- 7 months ago
From country legends to alt-rock pioneers, America's musical landscape is as diverse as its geography! Join us as we explore the most iconic bands from each state, starting with Alabama to Missouri. Our lineup includes Eagles, Aerosmith, Slipknot, Prince and the Revolution, and many more homegrown talents who shaped American music history.
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00:00Take your weary head to rest, don't you cry no more.
00:08Welcome to WatchMojo!
00:10And today, we're looking at the most popular and iconic bands from each of the 50 states,
00:15starting with the first 25, in alphabetical order.
00:19Alabama, Alabama.
00:35They're far from the only band who name themselves after their state of origin, but they're certainly among the best.
00:41Living in heaven, with my Dixieland delight.
00:48If there's one thing that makes Alabama stand out,
00:51it's the way they distilled many aspects of Southern Roots music into one package.
00:56Country, bluegrass, gospel, and Southern rock.
00:59All covered and excelled at by this formidable group of musicians.
01:03They had the good fortune of nailing their sound early,
01:13thrilling fans with songs like Dixieland delight and The Closer You Get.
01:17Not only did they push boundaries with their music,
01:20they also offered an insight into where country was going in the future.
01:24The Closer You Get
01:26The Closer You Get
01:27The Further I Fall
01:31Portugal The Man
01:38The career trajectory of Portugal The Man is proof that mainstream success can happen at the most unexpected times.
01:46The band were already critical darlings on the indie scene, earning a devoted fan base due to their eclectic style and fearless experimentation.
01:59However, their commercial success well and truly skyrocketed after the release of 2017's hit single, Feel It Still.
02:07Feel It Still
02:14All of a sudden, a band that had legit underground street cred found themselves at the upper echelons of the charts.
02:20As far as bands from Alaska are concerned, that one song alone puts them in a league of their own.
02:27I don't wanna work forever
02:34Gin Blossoms, Arizona
02:40The jangly alt-rock stylings of Gin Blossoms always came served up with some impeccably bittersweet lyrics.
02:47However, those who know the history of the band understand just how tough their road was.
03:01Their songwriter and lead guitarist, Doug Hopkins, left the band just before the release of their breakthrough album, following struggles with his mental health and alcohol use disorder.
03:10I found out about you
03:14I found out about you
03:18He would unfortunately pass away, just as his old band hit the big time, a heartbreaking asterisk beside their success.
03:25They would, of course, persevere and achieve huge success without Hopkins, earning their status as perhaps Arizona's most iconic band.
03:46Evanescence
03:48Arkansas
03:49Symphonic goth metal truly never sounded better than when Amy Lee and company burst onto the scene in the early 2000s.
04:04Their debut album Fallen sold a whopping 17 million copies, but more importantly, it reshaped several musical genres, opening the floodgates for an entire generation of bands.
04:15Lee's background in classical music and the group's natural knack for merging styles allowed them to stand out amongst their peers.
04:22You cried, I'd wipe away all of your tears
04:28Evanescence were not quite emo, not quite goth, and not quite nu metal, standing on their own as something truly unique.
04:37It's no wonder that all these years later, they still sound as fresh as ever.
04:42I'm going on
04:44I'm going on
04:46I'm going on
04:48I'm going on
04:49I'm going on
04:50I'm going on
04:51I'm going on
04:52I'm going on
04:53I'm going on
04:54I'm going on
04:56Eagles
04:58California
04:59California
05:00When it comes to California, we could have very easily gone for the pop mastery of the
05:06Beach Boys, the funk of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, or the thrash metal of Metallica.
05:11However, when it comes to capturing the very essence of the Californian experience, we
05:16couldn't look past the Eagles.
05:17Whether it's the laid back sounds of Take It Easy, or the grim picture painted in Hotel
05:28California, the Eagles tapped into the spirit of a place in time, with their sound.
05:34Welcome to the Hotel California, such a lovely place, such a lovely place.
05:43They dominated the radio in the 1970s, and to this day, their Greatest Hits album remains
05:48one of the biggest sellers of all time.
