Name this mid '90s Chicago street fair band

August 6, 2016 11:47 AM

There was a locally quasi-famous Chicago band that played in the late '90s. It seemed like they were always at street fairs. They sounded a little bit Barenaked Ladies-esque, and had an Asian woman who played the violin. (I don't know how I know this but I swear the violinist had an MFA from Michigan). Who were these guys? They were good.
posted by AgentRocket to Media & Arts (7 answers total)

Office? They have a Michigan connection, although they're early 2000s, not late 1990s. I don't recall any of the women playing the violin, though, so I'm probably wrong.
posted by crush-onastick at 12:05 PM on August 6, 2016

Maybe the Dambuilders? Early-mid 90s famous, but based in Boston, and I don't remember the (female) violin player being Asian.
posted by tip120 at 1:59 PM on August 6, 2016

Violinist isn't Asian, and not particularly BNL-sounding, but maybe Bobby Conn?
posted by rhizome at 2:40 PM on August 6, 2016

Poi Dog?
posted by Mid at 9:19 AM on August 7, 2016

Here's Poi Dog on Letterman. The woman on violin is not Asian, I don't think. Kind of like Barenaked Ladies? Realizing they are kind of like a proto-Arcade Fire with the multi-instrumental!
posted by Mid at 9:23 AM on August 7, 2016

Response by poster: I am 99% it was Underwater People. Thanks for your educated guesses, friends.
posted by AgentRocket at 7:30 PM on August 7, 2016

I think we were just naming off every Chicago band with a female violinist.
posted by rhizome at 10:35 PM on August 7, 2016