For any regular readers of this site, this list may come as a shock to you, because I have never posted anything that didn’t somehow pertain to movies. Recently I’ve decided to expand a bit. I will have a new category that will include just Top Ten Lists. These lists won’t deal with movies and since this site will still be primarily a site surrounding movies, I’ve decided to not change the title.

So I’ve decided to make my very first Top Ten List (that doesn’t deal with movies) to be a list of my top ten favorite Bands/Artists. This is a very difficult task to accomplish. There are many out there and so many different opinions you can take on this matter, but after long deliberation, here’ mine:

10. The Rolling Stones

3. Sympathy for the Devil

2. Gimme Shelter

1. Paint It, Black

9. Tom Petty

3. Yer So Bad

2. Runnin’ Down A Dream

1. You Don’t Know How It Feels

8. Queen

3. Somebody to Love

2. Don’t Stop Me Now

1. Bohemian Rhapsody

7. The Who

3. Pinball Wizard

2. Behind Blue Eyes

1. Baba O’ Riley

6. The Doors

3. L.A. Woman

2. When The Music’s Over

1. The End

5. Electric Light Orchestra

3. Sweet Talkin’ Woman

2. Evil Woman

1. Mr. Blue Sky

4. Led Zeppelin

3. Whole Lotta Love

2. Over the Hills and Far Away

1. Stairway to Heaven

3. Andrew Bird

3. Tables And Chairs

2. A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left

1. Armchairs

2. The Beatles

3. Back In The USSR

2. While My Guitar Gently Weeps

1. A Day in the Life

1. Pink Floyd

3. Wish You Were Here

2. High Hopes

1. Time

Pearl Jam have been in my top bands I listen to all the time since 1992’ish. The first albums are complete classics but a few in couple in the middle were just a little bit strange – still good, but strange. My daughter rang me last night to tell me they are in concert in the UK and I should go (see dates below).

I would dearly love to see them in concert but alas, I cant justify nearly £100 for tickets. Some tickets are available from £299 each! Ouch!

What I hadn’t realised though was that they had remastered their first album and have released it last year as a 2 album set with bonus tracks – now that I will be getting!

Tour dates if you can afford it!

GGOM

Infamous: Snare and a Chair with flaming piano in street

In no particular order, my favorite musicians in Gainesville:

–Snare and a Chair –

I said in no particular order, but that was a lie. These guys are first for a reason. Too bad they don’t exist anymore. I like to remember the band as just two guys: Mark on thunderous alien organ and Eric on wacky drumset (Eric later switched to guitar, bass and percussion when they added a third member, Greg, who played drumset).

The passion and uniqueness of Mark’s voice helped cement my love for the band. It was chilling, it was primal, it was beautiful. The keys were amazing as well. They sounded like an organ tripping on acid and scaling Dante’s seven terraces of Purgatory. Add some folk acoustic guitar and harmonica into the mix for good measure. The drumming was simple and complimented the music perfectly.

They are not just one of my favorite local bands, they are one of my favorite bands, period. I cannot safely place them in a genre and wouldn’t want to. They are Snare and a Chair and that is enough for me.

–Cara Del Gato –

Another band that no longer exists. I’ve always associated them with Snare and a Chair since I discovered them on the band’s top friends. Cara Del Gato also played at Snare and a Chair’s last show. I am happy to announce that the band has been resurrected in a stripped down version, known as Waylon Thorton and the Heavy Hands.

My band is playing with them this Sunday at 1982 and I am more than excited. Their music is primal like Snare and a Chair, but set deep in rock and blues. The music is full of catchy riffs and a plethora of wailing. It is like garage rock at it’s most basic and beautiful.

–The Most –

Yes, another band that broke up. After them I will list some bands that don’t age myself. The Most were the one band I expected to make it big. Charlie had the most powerful set of lungs ever witnessed in Gainesville since Tom Gabel. He hit the most striking notes with his baritone voice. He oozed charisma and as a result, their live shows were amazing. He commanded the audience. The Most even had these weird groupies that looked  like mole people. I believe this is who Charlie refers to in a later quote.

The band was genius at blending soul and arena rock into a contagious, goofy-grin mixture. Chris’ guitar playing was superb and fueled the band’s stadium worthy songs. Most importantly, they always had a sense of humor (insert image of Charlie running around campus dressed as a caveman for their CD release show).