05:51You're still the same old girl you used to be
05:56The Fray, Colorado
06:03There were few bands, if any, who best exemplified the sounds of 2000's balladry quite like The
06:09Fray.
06:10This Colorado band were intent on wearing their emotions on their sleeve, using introspective
06:22lyrics and soaring choruses to carve out several big hits.
06:26The biggest of them was, of course, How to Save a Life, the quintessential indie piano rock
06:31anthem of the decade in question.
06:43They were by no means a one-hit wonder, though.
06:45And they have retained a devoted fanbase that still keeps their records in rotation all these
06:50years later.
06:57MGMT
07:02Connecticut
07:04There are so many modern groups that owe a debt to indie pop band MGMT.
07:10When forming in Connecticut early in the century, they seemed just as surprised as everyone
07:15else to achieve the level of global fame they did.
07:22Their infectious mix of psychedelic experimentation and alt-rock left them with a string of enduring
07:29hits.
07:30They could write hooks, infectious synth riffs, and their production style was way ahead of
07:35its time.
07:36Among their Connecticut peers, MGMT are truly the most impactful group the state has produced
07:51in quite some time.
07:52The blues have been played in one form or another long before anyone we'll feature in
08:13this video was born, in that it has gone through many
08:21different iterations.
08:22However, for our money, the direction that George Thorogood and the Destroyers took it
08:28will always hold a place in our hearts.
08:30The band filled every track with an unapologetic attitude that made it stick out immediately.
08:35A track like Bad to the Bone might sound like a novelty song, but this was a track that became
08:41a cultural staple.
08:42Few bands have nailed the art of performing with such swagger, quite like George Thorogood
08:54and the Destroyers.
08:55Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Florida, trust us.
09:13We were very tempted to give Lynyrd Skynyrd the nod here.
09:17Song for song, album for album though.
09:19It's very hard to look past Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers when it comes to Florida's
09:23musical output.
09:31From their very first album to their last, there was always something to enjoy from Tom
09:36Petty's output.
09:44Some songwriters make an intense splash with one record and can't sustain it, while others
09:49are able to reinvent the wheel several times in their career.
09:53Tom Petty and his band certainly fall into the latter category.
10:09R.E.M. Georgia.
10:12Alternative rock in its golden era in the 90s would not be what it was if it weren't for
10:16the foundations laid down by Georgia legends R.E.M. in the 80s.
10:27Not to mention the fact that they somehow became even more famous once their second decade in
10:31the music business began.
10:32You'd be hard pressed to find any bands in their genre who weren't influenced by some
10:38era of their career.
10:47Michael Stipe was the perfect frontman, understated and mellow but with an undeniable charisma.
10:53When the group pivoted into the mainstream, it was a truly comfortable transition.
10:58And from that point on, the hits just kept on flowing.
11:13If you can craft a feel-good hit, you can pretty much guarantee your inclusion on Beach Party
11:22playlists for all of eternity.
11:24For Hawaii icons Pepper, that's exactly what happened to them.
11:37Known for their mix of surf rock, reggae and punk, their status as a riveting live act
11:41led to a huge national following.
11:44Their formula was perhaps most impressively executed on Give It Up, one of their signature
11:49tracks, a tune that pushed the band right into the public eye.
11:59Their success also had the knock-on effect of introducing many unsuspecting ears to the
12:04joys of reggae music.
12:17Built To Spill, Idaho.
12:20Modern American indie music has roots that can be traced directly to Idaho heroes Built To
12:25Spill.
12:33Led by Doug March, the band were indie pioneers that had an uncanny knack for intricate guitar
12:39work and introspective lyrics.
12:41Their live shows are revered for extended improvisation, laying the foundations for all those who would
12:47follow.
12:54The sheer musicality of their 90's output is deserving of the highest praise, especially
12:59for those moments of six-string genius that are littered throughout.
13:04They had style, attitude and most importantly, they could really play their instruments.
13:09Earth, Wind & Fire, Illinois.
13:22Make no mistake, Illinois was stacked with worthy contenders.
13:26Cheap tricks, Chicago and sticks very nearly made the cut.
