Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Creamtastic The Most Mythic of All Tennessee Bands?
Posted by Steve Haruch on Tue, Aug 4, 2009 at 6:06 AM
The other day, Jess Harvell posted a nice little essay over at Idolator called "Why The Misfits Are the Most Mythic of All New Jersey Bands." As you might imagine, Harvell argues that, more so than the Boss or Jon Bon, the Misfits don't just represent New Jersey, they are New Jersey. To wit:
Bruce Springsteen wants to aggrandize this statewide, neon-ringed cage into something befitting Oscar-worthy drama. (Or even the kitchen-sink, Mike Leigh sort of affair on his better albums.) Bon Jovi is happy to render it as straight-faced soap opera, Tommy and Gina united in futile love against a system that views them as so many ants. The Misfits, crawling like Mad Max villains over the state's plastic and plaster scrap heap, say fuck that. If the ship is going down, then drink up as the waters consume you. If all you've got is schlock, then make shlock so fierce it shuts up the naysayers and gives fist-pumping succor to the likeminded.
So.
Keeping in mind the follow-up thread at Idolator (Dee Snider = Long Island) and the announcement that Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" has been added to the list of songs for the upcoming Guitar Hero 5 game, alongside songs by The Raconteurs ("Steady as She Goes") and Kings of Leon ("Sex on Fire"), let's talk about who should be named The Most Mythic of All Tennessee Bands.
1. Elvis
Obvious beyond all obviousness.
2. Hank Williams
About as obvious as No. 1. Some (people in Alabama) might claim him as theirs, and they probably should. But his legend was made in Nashville, so he's on our list.
3. Johnny Cash
He was known as The Man in Black, for crying out loud. That's Mythic. Some (people in Arkansas) might claim him as theirs, and they probably should. But his legend was made in Nashville, so he's on our list.
4. Tina Turner
A daughter of Nutbush, Tenn., Anna Mae Bulluck went on to become, well, Tina Turner. 'Nuff said.
5. Big Star
This band is basically the Velvet Underground of Tennessee--hugely influential, almost completely unknown in their time, still relevant.
6. Booker T. and the MG's
More or less the house band at Stax. 'Nuff said.
Of course, make your nominations in the comments. And while we're at it, let's decide on that State Rock Song, too.
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Comments (40)
Showing 1-40 of 40
johnny cash's legend was made in nashville?? i'd say memphis.
it should be dave cloud, but i'm going with big star but more specifically alex chilton.
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Tav Falco's Panther Burns should probably be near the top of that list. Not just awesome, but pretty fucking weird and mysterious, too.
R. Stevie Moore, Cowboy Jack Clement? I figure to really emobdy this town you probably need to make a lot of awesome/weird records that people don't buy...
Cage the Elephant's legend was made in Nashville, right? So if they count I'm voting for them. If not then I guess Totally Snake. Well-known? No. Mythic? Yes.
I'd also include the Oblivians, Carl Perkins, Kitty Wells, Chet Atkins, Charlie Feathers, Brownie McGhee, the Grifters, the Lost Sounds and the Memphis Goons.
Good call on the R. Stevie Moore, Sean.
Oh yeah, and the Oak Ridge Boys.
I'm beyond shocked that the Jason & The Scorchers faithful haven't taken over this thread yet. Heck, at least one of them remains on your staff, if memory serves.
based on the review of the GreenDay show, I'm gonna say The Kaiser Chiefs, they sound pretty mythic and little known.
based on the review of the GreenDay show, I'm gonna say The Kaiser Chiefs, they sound pretty mythic and little known.
I'm voting for Jason & The Scorchers. Ragtag mix of inmovers and natives and nomads that just wanna sing like Hank and thrash like the Pistols and write fantastic damn songs. Perfect mixture of rock and country and blues and energy and all that.
My dear grandmother put it best the first time she heard me playing one of their CDs (in the late 90s of Shania et al. on country radio) - "This is what country music would sound like if everybody kept drinking and smoking and fighting in the 70s instead of trying to make pop music."
To coin a phrase, 'nuff said.
How about Area Code 615? A group of Nashville session guys (recording in Madison!) end up having a huge impact on the future of dance and hip hop? That's fucking mysterious...
Jason & The Scorchers are a pretty solid choice. David Rawlings and Gillian Welch? Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys (Kentucky should claim them, but their legend was made in Nashville)?
Lambchop sounds about right. The Features old shows in the Boro days are pretty mythical, if only in my own mind...
Didn't Area Code 615 play on the Dylan records that were cut here, plus including band member Mac Gayden who wrote the huge hit, every decade since the 60's, "Everlasting Love" covered by U2 etc.
I'm down with Lambchop, although I love the recognition for Are Code 615. Nice. Jason & The Scorchers rounds out the top 3.
There should be a separate category of honor for Country artists. And Big Star.
I'd be all for Magic Wands, but I don't think they live here anymore. However, I guess you could say they formed here. To me, they represent everything that is right with Nashville rock. Genius songwriting, catchy melodies, and amazing fashion sense. They are not trying to be something that they are not--they are more interested in pursuing the fabric that makes up their existence. That is mythic to say the least.
i can't believe this is even a discussion.
the winners will obviously be (in a tie)
Starlume
+
Randy Moore and the Fabulous Suedes.
game over.
Another vote for Jason & the Scorchers - although they might be Nashville's most mythic.
Hank and Johnny, and a honorable mention to the Scorchers. Too bad Otis Redding is from GA, and Sam Cooke is from MS - that would make things tough.
if you are including cash and h. williams you might as well include jerry l. lewis.
a friend of mine that is/was a huge fan of him said he saw him perform in a small club in the mid-seventies, made eye contact with him, and swears he saw the devil in him. doesn't get more mythic than that.
my brother also dated one of his daughters.
Big Star for sure. Tennessee's only real homegrown contenders in doomed loser category. At least Chris Bell was. Session guys: I like the second Area Code 615 album a lot, "Stone Fox Chase" helped invent disco. The soul session bands: American Studios, Hi Rhythm. The Gentrys. Let's not forget Mud Boy & the Neutrons, Jim Dickinson and the late Lee Baker on guitar.
The Magic Wands could be the winner, but I'm gonna wait until their full length comes out before I commit to it. Their live show kills!
Jason & the Nashville Scorchers, for sure, and Lambchop -- the former having reached certain mythical status stateside and both having significant (and adoring) European audiences.
R. Stevie Moore only recorded one album in Nashville before heading out to New Jersey in the late-70s, so he's probably better identified with the Garden State than Tennessee. Don't forget Barefoot Jerry and the CDB!
I second the Oblivians comment & Panther Burns comment. Dave Cloud is another fine selection. East Tennessee gave us Koro! Their 700 Club 7" is still on every 80s punk collector's wish list. Plus there's a lot of mystery surrounding them.
Randy Moore and the fabulous suedes win hands down in my book. And Randy can do great Johnny Cash - sounds just like him. He and his wife Cindy Moore (Minnie Pearl) do shows where they sing all their songs and they sound just like them - great and you ought to catch their show sometime
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