Best band you've never heard of.

[Mr.Pandah]

When Rise Against was first making its rounds...Yeah. Then the Gaslight Anthem.

I really REALLY enjoy listening to the Avett Brothers as well.

 

[BreakfastMan]

Budgie. Kick-ass, old-school proto-metal act. Found them out through a Metallica cover of one of their songs.


Also, Ten Years After. Found them through pandora, they are also awesome.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

I just returned from my excursion to Canada, and I finally have something to contribute to this thread!
I'm currently listening to a CD I bought from a street musician called Jim Meyer on Granville Island. First time I'd ever seen a Chapman stick, and this dude's playing it like a freakin' boss.

Spoiler: The instrument.

Spoiler: The man.

http://jimmeyer.ca/
http://www.myspace.com/jim.meyer (I recommend you try that first song, "Ignition".)

If you like those samples, buy Jim's album "Arbutus & Jade" - great music like that deserves support! ^^

Wow, that bassline on "Ignition", which you recommended, sounds suspiciously like Faith No More to me.

I'm not saying Meyer isn't good though. Talented guy from the sounds of it. Also, check out Tony Levin with Liquid Tension Experiment:

 

[Evil Smurf]

I know of thes bands, but you don't
Lissie - When I'm Alone
<youtube=7G0_eN36QVc>

Lindsey Stirling - Shadows
<youtube=JGCsyshUU-A>

Porcupine Tree - Trains
<youtube=TaP46asbIS4>

 

[Hemlet]

Allow me to introduce all of you to Fury In The Slaughterhouse and Oysterhead.

Spoiler: FITS: Radio Orchid

Spoiler: Oysterhead: Pseudo Suicide

Actually while I'm at it, have some Cracker and Focus too.

Spoiler: Cracker: Teen Angst

Spoiler: Focus: Hocus Pocus

There, now everyone's hipster cred just shot through the roof.

EDIT: Okay, apparently Cracker is hugely successful and still making music. The hell?! Why can I never find any of their stuff when I go looking for tunes? It's not like there's a shortage of stores in my area. I never hear anything about them either. Huh, oh well. I assumed and was wrong.

 

[redmoretrout]

Regina Spektor

Regina Spektor is great, I dont know if she is obscure or not but she is one of my favourite artists.

 

[newfoundsky]

The Gaslight Anthem. It's gaining some popularity, but it's no where near what bands like The Killers, Metallica, and Alkaline Trio are at. I'll let you debate amongst yourselves which is more my style ;D

In fact, I just hear TGA on the radio this month. A new single called "45" has been playing, and I really, really like it.

For those of you who don't know, The Gaslight Anthem basically plays music that glorifies 1950's romance. (Minus the sexism) But a lot of people I try to show the band off to think they're nothing but hipsters because the lead singer wears a damn flat cap.

 

[Offworlder_v1legacy]

For me it was Spiritualized. Jason Pierce isn't very big in Australia but my guitar teacher is a huge Spaceman 3 fan and he got me onto him. Spiritualized is now my favorite band.

 

[MidnightSt]

I recently got a box of CD's (25 for $25) and have been listening to them. Most of the bands are very obscure but a good number of them are enjoyable. With this, I have really enjoyed a band called Virus Nine. They are amazing especially for a band that came in a discount box. Why haven't I heard of them until now? I've shown my friends this and one said "It's the best band I've never heard of." hence the title.

my question to you, the escapist community is, have you ever discovered an obscure/underrated band or artist that blew your mind?

Sorry i can't post a link. my connection is too slow to load YouTube videos.

Shiva In Exile (a "project" would be more appropriate to call it, as it's one guy with some guests taking care of vocals) - you know how most albums consists of one to three real gems, and the rest of the songs tends to be "just good", or "okay"? Well, Shiva, to me, manages to have the entire album (Nour) contain ONLY the gems:

(they call it ethno metal )
I got to know it from a friend, never even heard its name before.



The Glitch Mob, different style than Shiva, the same principle with all-gem album applies (Drink the Sea), can't wait for their next one.


I can't remember how I learned about them, possibly by accident while browsing youtube related starting from some dnb/dubstep.


E.S. Posthumus, not sure if a band or project or a single guy, though it seems he/they are already dead , and you've probably heard (part of) one thing by him, not knowing it is him - Cold Case main theme anyone? (Again, for me, an all-gem album (Unearthed), though the songs tend to be a tad bit repetitive thanks to their structure)


(this songs makes for an absolutely amazing morning, lights up and energizes the whole world)

My sister told me about this one, she heard the Cold Case main theme and liked it so she was trying to find&download it, and learned that there's much more great stuff to be had from them.

 

[PunkyMcGee]

Regina Spektor

Regina Spektor is great, I dont know if she is obscure or not but she is one of my favourite artists.

I'd tend to agree with you. as well as over 10 million hits of her songs on youtube. but i think that the letter of the question can fall to big that was off your radar as well. i mean the band that inspired this thread had songs i think under 1000 hits. but it's not a hipster contest.