Who could make it big?

I love the music from the sixties. I can see from the Best Albums thread that lots of other people do to. I think it's not so much that the music was better then but that there wasn't the chasm between what's good and what sells like there is today. I was shocked and delighted when Nora Jones went platinum but that's the exception not the rule.

Is there anyone today who you think is both good and has the potential to make it big commercially?

If they had ever marketed themselves, The Maggies could have I think.

Very frustrating, that.

Also, I really think Jim's Big Ego could... but alas, the situation is much the same.

It seems a common thing. Excellent musicians who just aren't motivated or willing or whatever to really get out there and make their name known.

JBE would probably run into the Fruvous problem, though - people will hear "She's Dead" and think "oh, they're a funny band!" and then hear the non-funny songs and be like "Ok, what the hell is this crap?"

If they had ever marketed themselves, The Maggies could have I think.

I think Philip Price still could.

I will never understand why John Wesley Harding is not a star. Same goes for Jump Little Children. I think they have the potential.

Eh...I dunno...I don't know that much of Philip's solo stuff, but from what I have heard, he doesn't seem to do as well without the band...

I agree. I've heard a lot of his solo stuff, and while I really like it... it's much too mellow to make it "big" or get radio play.

The Maggies had this really catchy pop thing going.. and when Adam joined, they actually had the power to make it work.

Possibly too mellow... I'm not sure. I actually like his solo stuff more than I ever liked the Maggies, but that's obviously just a personal taste thing, and might not carry over to the masses.

I didn't like the Maggies at all but I love Philip Price. I found the Maggies musically to be very uninspired. I know that's not a common opinion, but it's mine.

Not that I think I'm going to be hearing Philip on America's Top 40 anytime soon, but I still like him significantly more.

I think it goes without saying that Peter Mulvey could easily do it. He can write catchy tunes, he has a great voice, and all the ladies seem to like him. ;-) He never will, though, since (a) he doesn't want to, and (b) he also writes complex and uncommercial songs more than the simple catchy ones.

But he was on Felicity, so that has to count for something. *grins*

Andy Stochansky's music has also been featured on some of those shows... I can't figure out what his label was doing to promote his amazing record when it came out last year... I mean, marketing spent God knows how much on posters, they 'd pratically wallpapered the club when he was in Chicago in the fall... but they didn't shop it to radio enough... which is ridiculous b/c "Wonderful" not only has a great video, but it's suuuuch an accessible song.  and don't get me started on "Stutter." ;)  I really like Andy's progression, think his writing and singing's gotten a lot better based on the CDs I have, and I think if he's not in millions of debt to his label, he's got a chance.

Dream Theater is well on their way, and without marketing from the labels.  Simply through word of mouth have they developed a large following.  They'll never be a mainstream success though because they're not radio friendly (Sounds too much like 80s metal and music is too complex), but they have the potential to do an arena tour soon thanks to the growing legions of their fanbase.

I recently realized that I've been follling Dream Theater for over 10 years now... saw them live for the first time in 95(?) on the Awake tour and they were incredible.

I don't know if they will ever fill an arena (maybe in New York), but round these parts (Cleveland) I think they have maxed out at about 7-10K fans that go to the shows...

-Mark http://www.getlostinamerica.com

no one will ever make it as big as the 1960s bands. I think given the way music is marketed today, it's impossible for an artist to really have that kind of staying power anymore. sure, someone may be popular for a few years, or even 10, but most music is still marketed at younger people, and I think that the sort of thing that's popular now is much easier to "outgrow."

so in 20 years, the people who now like Avril Lavigne or something like that won't. (thankfully)

MTV said it themselves.  The music industry is geared towards promoting artists that have a short but lucrative shelf life.  Artists who are successful in the long-term are more of a financial burden for labels since they demand huge contracts and royalty checks.  New artists don't have the leverage to do that, and are much more profitable for the labels.

YES ME! I am good, infact I'm fucking spectacular! not with music, I sound like a donkey braying, but with my art... hells yeah. I'm gonna be big. just wait, you'll see.

....

....

.... I don't mean literally wait, shoo! go do something!  :-)

PSC- http://paranoidmusic.com/

modest mouse- www.modestmousemusic.com

built to spill- www.builttospill.com

olivia trwmor control- www.oliviatremorcontrol.com

jeramiah freed- www.jeremiahfreed.com

frosted porn flakes- www.frostedpornflakes.com

Twitch boy- www.twitchboy.com

 

I've been enjoying Sugarbomb, a Dallas, TX rock band whose sound is often a cross between Neil Finn and Freddie Mercury. They had signed with a major record label, but were dropped within weeks of the first single's release. Nonetheless, their song "Hello" has appeared in the movies Orange County and Van Wilder. Their album "Bully" is worth seeking out. Here's hoping they at least make another CD.

I'm hoping Sarah Slean makes it big. She's incredibly talented, really sweet...and she's got some mainstream radio play and i've seen her video on MuchMusic several times, i think she's on her way.

she's also hot. veryvery hot. but that's beside the point. :P 

Harry Nilsson is a perfect example of a fantastic talent not promoting himself and falling out of the public memory.  A buddy of Randy Newman and John Lennon, the guy could match talents with either of them.  Ever heard "Everybody's Talkin'?"  Not to mention the lime in the coconut song. 

and the soundtrack to the point! *dons her jar-jar binks party hat*

Nilsson Schmielson.