Here is a blurb from Charlie concerning the band’s breakup:

“I thought  we could go all the way, and in a way, we did. If ‘all the way’ means playing with Just A Scientist at the Rion Ballroom at a show no one  knows about, while random people jump onstage and make us feel awkward. In that case we made it big time.”

–Dirty Fist –

I have seen them a few times and they grow on me with each performance. The band consists of Chelsea C. on banjo/trumpet and Chelsea K. on accordion. The first time I saw them was about a year ago at Tim and Terry’s when I played with them as a part of The Impossible Shoelace. Politically active, witty, unique: they are always entertaining. To confine them to a genre would probably put them in gypsy folk punk, if such a genre exists.

I tend to turn music that I enjoy into an infatuation. Going with this trend, it seems I am falling in love with anything Chelsea C. does these days. Her voice is so unique and so moving. I love The Cigarette Song that she does as part of her solo project.

Whether it’s her solo stuff or a new riot grrl inspired project she has called the LefT its, I eat it all up. I even messaged her over MySpace telling her how much I liked her music, especially what I had seen of  The LefT its. I probably should have just told her all this after a show. I never got a reply and am now paranoid that it was a creepy message to send. Hopefully she was flattered. Otherwise, it will be really awkward when I play a show with her in the next week or so.

–Kiiks –

I may have the good fortune of playing drums with him. In response to my request, he said something along the lines of, “It couldn’t hurt to try.” Kiiks is also known as Francisco, of Devin and Fran’s Tabletop Soccer team fame.

It is a solo side-project where he plays nylon string guitar and sings thoughtful, folky songs. It is like a cross between Bob Dylan and the botched up folk music that Gainesville tends to produce. His voice is matter-of-fact and the guitar picking impeccable. One of my favorite lines of his comes from the song  Nothing To Be Done: “So, why do I think of you when I think of leaving?” So simple, yet so effective.

–For He Who Hung The Moon –

This is yet another solo acoustic project. The man behind the ambiguous name is Matt. His voice is a cross between a goat and Patti Smith if Smith lived in 18th century America. Although this does not sound flattering, it is. Trust me, it is. His songs take you back to when folk first rooted itself in the Appalachians. The words sound like they were snatched from the dead clutches of fallen Civil War soldiers.

However, his covers of a diverse range of bands including Jay-Z, Madeline, Randy Newman and Against Me! adds a dynamic that counteracts this old time feel. His newest project is an over-arching theme to tell the story of a fictional character named Levi V. Mathias. It is ambitious and I am excited to see how it works out.

–Dante Campanero —

Dante Campanero is in the same vein as optimistic folk punk masters Ghost Mice and Matty Pop Chart. Always through the cheery nature of the music lies pain. It is like the care-free, sometimes naive, five-year-old who is confronted with the notion of death (after lets say, a grandma or hamster dies), but is then consoled with an ice cream cone. Dante’s deep voice is not good in the traditional sense, but works perfectly within the context of the songs. It is as if Shaq had talent outside the b-ball court and could actually rap. I hope that allusion makes sense to someone besides me.

The truth is, I really like Dante’s voice. I cannot picture anybody else singing the lyrics. Cigarettes, bicycling, beer and friends make up 90-percent of the material. It is Gainesville to its core (at least the amusing sometime aggravating portion of Gainesville that rides fixies and wears baseball caps with the bils flipped up). Who better to represent than someone who has lived here his entire life? As Dante sings, “To hell with this I’m never leaving/ I love this town through and through.”

–Bang Bang Boom —

They make you shake it. They are fun, fantastic and a whole slew of other appropriate and inappropriate F words. The band finds a great singer in Darren who channels a higher pitched Jimi Henrix crossed with Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys.

The fairly recent addition of his brother Lem, tambourine player extraordinaire, truly completes the band. Lem adds incredible backing vocals and an energy that is unparalleled in Gaineville music.

Luke  is one of the most precise and talented drummers in Gainesville rock. His approach is meticulous and grand and the sound hits the audience like a marching band drumline.

Ryan is an equally important asset to the band, a guitarist who obviously fostered his abilities on classic rock standards. On stage he hides in the back, but his sound is quite the opposite of his persona.

