Favorite band that never caught on in your home country?

[WestwayKid]

Interesting question. Bands that are big in their home country, but not big at all in your own country. I have it fairly easy as an American...but still interesting. I'm a huge Manic Street Preachers fan, for instance. Hard to find a fellow fanatic. There was a spell before the internet made it easier where I had to buy their albums as imports. Last time I saw them live was on one of their rare US tours. They played a small club in Minneapolis (I had to make the 6 hour drive from Milwaukee). This had to be about 2010 - they were playing in support of Plague Lovers...but what was really cool is that they really seemed to love playing in a small venue - kind of a back to their roots kind of deal. The people who were there were true fans...and after the gig I got to hang out by the bar and shake hands with James, Nicky, and Sean. Super friendly bunch of guys...but in the UK they are playing much larger venues.

[Wolter]

Interesting question. Bands that are big in their home country, but not big at all in your own country. I have it fairly easy as an American...but still interesting. I'm a huge Manic Street Preachers fan, for instance. Hard to find a fellow fanatic. There was a spell before the internet made it easier where I had to buy their albums as imports. Last time I saw them live was on one of their rare US tours. They played a small club in Minneapolis (I had to make the 6 hour drive from Milwaukee). This had to be about 2010 - they were playing in support of Plague Lovers...but what was really cool is that they really seemed to love playing in a small venue - kind of a back to their roots kind of deal. The people who were there were true fans...and after the gig I got to hang out by the bar and shake hands with James, Nicky, and Sean. Super friendly bunch of guys...but in the UK they are playing much larger venues.

It was 2009. eumaas and I saw them in Chicago. We had a similar experience. Amazing show. Tiny fanatical audience.

[Kory]

Kylie.

[Heston]

I love an Italian band called Giuda who seem to be very big in Italy but only play small bars when they rarely come to the UK. I've seen them twice now and they are spectacular live.

[Low Down Low]

Probably more a reflection of my weird taste but often wonder why Steve Forbert was never a bigger deal this side of the pond (if he's even one on his native side come to think of it), love his early albums in particular. Also befuddled as to why Ry Cooder isn't deemed a legend here. Most people, if asked, might know Paris/Texas and the Buena Vista stuff which, while admirable conceptually, don't grab me as much as his other stuff. John Prine would be another I like that I doubt would have much name recognition over here.

[Wolter]

I love an Italian band called Giuda who seem to be very big in Italy but only play small bars when they rarely come to the UK. I've seen them twice now and they are spectacular live.

I really liked the first album, but I keep,forgetting about them. I should relisten.

[Flex]

Tom Waits, who is big in japan.

[Marky Dread]

Tom Waits, who is big in japan.

Big in Japan who were big in Liverpool.

[Marky Dread]

Interesting question. Bands that are big in their home country, but not big at all in your own country. I have it fairly easy as an American...but still interesting. I'm a huge Manic Street Preachers fan, for instance. Hard to find a fellow fanatic. There was a spell before the internet made it easier where I had to buy their albums as imports. Last time I saw them live was on one of their rare US tours. They played a small club in Minneapolis (I had to make the 6 hour drive from Milwaukee). This had to be about 2010 - they were playing in support of Plague Lovers...but what was really cool is that they really seemed to love playing in a small venue - kind of a back to their roots kind of deal. The people who were there were true fans...and after the gig I got to hang out by the bar and shake hands with James, Nicky, and Sean. Super friendly bunch of guys...but in the UK they are playing much larger venues.

I'm a fan and so is Laxman. I saw them loads early on befrore they had released Generation Terrorists. My fave gig was the band explosion gig at the Marquee club 1991.



A young Marky Dread can be seen at 2 mins 16 secs. The camera zooms in on my face very briefly as James sings "Don't wanna see your face".

My other memory of that night was as me and a few of us were walking back through the streets of Soho we bumped into Mick Jones.