That out of the way. Nilsson rocked the Casbah. I think Randy Newman was the most comparable talent. One question, did he write Everybody's Talkin' or just sing it?

Huh.  I thought he wrote it, but apparently it's originally by Fred Neil. He did, however, write the entire soundtrack to one of my favoritest movies in the world, The Point! http://www.harrynilsson.com/article1510.html

I've got an entire album of Harry Nilsson sings Randy Newman.  *happy*

 

I don't have that album but it's a classic. It's also perfect. They are too musicians appreciated much more by other musicians than the public.

anyone have the tribute album to HN?  Got some fun stuff on it... "Think About Your Troubles" was the last song Jellyfish recorded as a group...and a Fred Schneider version of "Coconut," which is hilarious!!

hee. i remember hearing fred schneider's version of "coconut" with gordon in fells point somewhere. lots of fun.

I do!  I do!

From what I can recall, he contibuted a few songs to the Monkees, wrote all the music for Robin Williams's Popeye movie, and Mariah Carey covered one of his songs, "Without You". I doubt that any of those facts will help you to like Nilsson (though I am a Monkees fan, and kind of liked Popeye), but he did a superb version of "Many Rivers to Cross" on his Pussycats LP (produced by John Lennon). Goldmine magazine did an excellent article on Pussycats about five years back (in one of their annual Beatles issues), and is suggested reading.

Carbon Leaf - www.carbonleaf.com

The Argument - www.theargument.net

Both bands rock hard in their own ways, and neither comes to Cleveland often enough!

-Mark

http://www.getlostinamerica.com

...edited because I can't spell...

ooh, they should both make it big. and so should jump, little children -- a band both cl and the argument have opened for. all three rock, all three have enough cute guys to please the teenyboppers.

Was it the Boxer?

I've never seen an opening band impress so many people.

either that or "shine." i put those songs on, like, every mix i made last summer.

I don't know how much my personal biases play into this but:

I agree with Josh that Peter Mulvey could do it if he really chose to.

Agree with many who said Jump, Little Children could be big.

Sarah Harmer could, I think. As well as Sarah Slean.

I think Veal could make it, if they're even ever together anymore.

Christina Abbott, if she got the right support and exposure.

Tory Cassis, if he'd actually put out more stuff!

Kay Hanley should be big. Letters to Cleo should have been big too. Grr.

Oh, Sarah Slean has a lot of potential to make it big - she's been getting great exposure by touring with acts like Blue Rodeo. Tory has the potential too but I think he's too attached to his regular job now.

I think with the current resurgence in pop/power pop that's going on right now that The Supers could be big. So could Starling (Maury might burn out though).

christina has a new management team, down in hartford, CT, at artmusicagency, so look for her to be getting more exposure soon!!

and amen to sarah harmer. :)

Heee for some reason it feels weird to see "down in Hartford, CT" when that's 5 minutes from my apartment. :)

 

I wish Christina would tour northern CT and MA more. I used to be able to hop down to Bridgeport and such to see her but I just can't do those trips anymore.

 

I would say either Russell Wolff or Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayham!

Ooh, good call on Rani Arbo, Andy. :) :)

duh! How could I have forgotten Russell!?!?!

Question: If any of these artists "make it big", will you still like them? I seem to recall some discussion of BNL, and how after they hit it big in the States with "Stunt" the "real" fans became disillusioned. "The old stuff is better", "They're too commercial now", "The new fans are not *real* fans"...etc. Fruvous went through the backlash, as well.  From playing small venues and releasing an indie tape, to a deal with Warner, playing large venues and burning out their core audience (which in the very early 90's included a large number of pre-teens). Then starting over and touring the hell out the States to regain an audience.

Happens all the time.

What do you think? Talk amongst yourselves....

 

Personally, I don't care how popular a band is or isn't. If I like the music, it's because I like the music and if I don't, it's because I don't.

I think what CAN happen though is when you are used to going to a lot of shows that are intimate and, more importantly, CHEAP and then suddenly they are only playing one venue near you at $40-50 per seat once every 2 years or so, you can start to "lose interest" because you can't see them. I know that seeing live shows by artists I like tends to keep their albums in my playlist. I still enjoy listening to the now popular artists, but it just happens less often.

That happened to me with Ani Difranco. I still love her, but I can rarely afford her shows, and I don't enjoy the larger venues she plays now as much as her more intimate shows back in the day. That's just what happens, though, and I certainly don't begrudge her the success.

Yeah, that's the only thing that happens for me. I have no problem with a band I like getting "big"... more power to 'em! I'll still love them, and listen to them, certainly.... but when the big shows happen, I bow out.

I have no interest in stadium shows. Ick.

> I have no interest in stadium shows. Ick.

For the most part, I agree completely. Some bands do translate better into big venues, though. The one big band I still see now and then is Phish, and I think I might actually like bigger shows more than I'd like a small club show with them. Large rooms give the music more flow or something.

Beyond that, give me a coffeeshop anyday. :)

Yeah, if only Led Zeppelin hadn't refused to release any of their songs as a single, and with the right marketing strategy, they could have made it big. Of course, this would have offended their real fans who recognized their musical talents among the yardbirds, the bluesbreakers and as session musicians, but so be it.

P.S. ;)

Tom Clark really rocks. He might be too retro to hit it big but maybe not. They are my new band to stalk.