Last to mention is Travis. He is one of at least three bassists that have swept through Bang Bang Boom, but I think he is the best fit so far. His stage persona fits in the stereotype of a funk bassist perfectly: the stance, the straightened posture and the involuntary tics. The bass grooves definetely helpto drive the playful and funky music. He has a charm and style of playing that fits into the groove of the band like a puzzle piece.

Overall, they are a great live band and have some great music that is perfect for blaring in a car or party.

Those are off the top of my head. Maybe I will do a  runner up list someday. I think Oh Sanders and Oh No and the Tiger Pit are worthy bands. I am just too tired to continue.

Let’s clearly define what qualities and characteristics make a band worthy of this list. First of all, the group must have had it’s first major release after 1990. For the sake of timeliness, they must be active (as in currently writing, recording, or touring). As I have spent the majority of my posts complaining about pop music, I will choose bands that fit into the mainstream mold but have not sacrificed their creative integrity. To that end, and in no particular order, here are five bands that will rock your face off:

BECK. Giving rise to this eccentric virtuoso was the music industry’s crowning achievement in the 90s. At a time when boy bands were in full power and music never seemed more lost, Beck was blending hip-hop, funk, country, and blues into one unmistakable signature sound. Ironic, abstract lyrics originally haunted him, as he was labelled a novelty act after 1994’s hit single “Loser”. 1996’s album Odelay and a string of other wildly creative releases have not only eliminated any doubt as to the uniqueness of his ingenuity, but secured his spot as one of rock’s most endearing legends.

MUSE. The British group that struggled so mightily to get off the ground in the 90s is finally reaping the rewards for years of perseverance. Their sound features a broad spectrum of influences including alt rock, classical, electronica, and metal. Visually dazzling live performances and stunning guitar arrangements have catapulted them into the forefront of stadium rock, selling out massive venues from England to Brazil. With their fifth album set to be released in early 2009, Muse appears to be on the brink of becoming a household name around the world, as they deserve to be.

THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS. The best band in the last twenty years. Although their journey has been a wild one, with multiple lineup changes, stints in rehab and drug overdoses, their music has expressed raw human emotion, complete with it’s many subtleties and textures. Like the other groups mentioned on this list, they do not limit themselves to one genre of music, but there is something so familiar and melodic about their compositions that it seems silly they weren’t written before. As with Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and the Beatles before them, they are a group that an entire generation can agree upon.

TOOL. Some call them “alternative metal”, “progressive rock”, or even “art rock” due to their comparatively long, complex releases and morbid, at times haunting music videos. Whatever they are, they don’t sound like anyone else in popular music. Albeit Tool is obviously influenced by the psychedelic, experimental sound of bands like Pink Floyd and King Crimson, they utilize much heavier tones to create an ambience all their own.

GREEN DAY. Sure, they’re another silly, immature punk band when you get down to it. What sets them apart from the rest is an unequalled penchant for melody and songwriting so human it’s effortless to relate with. While the other bands on this list are recognized for their complexity and layered song writing, Greenday gets points for their beautiful simplicity. At the end of the day, chances are you will be whistling one of their tunes rather than a Tool song.

Künstler – Showmanagement – Shows – showag – 4vision gmbh

Die showA.g betreibt das erste und das einzige zusammenführende Agentur-/ Management-/ Künstler-Event-/ Partner-/ Kunden-Internetportal in ganz Europa!!

4vision gmbh germany
showA.g · show-A.gency-group

Auf dem Schildrain 3

D-78532 Tuttlingen (Schwarzwald)

Telefon: (0049) 0700/88446633 (12 Cent/Minuten)

eMail: info@showmanagement.de

http://www.showmanagement.de  Titelseite Katalog: 7000 Künstle

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag  Auswahl: 440 Künstler im Schnellzugriff

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/brasil  Brasil, Karibik, Limbo, Beasiltänzerinnen …

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/top88  Auswahl von TOP88 …  88 von 7000 Künstler

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/oldies  Das Beste das wir haben … OLDIES, 50er, 60er, 70er

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/service  Wir tun alles für Sie!!

