It is now well established that Kelly Clarkson's Since U Been Gone can be unironically enjoyed. It's a great song, we all like it, let's move on. But what about the first Since You've Been Gone? Can that please be rehabilitated? And while we are on the 70s, can someone please cover Thin Lizzy's Jailbreak? We need hooks and we need them now.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
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That Rainbow vid got me thinking about The States. The trusty ipod could do with a little "Picture Me With You. . . "
b
Yesss, late 70s power pop. Yes, yes. Did you check the Itunes store. Can't find much online re: the States although I did learn that Richard Hell spent time in Norfolk.
"Did You Know?":
The States were THE local heroes of Tidewater, Virginia in the early eighties. Ballsy guitar pop that drew heavily on influences like Styx and The Cars, they tried valiantly to survive as New Wave swamped the pop music scene.
Formed in 1977, The States was comprised of Bassist Butch Germano, with Barry Scott and Stephen Chandler on guitars. Steve Archer kept the beat on drums and fronting the band with his piercing and insistent lead vocals was Jimmy McDonnell.
Chrysalis signed the band in 1979 on the strength of the band's local popularity and tightly crafted songs. The band released it's self-titled debut and followed it up by opening for Hall and Oates during their national tour.
The band's biggest success came in 1981 when their sophomore effort on Boardwalk records, "Picture Me With You" hit sales of over 100,000 copies. Unfortunately, the sudden demise of Boardwalk and the illness of founder Germano left the band unable to tour.
After breaking up in 1984, the various band members remained in the Tidewater area. Jimmy McDonnel and Barry Scott formed a new band, Wild Kingdom. Germano, meanwhile, began a career in the restaurant industry. His Zia Maria's is a popular, up-scale Tidewater eatery.
In December of 2000 the band reunited for their first public show in 16 years when concert promoter Bill Reid installed The States in The Granby Street Rock 'N' Roll Walk of Fame. Devoted to local artists who have contributed to bringing national attention to the "Tidewater Sound", The States are only the second inductees after Gary "U.S." Bonds.
Barry Scott has a new group called The Barrys and is working with McDonnell and Germano on producing and promoting acoustic artist Karen McDine.
http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/bio/0,,1225080,00.html
Now I love Tidewater as much as the next person but this sentence is a bit of a bummer:
'Devoted to local artists who have contributed to bringing national attention to the "Tidewater Sound", The States are only the second inductees after Gary "U.S." Bonds."
Yeah, Locals Only was frickin ROBBED, man.
I think the real Tidewater Sound - or the only one that amounts to much these days - has got to be hip hop: Missy Elliot, Pharrell/The Neptunes, Timbaland, and - of course - Wreckx N Effect of "Rump Shaker" fame.
Indeed hip-hop is for certes the current Tidewater sound and what most of the kids listen to.
But what of Juice Newton, who also hails from Tidewater?
You can pick up some States podcasts at
http://forgotten80s.podomatic.com/
Imagine my shock to find this. Takes me way, way back. Jimmy McDonnell's *son* has a band now. How can we all be that old?
Nice, thanks for the link!
Ahhh...The States! One of my all time favorites. I everything they ever released (that I know of...) on MP3. If anyone wants to trade for similar virtually unknown power pop, drop me a line!
Terry
tcbarrett@nc.rr.com
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