... and I don't mean Mama Cass.

What performer(s) or band(s) did you like before they became (in)famous?

Mine is Sarah McLachlan. Back in middle school I was watching "Due South" and they had a song in the show that made me stop and say, "wow... that's awesome, who is that singing?" But, of course, she wasn't mentioned in the credits and this was in the days before the Internet was useful for music searches, and so I never knew who it was until much later.

Her stuff got killed for me in college, though, after she got big at Lilith Fair and every other song on the radio was "I Will Remember You" or "Angel" or "Sweet Surrender," and it hasn't helped that her recent stuff has all been so radio-smooth that it makes me want to vomit. (I'll admit I haven't delved into her new albums, so maybe there's some good stuff there... but I kinda doubt it.)

Still the experience was meaningful for me because it was one of the first times that a song came out of nowhere and made me take notice. Now, I tend to pay attention when that happens - it usually means a new musical avenue is opening.

-- Mat

For punk: Anti-Flag
For rock: smashing pumpkins *siamese dream was their best and last good album*
I'm sure there are plenty of other acts, i'm braindead though.

Dashboard Confessional: I have an acoustic version of "Hands Down" somewhere that got released before he got huge. Now I hate all of the songs. Each and every one. I grew out of that shit.

Billy Talent: I remember, within one month, their concerts went from $5 a ticket to $50. Again, I have old versions of songs somewhere from when they were mainly a Toronto-based band.

Posted by DjMalign For punk: Anti-Flag For rock: smashing pumpkins *siamese dream was their best and last good album* I'm sure there are plenty of other acts, i'm braindead though.

define how anti-flag has gotten big? is it because they just recently signed to rca? or because they signed to fat wreck a few years ago?

i liked n'sync when they were underground.

Smashing Pumpkins

I was in 2nd Grade, I guess right after "Gish" had come out but before they released Siamese Dream.
Their practice space was in a parking garage about a block from my house. I could sometimes makeout some muffled rock.
I thought it was neat, I have no real concept of how big they were until sometime in 8th grade. Around that age we move to a place walking distance from the metro, but alas I never get to see the Pumpkins live there. Right before I become a fan, they breakup.
*sniff*

Royksöpp and Bran Van 3000. Two unknowns I found about through word of mouth. Then they both had their music on adverts and the hole country got in on the secret.

Posted by Jedstah define how anti-flag has gotten big? is it because they just recently signed to rca? or because they signed to fat wreck a few years ago?

Its not a criticism, but anti-flag has become one of the staple punk acts from this new age of actual punk music. Granted they've been around since the early 90's but they're on most real punk's top 10 lists. that in my eyes is making it. It has nothing to do with the label

Posted by DjMalign Its not a criticism, but anti-flag has become one of the staple punk acts from this new age of actual punk music. Granted they've been around since the early 90's but they're on most real punk's top 10 lists. that in my eyes is making it. It has nothing to do with the label

^^^ What he said.


They also got poppier. I knew they were huge when I saw them at 1st ave. The Unseen opened for them, but no one there seemed to know who they were. Then Anti-Flag comes on and people start running from me when I try to get a pit going. Then between songs they plug the upcoming protests in DC against the World-Bank/IMF. I was the only one who cheered. It was all suburban kids. I left in disgust.



*edit* Spelling

<---that band
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i didn't think i would read "real" and "punk" in the same sentence, and much more one that also used the phrase "anti-flag". there is no such thing as punk, it was just the polite thing to say when you didn't want to say you were into boring old rock and roll because you were afraid they would throw you out of the party and wouldn't give you coke anymore.

I used to love The Pixies and Husker Du... and then poof it was like they were big and then they were gone... weird.

Anyways.

Samurai

atom and his package, mindless self indulgence, white light motorcade, ted leo and the pharmacists, and the living things I liked before they "made it big" although I don't know if they even count because none of those groups are really that well-known....

Posted by keti atom and his package, mindless self indulgence, white light motorcade, ted leo and the pharmacists, and the living things I liked before they "made it big" although I don't know if they even count because none of those groups are really that well-known....

mindless self-indulgence is pretty know, at least around these here parts.

Posted by Kirby i liked n'sync when they were underground.

...when they toured with Marilyn Manson?

Soundgarden, Nirvana, and TOOL.

I would have to say the Insane Clown Posse, Afroman, Slipknot, and Andy Milonakis!

the fall of troy (just signed on equal vision records... I've had their first full-length since it came out around 2 years ago... I'd heard the demos and got way into those, so I advance-ordered the LP)

I saw hawthorne heights shortly before they signed to victory. they're a bunch of asshats.

I was into blindside in like 1999 when they still sounded like refused. I was also into POD around the same time. they are/were pretty terrible, but I dug it.

I reviewed an advance copy of the blood brothers album march on electric children for the radio station at my school at the time, but I had the misguided notion that they'd actually play it, so I gave it back. god, that album is awesome.

i liked good charlotte( i rember the first time they got played on the radio. since they lived not so far away) but for some reason i only liked that first song. i could name others, but they havent gotten too big around here. atmosphere. Ted leo. postal service. MSI. The evens. P.O.S.

Rise Against, im pretty sure i started listening to them before they were main stream, im not a big fan of skater/surfer punk any more. Just saying cause im bored.