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/kontakt  Kontakt zu uns der showag, 4vision gmbh 

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/gesang  Sänger, Sängerinnen … Gesangsgruppen,

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/artisten  Akrobaten, Seilakrobatik, Artisten auf Räder 

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/comedy  Comedian, Bauchredner, Clowns und Magic

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/klicktipp  Ein Besuch lohnt sich bei den Klicktipps

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/kapellen  Bands, Partybands, Galabands, Orchester

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/schlager  Schlagerkünstler, Sänger und Sängerinnen

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/mallorca  Mallaorca-Party, Apres-Ski-Party … Spaß

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/managen  Wie wir uns für Sie managen!

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/animation  Zur Unterhaltung zum Empfang und zwischendurch

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/kleinkunst  Schnellzeichner, Karikaturisten … und Magie

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/partyband  Bands für Ihre Party, Gala und zur Unterhaltung

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/moderator  Moderatoren, Sprecher, Unterhalter, Entertainer

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/volksmusik  … volkstümliche Schlager, Spaß und gute Laune  

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/willkommen  Hier bei uns, den Partner der showag / 4vision gmbh

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/frauenpower  Bands für Ihre Party, Gala und zur Unterhaltung

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/bauchredner  Bauchredner, Comedy, Kabarett und Unterhaltung …

http://www.showmanagement.de/showag/saengerinnen  Sängerinnen, Schlager, Oldies, Gospel und Musical

Don’t get all mad if you don’t like it. This list is 100% accurate, and if you don’t like it, then you’re probably listening to the wrong kind of music.

20. Smashing Pumpkins

19. Velvet Revolver

18. Alice in Chains

17. Nine Inch Nails

16. 311

15. Crossfade

14. Incubus

13. Jimmy Eat World

12. Rise Against

11. The Offspring

10. Audioslave

9. Foo Fighters

8. Billy Talent

7. Flogging Molly

6. Three Days Grace

5. The Hives

4. Taking Back Sunday

3. Against Me!

2. The Fratellis

1. Weezer

Die Künstler-Vermittlung mit neuem Konzept

4vision gmbh · showag · ShowAgency-group
Auf dem Schildrain 3
D-78532 Tuttlingen (Schwarzwald)

eMail: 4vision@showag.de
http://www.4vision.showag.de
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/kontakt
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/willkommem

Ob Firmenfeste, Tagungen, Messen oder Jubiläumsveranstaltungen, SHOWAG ist die führende Künstlerdatenbank in Deutschland und sorgt für die perfekte Beschaffung und Unterhaltung Ihrer Gäste. Wenn Sie Ihr Publikum mit einem Künstler überraschen möchten, hält die SHOWAG die größte Auswahl von internationalen Künstlern – Stars & Sternchen – für Sie bereit. Aus einer Vielzahl von Künstlern bietet Ihnen die SHOWAG den größten Querschnitt aus der gesamten Show- und Unterhaltungsbranche.

http://www.4vision.showag.de   Titelseite Katalog: 7000 Künstler
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag   Auswahl: 440 Künstler im Schnellzugriff
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/brasil   Brasil, Karibik, Limbo, Beasiltänzerinnen …
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/top88   Auswahl von TOP88 …  88 von 7000 Künstler
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/oldies   Das Beste das wir haben … OLDIES, 50er, 60er, 70er
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/service   Wir tun alles für Sie!!
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/kontakt   Kontakt zu uns der showag, 4vision gmbh 
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/gesang   Sänger, Sängerinnen … Gesangsgruppen,
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/artisten   Akrobaten, Seilakrobatik, Artisten auf Räder 
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/comedy   Comedian, Bauchredner, Clowns und Magic
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/klicktipp   Ein Besuch lohnt sich bei den Klicktipps
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/kapellen   Bands, Partybands, Galabands, Orchester
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/schlager   Schlagerkünstler, Sänger und Sängerinnen
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/mallorca   Mallaorca-Party, Apres-Ski-Party … Spaß
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/managen   Wie wir uns für Sie managen!
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/animation   Zur Unterhaltung zum Empfang und zwischendurch
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/kleinkunst   Schnellzeichner, Karikaturisten … und Magie
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/partyband   Bands für Ihre Party, Gala und zur Unterhaltung
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/moderator  Moderatoren, Sprecher, Unterhalter, Entertainer
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/volksmusik   … volkstümliche Schlager, Spaß und gute Laune 
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/willkommen   Hier bei uns, den Partner der showag / 4vision gmbh
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/frauenpower   Bands für Ihre Party, Gala und zur Unterhaltung
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/bauchredner   Bauchredner, Comedy, Kabarett und Unterhaltung …
http://www.4vision.showag.de/showag/saengerinnen   Sängerinnen, Schlager, Oldies, Gospel und Musical
Telefon: (0049) 0700/88446633 (12 Cent/Minuten) … dieser Nummer hat Gültigkeit in ganz EUROPA

