I need a new band in an old style.

June 12, 2007 10:34 AM

I’m tired of living in the rock-and-roll past and need a new band. The problem is, nobody’s playing arena rock anymore, as they did in the days of my Def Leppard youth. I’m clueless about the modern rock scene, but I’m hoping there’s a band out there that writes and performs in the vein of the party rock acts like Van Halen. Where is the modern Aerosmith? Can someone suggest a recent band in this style? Or is everything out there just another Green Day clone?
posted by jackypaper to media & arts (36 comments total)

The Darkness was an over-the-top arena rock act from Britain from a couple years ago. Were they serious? Were they joking? It doesn't matter: The Darkness ROCK.

Listen to "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" and try to say it ain't so.
posted by Milkman Dan at 10:42 AM on June 12, 2007

The Hold Steady play classic rock/arena rock-inflected tunes infused with gritty Kerouacian poetry.
posted by ludwig_van at 10:45 AM on June 12, 2007 [1 favorite]

But your best bet to hear this kind of music is probably to go to the nearest pub that puts on local bands.
posted by ludwig_van at 10:47 AM on June 12, 2007

Well, aside from the fact that Aerosmith is still technically around, you're not going to find a "modern day Aerosmith" any more than you'll find a modern day Scott Joplin. Aerosmith and their ilk's brand of hard/cock rock just isn't what's popular anymore. If you want to see or hear that kind of sound today, be prepared to get a healthy dose of irony with it, as with the bands mentioned so far.
posted by Espy Gillespie at 10:53 AM on June 12, 2007

I'll probably get filleted by someone for this suggestion, but I'm partial to what the Killers have been doing -- big rock, big choruses, big guitars. They're definitely not seeking out an arena-type sound, but they, along with Franz Ferdinand and Snow Patrol, are keeping the rock chops alive - or at least on life support.
There's an outside chance you may dig the better [read: not on the radio] work by Fall Out Boy. [a little bit too Green Day punk, sometimes, though...]
posted by rubberfish at 10:58 AM on June 12, 2007

Wolfmother!

The Hold Steady!

Vietnam!
posted by jbickers at 11:01 AM on June 12, 2007

electric six would probably be right up your alley

they are freaking awesome
posted by Salvatorparadise at 11:06 AM on June 12, 2007

What about Wolfmother? And "party rock"? Andrew W.K seems to be the current king of that genre...
posted by blaneyphoto at 11:07 AM on June 12, 2007

Straight from Guitar Hero II, Bang Camaro.

The band is composed of a bassist, a drummer, three guitarists, and anywhere from ten to fifteen vocalists comprising a full choir of lead singers. The band's music is somewhat similar in style to '80s metal and glam rock.
posted by kcm at 11:10 AM on June 12, 2007

I'm thinking you'd like Swedish export Wig Wam and certain segments of Edguy's oeuvre - just don't be one of those people in that last video.
posted by Wolfdog at 11:13 AM on June 12, 2007

White Stripes?

Tenacious D?
posted by KokuRyu at 11:15 AM on June 12, 2007

The Hold Steady are not ironic. You should definitely check out Wolfmother. I really doubt you will like Fallout Boy. The Killers are absolutely seeking out an arena-rock sound, and you may like them, although it's not exactly the same what you asked for.

Also Dungen have a great classic rock sound, but it's more 60's psych than 70's party.
posted by ludwig_van at 11:17 AM on June 12, 2007

And Espy Gillespie is just generally wrong, unless you add the qualification that the band has to be as commercially successful as those bands were in their heyday. Popular music is so fragmented that there are bands doing everything.
posted by ludwig_van at 11:19 AM on June 12, 2007

Cheap Trick is still putting out good rock.
posted by Bearman at 11:20 AM on June 12, 2007

The Secret Machines strike me as having a very "arena rock" sound, and yet they sound mostly nothing like Aerosmith. I think it's in the drums. Give 'em a shot.
posted by vytae at 11:21 AM on June 12, 2007

The Head Set - Bonnie & Clyde [mp3]
posted by yeti at 11:34 AM on June 12, 2007

Also Dungen have a great classic rock sound, but it's more 60's psych than 70's party.

