To celebrate the nation’s birthday, my old friends at the Boston Phoenix have compiled a list of the best bands in each of the 50 states. (Actually, each state gets a Best Band, Best Solo Artist, and Best New Band.) I point to it because there’s nothing we like better at EW than argument-generating lists, and because this one actually made me think a bit. Sure, some of the choices are no-brainers; it’s nigh impossible to think of a band more associated with California than the Beach Boys (pictured) or a solo artist more quintessentially New Jersey than Bruce Springsteen. But beyond that, it gets pretty murky. Take Michigan: you have every band that ever recorded for Motown, plus such solo acts as Madonna and Eminem. How to choose? (The Phoenix split the difference and went with the Stooges and Stevie Wonder.) Anyway, click on the Phoenix’s nifty interactive map; if school were in session, this is the sort of thing that could fuel college dorm-room disputes for weeks.
Unlike the Phoenix, I won’t pretend to be expert enough to know who the best acts are from Alaska or South Dakota. But I would like to hear from PopWatchers across this great land: name for us, please, the best band, best solo artist, and best new act from your home state. (And if you’re not in the U.S., then from wherever you are.)
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MINNESOTA
SOLO ARTIST: Bob Dylan
BAND: The Time
NEW(ish): The Honeydogs
I was interested to see who they picked from my home state of Indiana. Picking both the Jackson 5 AND Michael Jackson is both understandable and at the same time a bit of a cop-out when you have both John Mellencamp and Axl Rose from here as well.
Well the Phoenix got Massachusetts right, so I don’t really have much to add.
I’m satisfied with the choices for my home state of Michigan, but there are still some big mistakes. For example, some band called Big Black is chosen as the best band from Illinois over Cheap Trick? Huh?
Considering I lived all over the place, I will comment on them all:
NJ – I’d vote Bon Jovi as best band or E-street Band since you have the boss.
GA – I agree on Ray Charles, but I’m split with R.E.M. and OutKast.
CO – no comment.
MO – Definitely Chuck Berry.
NY – not even going to that one. It’s like Michigan.
SC – can only agree with James Brown.
I guess by my name you can tell where I am from….but there are way too many bands and singers from Texas to mention. My all time favorite was/is Stevie Ray Vaughn (RIP). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Texas
Wow, I think they screwed up Illinois.
Big Black as best band? Uh….ever hear of Smashing Pumpkins? Cheap Trick?
And while Miles Davis is a legitimately strong solo artist choice, I gotta throw some love to Kanye West, Common, and Lupe Fiasco…probably not big enough historically to unseat Miles, but certainly potential challengers as they continue to make awesome music.
P.S. And while Ray Charles was born in Georgia, he moved to Florida as a toddler, attended school there (St. Augustine School for the Deaf and Blind) and started in music there (with The Florida Playboys in Tampa)….he could easily be called Florida’s Ray Charles as he could be Georgia’s (despite his iconic “Georgia on My Mind”)
TX-Spoon
New Mexico- Beirut
I must be way out of the musical loop. I don’t even recognize the names of half of the bands/artists from the states I clicked on. At least I recognized the 3 from my home state, though I didn’t even know Trent Reznor was born in PA. As for this Springsteen fellow, he may be synonymous with New Jersey, but that still means you have to deny Frank Sinatra a spot. That’s kind of rough.
Zimbabwe: Tie between Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi and David Chifunyise.
I guess I can agree with the picks for my home state of Louisiana, but not choosing Elvis for Mississippi is totally crazy.
Maybe I’m too young, or maybe Pop radio has taken over music, by I haven’t heard of maybe 70-80% of all these States’ artists.
I think they cheated with Florida. I agree with Skynyrd as group but picking Tom Petty as solo is a cop out, its Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Of course that leaves us with Pat Boone or Gloria Estefan.
My home state is CA, but I felt I HAD to throw in my hometown of Sacramento, since they have a scene all their own.
Best band: CAKE (sorry Deftones)
Best solo artist: Charlie Peacock
Best new artist: Jackie Greene
While they’re WRONG about Aerosmith being from NH, at least put “The Cars” as best band from Massachusetts.
FAIL.
From Texas – no one beats Stevie Ray Vaughn…..
Could someone from British Columbia please come up with someone cool. I might just be tired, but everyone I can think of is lame. Please let us be known for someone other than Brian Adams.
OKLAHOMA: Cross Canadian Ragweed!!!!
Kansas/Missouri (Kansas City Area):
Solo Artist: Melissa Etheridge
Band: The Count Basie Orchestra
New Artist: David Cook
(Bet that is the only time you will ever see those three names on the same list)
~TEXAS~
BAND – Blue October
SOLO – Janice Joplin
NEW(est) – Kelly Clarkson
Oh and we cant forget Selena!
Wow texas has given us some powerful voices!
Um hello and we cant forget Destiny’s Child/Beyonce or Hillary Duff. . .im sure there is a ton more from Texas we also got George Strait, Willie Nelson, the Dixie Chicks, Le Anne Rimes…just to name a few! My fav is still my gurl KELLY CLARKSON!
E, for Minnesota, please also include:
SOLO ARTIST: Prince
I, too, have lived all over the place, so here’s my input on a few:
Washington – Layne Staley /Alice in Chains
Massachusetts – Sully Erna / Godsmack
California – Chris Isaak, Amy Lee/Evanescence, Bonnie Raitt
Ohio – Dean Martin
Pennsylvania – Daryl Hall / Hall and Oates
Texas – Willie Nelson
By far the best from VA is Dave Matthews Band. They originated in Charlottesville.
I’ll second LizzBlizz’s nod to CAKE from Sacramento, California. Awesome band from my hometown!!
yeah, Colorado is a mess too. Their selections are so bizarre (not that Colorado has turned out lots of great music). I’ve never heard of one of the bands, they picked Jello Biafra because he grew up here, but I don’t feel like he’s had anything to do with the Colorado scene.
How could the best band from Texas not be ZZ Top? How? They were in “Back to the Future III” for god’s sake!
Was thrilled at the love for Tilly and the Wall – not only do they tap dance for percussion, but they are hysterical live!
I’m from New York, so I agree with Mary J. Blige- the other two don’t know much about.
My Dad’s from Michigan- Stevie Wonders great, but Madonna has had such an influence on music, I think she should have been picked.
Kinda disappointed Roy Orbison was picked over Beyonce in Texas