Das Angebot der Kunst-Schaffenden in Deutschland ist vielfältig und kaum überschaubar. Die richtige Auswahl für eine Veranstaltung zu treffen, die Verfügbarkeit der Künstler zu prüfen, die Buchungsformalitäten abzuwickeln und schließlich ein einfaches und überschaubares Buchungs-Management abzubilden, war bisher für viele Künstler und Event-Schaffende eine zeitintensive und teure Angelegenheit. Genau aus diesem Grund entwickelte die showAg ein auf Web und Datenbank gestütztes Show-Management-System. Die showAg hat es sich zum Ziel gesetzt, durch ihr innovatives Konzept Ihre Künstler- und Event-Organisation zu optimieren und Ihnen gleichzeitig Kosten und Zeit zu sparen. Durch das Zusammenspiel von Inter- und Extranet entstand zum ersten Mal in der Geschichte des Showbiz eine echte Vernetzung aller an der erfolgreichen Realisierung eines Events beteiligten Personen. Plattform hierfür ist eine über Jahrzehnte gewachsene und über Data Warehouse klassifizierbare Datenbank, auf die Sie in Ihrem eigenen Extranet-Bereich selektiven Zugriff erhalten. Gleichzeitig finden Sie hier eine Dokumentation aller Anfrage-, Reservierungs- und Buchungsprozesse Ihres Unternehmens.

4vision gmbh germany
showA.g · showAgency-group
Auf dem Schildrain 3
D-78532 Tuttlingen (Schwarzwald)

eMail: info@showag.de
Internet: www.showag.de
Internet: www.showag.de
Internet: www.showag.de/showag
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/kontakt
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/willkommem
Telefon: (0049) 0700/88446633 (12 Cent/Minute)

Internet: www.showag.de Titelseite Katalog: 7000 Künstler
Internet: www.showag.de/showag Auswahl: 440 Künstler im Schnellzugriff
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/brasil Brasil, Karibik, Limbo, Beasiltänzerinnen …
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/top88 Auswahl von TOP88 … 88 von 7000 Künstler
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/oldies Das Beste das wir haben … OLDIES, 50er, 60er, 70er
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/service Wir tun alles für Sie!!
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/kontakt Kontakt zu uns der showag, 4vision gmbh
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/gesang Sänger, Sängerinnen … Gesangsgruppen,
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/artisten Akrobaten, Seilakrobatik, Artisten auf Räder
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/comedy Comedian, Bauchredner, Clowns und Magic
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/klicktipp Ein Besuch lohnt sich bei den Klicktipps
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/kapellen Bands, Partybands, Galabands, Orchester
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/schlager Schlagerkünstler, Sänger und Sängerinnen
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/mallorca Mallaorca-Party, Apres-Ski-Party … Spaß
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/managen Wie wir uns für Sie managen!
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/animation Zur Unterhaltung zum Empfang und zwischendurch
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/kleinkunst Schnellzeichner, Karikaturisten … und Magie
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/partyband Bands für Ihre Party, Gala und zur Unterhaltung
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/moderator Moderatoren, Sprecher, Unterhalter, Entertainer
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/volksmusik … volkstümliche Schlager, Spaß und gute Laune
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/willkommen Hier bei uns, den Partner der showag / 4vision gmbh
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/frauenpower Bands für Ihre Party, Gala und zur Unterhaltung
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/bauchredner Bauchredner, Comedy, Kabarett und Unterhaltung …
Internet: www.showag.de/showag/saengerinnen Sängerinnen, Schlager, Oldies, Gospel und Musical
Telefon: (0049) 0700/88446633 (12 Cent/Minuten) … dieser Nummer hat Gültigkeit in ganz EUROPA