Where is rock n roll?

DaveDickey · 08-25-2003, 02:01 PM

Can anyone suggest any excellent present-day rock bands?

I'm a big fan of classic 70s rock (Led Zeppelin, early Chicago, Stones)and also some of the grunge bands of the early 90s (STP, Soundgarden, etc.). Is the art of the great rock n roll band a thing of the past? Or am I just getting old?

Dave

Rachael B · 08-25-2003, 02:37 PM

Dave, does San Diego State U. have a radio station? I listen to WUTK (U. of Tennessee) and you hear all kind of stuff on college radio. I first heard Train there. Other groups I first heard there: Lemonheads, Pixies, Flying Elvises.... just a thought...

Gary->dee · 08-25-2003, 02:48 PM

"Is the art of the great rock n roll band a thing of the past?"

YEP! (imo)

Jack Briggs · 08-25-2003, 03:45 PM

Having endured the rock&roll wars for decades now along with the repeated assertions in the press throughout those decades that "rock is dead" (or dying), I am now finally able to say that, yes, I think rock is dying. Other pop-music forms, for once, seem to be overtaking it in popularity (for good or ill), which couldn't be said with any real certainty before.

It figures. Rock is at the half-century point.

Popular music is not like serious music in the way it can endure (or otherwise). It's just that rock&roll lasted longer in the limelight than any other popular music of the 20th century.

LarryDavenport · 08-25-2003, 04:00 PM

Buy:

R by Queens of the Stone Age
Elephant by The White Stripes
Quebec by Ween

**HTF Ads**

Dennis Nicholls · 08-25-2003, 06:03 PM

Judging from my tastes, rock died about 1973.

Henry Gale · 08-25-2003, 06:26 PM

Everyone has an opinion, but the phrase "Rock n Roll" is usually applied seriously only to certain music from the late 40's to the late 50's.
Recently I came upon a rockabilly trio in San Antonio that had that rare, and I do mean rare, spirit. They have the ridiculous name, Bop Kings. Whatever, I loved 'em. After listening for awhile I asked them if they did any Charlie Feathers. That got their attention and also got me a spontanious Feathers number. Those moments are so fleeting and widely spaced.
And I gave them a big tip.

MatS · 08-25-2003, 06:48 PM

if you are looking for rock and roll with major label logos on the product then yes rock is dead

there is a whole nother world to discover (indie)

open your eyes (and your ears)

DaveDickey · 08-25-2003, 07:04 PM

MatS,

I took your advise, "open your eyes and ears," and went to a website that sells indie music. I listened to some of it, and can honestly suggest that you heed your own advise.

Todd H · 08-25-2003, 07:08 PM

Rock's not dead. It just went back to the underground.

Dave, if you liked STP and Soundgarden, check out Audioslave. Best rock band out there now IMO.

Van Patton · 08-25-2003, 07:15 PM

Rock's alive.....but just barely. A lot of the jambands now a day are very good especially Phish and the North Mississippi Allstars. White Stripes are REALLY good surprisingly. If all you've heard is their radio stuff then you are really missing what they're about. Listen to Ball and Biscuit off their new album and watch the last night of when they were on Conan O Brien. Jack White puts SO much soul and energy into his music. Phish isn't what they used to be (mainly, IMHO, due to drugs) but they're still a lot better than so many groups out there. Everybody knows me as a music nazi because I tell them their music sucks and it isn't music.

TedT · 08-25-2003, 07:24 PM

Dave, you're in San Diego, just come down to the Ken Club (Adams Ave) every other Thursday (9/4, 9/18, etc...).

I DJ there. I like to call it "Rock Your @#*&^$ Head Off". Most of what I play is new, exciting rock. I'll have the new Wildhearts by the 4th. If you like Grand Funk Railroad and Sub Pop stuff, check out the Hellacopters (or ANY band from Sweden). Backyard Babies rock. Peepshows. Deadbeats. Turbonegro. Yo-Yos. Supersuckers. There's TONS of bands out there. You just have to know where to look.

If you can't make it to the Ken Club on alternate Thursday nights (plug plug), go there any night or Live Wire or the Liar's Club and just listen to the jukebox. Each bar has an amazing jukebox which the regulars know by heart and you can hear a ton of new rock music for free!

San Diego has a great rock scene. Check out the Dragons, Agent 51, Convoy, Furious IV, & the Make Out Boys for starters. The Dragons are playing a benefit for Aljandro Escovedo this Thursday (8/28) at the Casbah. Be there EARLY. It will sell out. Can't go wrong with Rocket From The Crypt too. The Black Halos (from Vancouver) just got back together and will be playing the Casbah next month. DO NOT miss them! The best live band I've seen in 10 years!

If you have cable radio listen to KCR or KSDT (SDSU and UCSD college radio). Sunday nights are local/rock nights on your FM dial where the DJs are given leeway to play music in the genres you're looking for. Check out 91-X, 94.9, and Rock 105.3 Sunday nights.