. Wonderfully complex yet relaxing music. Just piano and banjo. My prediction another Grammy on the way for Mr. Fleck and Mr. Corea. I saw them perfrom live in February, amazing.

Regina Spektor


Nice. Lauren Hoffman (a fairly local Charlottesville woman), has a similar style.
Beth Orton.
Is Cracker too mainstream? (not if we're allowing Radiohead, I suppose)

How far back are we allowed to go?

Velvet Underground?

Richard Thompson
Happy the Man
John Cale
Lou Reed
The Jam
Wire
Gang of Four
Harry Partch
Djam Karet
Nocturnal Emissions
Big Star
Warren Zevon

Robby Roadsteamer (also known as just "Roadsteamer) and the Violent Femmes are perennial favorites of mine. Plus you can't go wrong with The Mighty Mighty Bostonnes or the Dropkick Murphy's (I know they are becoming more mainstream)

Jason Webley (http://jasonwebley.com/) (I love all his CDs, but I have a soft spot for "Against the Night")
A Halo Called Fred (http://ahalocalledfred.com/ahcf/index.html) ("Body Parts and Flying Things", and "Seargent Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band")
Jack Hardy (http://jackhardy.com/) ("Coin of the Realm" and "Bandolier")
Billy McLaughlin (http://www.billymclaughlin.com/) ("Fingerdance", "Out of Hand")

Southern Culture on the Skids
Frank Zappa (Cult following but never mainstream)
Dwight Yoakam
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The Dropkick Murphys
The Lobsters
Television

I still listen to a lot of the music I bought in college (over 10 years ago.) Lots of indie bands that played at the local punker bar, and sold CDs for $7 out of the back of their van after the show.

Pineal Ventana
Babe the Blue Ox
Poster Children
The Beatdowns
Appalachian Death Ride
Miss May 66
Tribe 8
The In-Sect

+4 for Bela Fleck and the Flecktones...Victor Wooten is unbeebable.

Also...some are admittedly on the cusp of mainstream, but still...
NoFX
Nonpoint
Mudvayne

and...

wait for it...

Rush (just look past Tom Sawyer, Limelight, etc...)

If you want a a REAL Hardcore band- Converge.

If you want a a REAL Hardcore band- Converge.

I'll stick with Orange 9mm, or One King Down

Different Styles. Converge is good when you want pure emotion mixed with off timing and intense lyrics

Richard Thompson, for sure.
Todd Rundgren (and/or Utopia)
Gov't Mule
Allan Holdsworth
Jerry Douglas

That's all that that immediately comes to mind.
If I think of more, I'll edit this post.

After seeing them in concert I have become a big fan of The Decemberists. There last two CD's are great.
They are from Portland. www.decemberists.com/

Another one that just came to mind (as they were just playing in my playlist).
Ben Folds Five (have a bit of a cult following, but not much mainstream airplay)

Another one....and I think she's popular here as I've seen her listed on the "what are you listening to" thread a lot.
Lucinda Williams

Bela Fleck and The Flecktones - a couple of grammys for best jazz albums but I wouldn't consider them mainstream. It's not your typical jazz either, don't think Kenny G. Worth a listen, even better catch them live when they come near you.

I can't believe you just called Kenny G jazz. Kenny G is to jazz what Cheez-Whiz is to cheese.

Now for some non-mainstream musicians and avant garde jazz groups.

The Lounge Lizards
Sex Mob
John Zorn (Masada is especially good)
Max Nagel
Cecil Taylor
Bengt Berger
Don Cherry
Just about anything that Hat Hut Records puts out.

In addition to a number that have already been mentioned:

Ted Leo
The New Pornographers
Lyle Lovett (outside the mainstream, primarily because he can't be classified)
Pavement
Alejandro Escovedo

Ween!

Ozomatli
Fishbone

Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO)
Donovan Frankenreiter
Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals
Brett Dennen