[Silent Majority]

Interesting question. Bands that are big in their home country, but not big at all in your own country. I have it fairly easy as an American...but still interesting. I'm a huge Manic Street Preachers fan, for instance. Hard to find a fellow fanatic. There was a spell before the internet made it easier where I had to buy their albums as imports. Last time I saw them live was on one of their rare US tours. They played a small club in Minneapolis (I had to make the 6 hour drive from Milwaukee). This had to be about 2010 - they were playing in support of Plague Lovers...but what was really cool is that they really seemed to love playing in a small venue - kind of a back to their roots kind of deal. The people who were there were true fans...and after the gig I got to hang out by the bar and shake hands with James, Nicky, and Sean. Super friendly bunch of guys...but in the UK they are playing much larger venues.

I'm a fan and so is Laxman. I saw them loads early on befrore they had released Generation Terrorists. My fave gig was the band explosion gig at the Marquee club 1991.



A young Marky Dread can be seen at 2 mins 16 secs. The camera zooms in on my face very briefly as James sings "Don't wanna see your face".

My other memory of that night was as me and a few of us were walking back through the streets of Soho we bumped into Mick Jones.

Brilliant.

[Heston]

Interesting question. Bands that are big in their home country, but not big at all in your own country. I have it fairly easy as an American...but still interesting. I'm a huge Manic Street Preachers fan, for instance. Hard to find a fellow fanatic. There was a spell before the internet made it easier where I had to buy their albums as imports. Last time I saw them live was on one of their rare US tours. They played a small club in Minneapolis (I had to make the 6 hour drive from Milwaukee). This had to be about 2010 - they were playing in support of Plague Lovers...but what was really cool is that they really seemed to love playing in a small venue - kind of a back to their roots kind of deal. The people who were there were true fans...and after the gig I got to hang out by the bar and shake hands with James, Nicky, and Sean. Super friendly bunch of guys...but in the UK they are playing much larger venues.

I'm a fan and so is Laxman. I saw them loads early on befrore they had released Generation Terrorists. My fave gig was the band explosion gig at the Marquee club 1991.



A young Marky Dread can be seen at 2 mins 16 secs. The camera zooms in on my face very briefly as James sings "Don't wanna see your face".

My other memory of that night was as me and a few of us were walking back through the streets of Soho we bumped into Mick Jones.

Brilliant.

Yeah, great clip.

[matedog]

[WestwayKid]

Interesting question. Bands that are big in their home country, but not big at all in your own country. I have it fairly easy as an American...but still interesting. I'm a huge Manic Street Preachers fan, for instance. Hard to find a fellow fanatic. There was a spell before the internet made it easier where I had to buy their albums as imports. Last time I saw them live was on one of their rare US tours. They played a small club in Minneapolis (I had to make the 6 hour drive from Milwaukee). This had to be about 2010 - they were playing in support of Plague Lovers...but what was really cool is that they really seemed to love playing in a small venue - kind of a back to their roots kind of deal. The people who were there were true fans...and after the gig I got to hang out by the bar and shake hands with James, Nicky, and Sean. Super friendly bunch of guys...but in the UK they are playing much larger venues.

It was 2009. eumaas and I saw them in Chicago. We had a similar experience. Amazing show. Tiny fanatical audience.

It was a powerful show - lots of energy. It really did feel like they enjoyed playing a small venue for a bunch of rabid fans. Loved James' solo acoustic version of That Was Yesterday and the set closing Motown Junk was insane. I had tickets to see them in Chicago in 2015 when they were do their Holy Bible shows - but stupid real life intruded on that summer and I never made it to the show...

[JennyB]

Teenage Fanclub.

[laxman]

I'm a fan and so is Laxman.


A young Marky Dread can be seen at 2 mins 16 secs. The camera zooms in on my face very briefly as James sings "Don't wanna see your face".

Coincidentally I received an email today about their new album, so I now have it pre-ordered. Can share the email with the two of you, if you wish?

Wasn't that a bit harsh of James?