Help me rock out with my c- ... uh help me rock.

June 18, 2010 11:24 AM

Looking for suggestions on rough raw blues-based rock and roll.

Right now I'm really enjoying some early Black Keys, early White Stripes, and Black Diamond Heavies (which I learned about because of this thread (thanks ghharr)). I'm looking for anything else in this vein. Loud, raucous, greasy, simple rock and roll. Those three bands have three things in common: a blues-rock background, two members, and a male vocalist. Further consideration: I'm a music listener, not a lyrics listener, so I don't really care what the songs are about. Besides, if they're what I'm looking for chances are they'll be about drinking, drugs, and women who done them wrong, so that's fine.

To reiterate, I'd love to hear your suggestions on the following: a band that:
1.) has simple loud raw bluesy-rock
2.) is a small group, two or three people
3.) has a male vocalist

I'm horrible at finding good music, but you guys know what I'm looking for. I anticipate a weekend full of amazing times. The brown party liquor and I thank you in advance.

posted by komara to media & arts (34 answers total)

What about tom waits? He's about as rough as you can get.
posted by TheBones at 11:29 AM on June 18, 2010

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
posted by mkultra at 11:29 AM on June 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

North Mississippi Allstars.
posted by dfriedman at 11:33 AM on June 18, 2010

The Soledad Brothers
posted by otolith at 11:37 AM on June 18, 2010

Oblivians. As well as the numerous solo projects and offshoots thereof.
posted by zombiedance at 11:45 AM on June 18, 2010

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Them Crooked Vultures
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Boss Hog
Morphine
Flat Duo Jets
Cream
Jimi Hendrix (start with the Blues album, since it's closest to what you're talking about)
ZZ Top (start with the song "Just Got Paid" and then move on to "La Grange")
Jeff Beck's Truth album
The Cult's Electric album
Led Zeppelin (obviously)
The Rolling Stones (obviously)
Urge Overkill
posted by The World Famous at 11:49 AM on June 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

The Delta 72. Not a tiny band, but otherwise right up your alley.

Mid-era (late 90s) Royal Trux, when still a relative two-piece. Good in every phase of their career, but this is most like what you're looking for.
posted by activitystory at 11:51 AM on June 18, 2010

Check out some of the (early) Fat Possum stuff. Personal recommendations:
Elmo Williams and Hezekiah Early
R.L. Burnside
Bob Log III

This is more bluesly than rocky, but is very much raw and hard driving. Also listening to this stuff is how I discovered The Black Keys (who used to be on Fat Possum).
posted by Erberus at 11:52 AM on June 18, 2010

Already I can tell that you guys are going to give me far more than I can process in the course of one weekend. This is great.

TheBones: I don't think I can get any more Tom Waits. I think I have it all already. You're my kind of guy for recommending him. If he'd made even more albums like Heartattack and Vine I might not even have to have asked this question.

mkultra, The World Famous: I never tried JSBE because ... I dunno, the name made it sound like straight blues. A few listens and I think that this might be a pretty good fit for me.

The World Famous: thank you for that astounding list of links. That comment alone will keep me busy for a while.
posted by komara at 11:57 AM on June 18, 2010

You should probably also check out:

MC5
The Stooges
Mike Watt

and

Leslie West (who, notwithstanding his first name, is a man, and who is the true godfather of stuff like the White Stripes and Black Keys)
posted by The World Famous at 12:08 PM on June 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

Try also: Gaslight Anthem and The Weeks.
posted by Bourbonesque at 12:19 PM on June 18, 2010

Lots of great suggestions already. I've been really enjoying the new album from Nick Moss who comes from a Chicago blues background but rocks out a little more on "Privleged."
posted by maurice at 12:53 PM on June 18, 2010

The Immortal Lee County Killers!
(lets get killed)
(rollin' stone)
(robert johnson)
(don't nothing hurt me like my back and side)
(shitcanned again)

they fit all of your specs but whether they work or not . . . that's the question.
pretty raw.
posted by Seamus at 12:58 PM on June 18, 2010

Came here to recommend the Immortal Lee County Killers and Flat Duo Jets - glad to see someone else did the same. And don't forget the related (some of the same members; also great) band The Quadrajets.

Radio Birdman may fit the bill, though they may be too "clean" for what you're looking for.

I can't get enough of Dan Sartain, myself.

And, oh Lord, LINK fucking WRAY. The granddaddy of 'em all. Please listen to everything he ever recorded. The Norton reissues are particularly fine; take special heed of the work he did with the amazing and somewhat mysterious vocalist Bunker Hill.