Dungen fuckin' rocks. "Panda" is one of the greatest guitar-rock tunes of the last decade. Pity it's in Swedish.
posted by solid-one-love at 11:41 AM on June 12, 2007

Norwegian, not Swedish. Sorry. But can you get any more arena than this?)
posted by Wolfdog at 11:42 AM on June 12, 2007

I assure you, Dungen is Swedish.
posted by solid-one-love at 11:52 AM on June 12, 2007

Andrew WK. You should absolutely love Andrew WK.
posted by one_bean at 12:10 PM on June 12, 2007 [1 favorite]

Try Drunk Horse, Pride Tiger, Priestess, Rye Coalition, and, for an instrumental take, The Fucking Champs.
posted by The Straightener at 12:16 PM on June 12, 2007

Thanks! I'm going to check out every band ya'll suggested.
posted by jackypaper at 12:18 PM on June 12, 2007

ludwig_van, I think the contrast between the, as you put it, "Kerouacian poetry" in the Hold Steady's lyrics and their dumb-fun anthemic rock involves some irony. They certainly seem to play to a kind of hipster set that I can't imagine sitting through the earnest rock of, say, Van Halen. But I'm not a huge fan, and I could be wrong.

And I guess I do think that some degree of commericial success seems like a prerequisite for the kind of band the poster is looking for. An arena rock band that only plays small local bars would, again, be somewhat ironic.
posted by Espy Gillespie at 12:33 PM on June 12, 2007

Music has changed, man...

Me, I'm just glad that RATM got together for 4 more shows...
posted by allkindsoftime at 12:33 PM on June 12, 2007

I've seen The Hold Steady live and there's nothing ironic about what they do. They don't play big classic rock riffs to make fun of the music or wink at the audience, they do it because they're good at it and that's what they like.

And I guess you're not totally wrong on your second point, but "arena rock" as the OP is looking for is a style of music. Bands that aren't "arena rock" play shows in arenas, and vice versa. If there were a current band in that style who were as big as Van Halen or Aerosmith were, the OP would probably know about them and wouldn't have to ask us. My point was "times are different, nobody does that anymore" is incorrect. There are people out there doing everything you could name.

I still think the OP should just go to the nearest bar with a band night, though.
posted by ludwig_van at 12:42 PM on June 12, 2007

You might check out stonerrock.com as well.
posted by rhizome at 12:49 PM on June 12, 2007

I think you might like Turbonegro.
posted by infinitywaltz at 12:50 PM on June 12, 2007

Check out Fu Manchu. If they don't make you go out and get all Jim Anchower, then nothing will.
posted by NoMich at 12:57 PM on June 12, 2007

I think you should punch Aerosmith (or whoever) into Wikipedia and check out some of the stuff you'll find in the "related content" section.

Sometimes there are links to similar groups. I've found quite a few bands thanks to Wikipedia.
posted by drstein at 1:32 PM on June 12, 2007

Burning Brides
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 1:34 PM on June 12, 2007

When I think of Arena Rock, I think more along glam/prog lines; I would recommend Muse as the modern counterpart. More melodrama than party, so possibly you and I have divergent ideas about "Arena Rock".
posted by oneirodynia at 2:29 PM on June 12, 2007

I've been digging Kings of Leon since their previous album. Their latest album is even better.

My Morning Jacket rocks.

Wolf Parade is a nice indie band.
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 2:59 PM on June 12, 2007

check out muse, they got them some arena rock aspirations
posted by christy at 3:37 PM on June 12, 2007

Speaking of the Fucking Champs, there's also the Fucking Am ...
posted by Sonny Jim at 12:34 AM on June 13, 2007

Oh man, keep listening to Def Leppard - they're STILL doing awesome things, and their shows are fantastic.

(And FWIW, Lep supports The Darkness - they opened for Lep on their European tour leg back in 2005 (...6? 5.).)
posted by AthenaPolias at 9:09 AM on June 13, 2007

Thirding Muse, I didn't quite catch it at first, but they are very very arena rock
posted by pantsrobot at 5:47 PM on June 13, 2007