I think they held it together as long as they could... with all their infighting. Also Ryan Adams made it pretty apparent early in his solo career that he didn't really like country music that much. I love what they have us in their short existence, as well as pretty much everything that Ryan's done since
If your best know song has the line: "H-E-A-R-T breaker, look what you've done, you stole my heart and away you did run" you don't get a second go at the brass ring. Put me down for The Connells and The Blue Rags.
I go there once a year. Half the downtown is no longer recognizable due to tear downs and replacement with taller buildings. There's even a Target in the middle of town.
Oh man, The Spongetones were awesome - I saw them more times during my college years than I could ever remember.
My wife and I saw them in Louisville literally the day they broke up. It was just Ryan amd Caitlyn Cary playing in the parking lot of Bluegrass Brewing. I liked Ryan for a long time but he’s lost me with the last handful of records and his interviews.
Duly noted, but do you have any idea why the others mentioned in this thread were denied the brass ring? It has bugged me for years.
I think what stalled this great band was bad timing, IMO. It seemed like it was 20 years too late, and 10 years too early. Caught in the middle of trends. Great album, I agree. Audley Freed is doing well for himself though.
I don't know about North Carolina bands, but some pretty damned good guitar players came from there (Doc Watson, Warren Haynes).
shout out to cry of love and corrosion of conformity mentioned already. i'll toss one out there ANIMAL BAG anyone remember them? what are these guys up to now? will the unreleased followup album ever get an official release?
Somebody mentioned DAG earlier. That brings up Kenny Soule. By my count, that makes three bands he was in, that should have been more famous. Nantucket, PKM, and DAG. All great bands that seemed to have what it takes to make it big. What happened? Three of the guys in Dag were also in a great cover band called Mr. Potato Head.
Allegedly, The Connells apparently put in a sub par performance at a big televised MTV gig. I've never seen it, but I read about it. Even though I was in Chapel Hill during their heyday, I only ever saw them in concert during their later, part timer years.
I've never seen that MTV thing either, but I saw them several times in their prime, and they were incredibly good live. As good as any band can sound. They are perfect for this list because they were well-known and on the brink of stardom, and then it stalled.
It's weird that a name this random would ever get used twice, but there was a band called Railroad Earth who cut a 45 for Waggletone Records back in 1994. Pretty sure they have no relation to the bluegrass band of the same name. And Waggletone was run by Big Dave in Valdese, so I assume they were an NC band.
One of my favourite bands since I saw them supporting Calexico almost 20 years ago. Every album is excellent.
Southern Culture On The Skids is a great mention. Perhaps they do want more notoriety, but having gone through the major label grind that turned them into a gross stereotype novelty band, perhaps you are right. Each time I see them though(about 8 times in the last 6 years), I wonder if this is the last time as the road grinds away year after year. Nevertheless, while all members are great musicians I find Mary Huff to be an exceptional bassist.