13:30However, when it comes to fun, funky freshness, how could we look past the mighty Earth, Wind & Fire?
13:36On paper, this mix of funk, R&B, soul, disco and jazz might sound like a mess, especially
13:50when you add in the harmonies, horn sections and even the band's visual elements.
13:55However, this is a classic example of a band that never
14:05failed to offer a totally cohesive experience from start to finish.
14:10They're icons in several different genres, that's for sure.
14:28The Jackson 5, Indiana.
14:30Few states can lay claim to producing a greater superstar than Indiana's claim to Michael Jackson.
14:36When it comes to popular music, he's just about as popular as they come.
14:40However, seeing as we're covering only groups, we have to give our pick to the Jackson 5.
14:49Long before MJ went solo, he was fronting his family band, achieving a string of truly essential
14:57funk and R&B hits.
14:59I don't blame it on moonlight, I don't blame it on good times, I blame it on a boogie.
15:05Songs like Blame It On The Boogie and ABC were just as prevalent in modern culture as Thriller
15:11or Billie Jean.
15:12That's two Hall of Fame-worthy careers, for the price of one.
15:25Slipknot, Iowa.
15:27To this day, it's still surprising that a band as gritty, edgy, and uncompromising
15:31as Slipknot made it so far into the mainstream world.
15:43Their unique brand of extreme metal was internationally acclaimed, of course, but it was their look
15:48that truly sold it.
15:50Corey Taylor and the guys took several foundational aspects of the world of heavy metal and dragged
15:54it into the modern age.
16:08They looked the part, they performed like total lunatics, and they earned themselves global
16:12fame as a result.
16:14A trailblazing force in the world of alternative metal.
16:17I am a world before I am a man.
16:24Kansas.
16:25Kansas.
16:26They had a little bit of prog, a little bit of classic rock, and it was all wrapped up with
16:30a touch of heartland sensibility.
16:32On paper, Kansas could have been a sensory overload, and yet, songs like Carry On Wayward Sun and
16:39Dust in the Wind proved just how universal a seemingly complex recipe can be.
16:57Passed before my eyes of curiosity, dust in the wind.
17:06Their lyrics were dripping with philosophy and wisdom while their instrumentation was perfect
17:12for the radio, but intriguing enough to hold the interest of mature listeners.
17:16To this day, they are by far and away, the state of Kansas' finest band export.
17:23My Morning Jacket, Kentucky.
17:35The longer they hung around, the harder it became to pin Kentucky icons My Morning Jacket
17:39to one genre.
17:46Sure, there are clear soul, rock, and psychedelic influences, but their studio experimentations
17:52and stunning live performances tend to bring them to an entirely different place.
17:58As one of the most acclaimed rock bands of the 2000s, My Morning Jacket consists of a
18:03group of musicians who are all about creating atmosphere, about pushing boundaries.
18:08Need proof?
18:09Check out their Bonnaroo set from 2008 for a real taste of what they can do.
18:15The Neville Brothers, Louisiana.
18:28Louisiana has a musical tradition that has produced some of the most essential American music of
18:34all time.
18:36If there's one group that really has a strong claim at being the primary cultural ambassadors
18:47of the New Orleans sound, it has got to be the Neville Brothers.
18:51Their musical approach is a melting pot of genres, taking elements of soul, funk, R&B,
18:57while adding a dash of local Creole influence.
19:01As a band, they were not only extremely proficient, but also incredibly unique as individuals,
19:11forming a unit that sounded unlike anything else on the radio during their heyday.
19:24Rustic Overtones, Maine.
19:27As far as band names that really hit the nail on the head are concerned, it's hard to do
19:31much better than Maine's Rustic Overtones.
19:34The ambition that the band showed with tracks like Combustible or Black Shirt made it instantly
19:44clear that they were very serious about their craft.
19:48Getting the endorsement of a legend like David Bowie didn't hurt them either.
19:56You can hear the elements of rock, soul, and jazz colliding whenever they're playing,
20:00especially in a live setting.
20:02In other words, their prolonged success is absolutely not an accident.
20:07The college rock scene of the 2000s was truly a unique time in American music history.