I love love LOVE this kind of music, so I'll post some more if I think of some; feel free to MeMail me, too: when I get home, I'll scan through my collection and give you some titles.
posted by Dr. Wu at 1:06 PM on June 18, 2010 [1 favorite]

The Rolling Stones of 1968 through 1972. Whereas their singles are pop-ish, the other tracks are rough, raw, blues-based rock and roll. And very, very good.
posted by neuron at 1:11 PM on June 18, 2010

A bit on the side of "heavy psych," but still on a mission to rock your pants, is the great band Zen Guerrilla. Their cover of Bowie's "Moonage Daydream" will melt your brain.
posted by Dr. Wu at 1:14 PM on June 18, 2010

Seamus: The Immortal Lee County Killers is the first suggestion to which I have, upon listening, had a deep visceral and emotional reaction. They're really hitting the spot for what I want. Thank you.
posted by komara at 1:33 PM on June 18, 2010

The Sonics 1 2 3
posted by hydrophonic at 1:37 PM on June 18, 2010

Ooh! Also Cash Audio (née Cash Money, until some petty rappers filed a copyright complaint). I think these guys are exactly what you're looking for.
posted by Dr. Wu at 1:38 PM on June 18, 2010

Damnit I can't find the Immortal Lee County Killers' album 'Love is a Charm of Powerful Trouble' available for purchase as digital audio files online, only physical CDs. I don't want to wait! I want this music NOW.

Seamus (and Dr. Wu), this band is exactly what I was looking for. Maybe I'll try one of their other albums that I can find online and right now.

Everyone else - I swear when I get time I'll go through every single link here. Thank you all so much.
posted by komara at 1:47 PM on June 18, 2010

Band of Skulls, maybe. Only one album out so far, and they switch off between male and female vocals, but I find them to be pretty raw and bluesy. Try "Light of the Morning."
posted by sigmagalator at 1:53 PM on June 18, 2010

Billy Childish (co-founder of the "Stuckism" art movement) has been influential in this genre. His bands include Thee Headcoats and the Buff Medways.

Flat Duo Jets were the main inspiration for the White Stripes.
posted by k. at 3:17 PM on June 18, 2010

I've only heard this one song, but this is some greasy rock right here: Dance Laury Dance - Living for the roll
posted by davey_darling at 3:18 PM on June 18, 2010

The debut albums of Johnny Winter (The Progressive Blues Experiment) and Stevie Ray Vaughn (Texas Flood) are both guitar trio, stripped-down blues-based rock.
posted by timeistight at 3:28 PM on June 18, 2010

Check out http://www.laut.fm/raus

Mostly for the early rock, its amazing.
posted by Dash Nine at 4:23 PM on June 18, 2010

The Deadly Snakes, in particular their album Ode to Joy.

Listen:
I Can't Sleep at Night
I wanna die
posted by carsonb at 4:33 PM on June 18, 2010

Another one: The Thermals.

2nding Royal Trux & Morphine.
posted by carsonb at 4:42 PM on June 18, 2010

If you like the Black Keys, you'll probably like Junior Kimbrough; he was a direct influence on them.
posted by malapropist at 9:22 PM on June 18, 2010

(early) Danko Jones (self link)
Verbena
Bob Log III NSFW (one man band)
Kings of Leon
Pussy Galore
Heartless Bastards (no good vid online)
20 Miles
Shikasta
Reverend Beat-Man (all the way from Sweden)
posted by dobbs at 10:17 PM on June 18, 2010

Oh, and I'm assuming you already own this, one of the greatest electric blues albums ever released.
posted by dobbs at 10:20 PM on June 18, 2010

I am going to be the annoying person ignoring one part of your question, but aside from the male vocalist and having to rock out without anything out, if you haven't heard (the) Gossip's earlier, bluesy-as-fuck stuff, you might want to pass through it - I really like the album Movement. One song off it: Don't (Make Waves).

I'm risking being the annoying person because I've surprised a few male-voiced-bluesy-rock-lovers with it, but I apologise if you really can't stand female vocals.
posted by carbide at 1:00 PM on June 19, 2010

Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers

Little Ed and the Blues Imperials

my work here is done.
posted by timsteil at 1:01 PM on June 19, 2010

Thanks again, everyone. I had a busy weekend and couldn't listen to everything, but now I have a great list for the future.
posted by komara at 6:45 AM on June 21, 2010

Detroit Cobras
Bottle Up and Go
The Kills
Awesome Color
posted by elks at 3:24 PM on June 22, 2010