20:23Lines between genres became increasingly blurry, creating a beautiful mess of sounds and styles.
20:29Maryland's OAR are a true example of a band who earned their stripes on the live circuit.
20:44Sure, they had the hooks and pop sensibility in their back pocket when they needed them,
20:49but they were a jam band through and through.
20:51How many times can I break my shadow?
20:56Crossover hits like Shattered sure sounded good on the record itself, but for the full experience,
21:02their acclaimed live shows were the only way to go.
21:05One of the most underrated bands of their era.
21:08And we danced through the night, yeah.
21:16Aerosmith, Massachusetts.
21:19There was certainly strong competition from Massachusetts like the Cars in Boston,
21:24but we had to eventually give the top spot to Aerosmith.
21:28Few bands have managed to achieve such insane commercial success in two different eras as these rock staples.
21:41Their 70s outputs saw them take a more clear-cut classic rock approach.
21:46However, after nearly imploding due to a number of deeply rooted issues,
21:50Steven Tyler and the boys became superstars during the MTV era.
21:54Songs like I Don't Want to Miss a Thing and Cryin' have literally become benchmarks for anthemic arena rock.
22:08Aerosmith's position as kings of the genre is beyond clear at this point.
22:13The Temptations, Michigan.
22:28It was, most certainly, a very tightly contested race between Diana Ross and the Supremes and our eventual pick.
22:35The Temptations just had something truly unique, though.
22:40But it was just my imagination.
22:45They were far from the only male vocal group doing the rounds during their era,
22:49but they may well have been the most memorable.
22:51Treat her like a lady. Treat her like a lady.
22:56Their most impressive feat, though?
22:58Handling the transition from Motown crooners to socially conscious artists.
23:03Adding a touch of psychedelia to their sound that sent it all into the stratosphere.
23:08Pulling off a career U-turn like that is one of the hardest things to do in music.
23:12The Temptations did it flawlessly.
23:15Oh, wow.
23:17I wonder who she's seeing now.
23:21Oh, baby.
23:28Prince and the Revolution.
23:30Minnesota.
23:31We're focusing on bands here, and thankfully, Prince was gracious enough to credit the revolution on some of his most acclaimed work.
23:39Oh, no, let's go, let's go crazy.
23:42During the period of time where this Minnesota legend could do no wrong, the revolution were almost always behind him.
23:49Decades later, you're not going to hear a song on the radio that sounds remotely like When Doves Cry or Raspberry Beret.
23:56The level of innovation on display from these geniuses influenced artists across multiple totally unrelated genres.
24:13Oh, and did we mention Purple Rain?
24:15We should probably mention Purple Rain.
24:17Purple Rain.
24:18Purple Rain.
24:19Purple Rain.
24:20Purple Rain.
24:27Three Doors Down.
24:28Mississippi.
24:29When the initial wave of American grunge music subsided, it paved the way for bands like Three Doors Down to step up to the plate.
24:36In the 2000s, their biggest hit, Kryptonite, was a huge mainstream success, opening the door for the band to engage in a truly packed touring schedule.
24:45These guys are another example of a band who were committed to giving back to the fans, and during their peak, they earned a reputation for their consistent touring.
25:01Songs like Be Like That and Here Without You only serve to further prove their dynamism and ability to nail that emotionally raw but powerful sound.
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25:45The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Missouri
25:49Ask any music fan in Missouri about the Ozark Mountain Daredevils and you're sure to realize pretty quickly how iconic they are to those in the know.
25:58If you wanna get to heaven, you've got to raise a little hand.
26:04Despite limited success nationwide, hit singles like If You Wanna Get to Heaven and Jackie Blue showcase their fun blend of country, folk and rock.
26:13One of their best traits comes from their charm and the fact that they don't seem to take themselves too seriously.
26:28It's infectious music delivered by seasoned pros and so if you do ever find yourself in Missouri, don't be surprised if you hear their material on the radio.
26:42Thanks for listening to us.
26:44What bands do you think should be featured in part 2 of our video?
26:48And do you agree with your first 25 picks?
26:51Let us know in the comments below.
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