Gotham’s Greatest:6 Best Big Apple Bands

By Elliot Adler
July 25th, 2008

New York has always been a mecca for music lovers. It has birthed more great musicians than probably any city on earth. From Tin Pan Alley to the jazz age of the Harlem Renaissance. From the Be-Bop revolution of 52nd Street to the golden era of Broadway. From Max’s Kansas City and the Fillmore East to CBGB’s. From Studio 54 and the Copa and to the Palladium and the Limelight, the Big Apple is without question the epicenter of musical creation. In celebration of the greatest city on earth, here’s a list of my top 6 quintessentially New York bands:

Simon & Garfunkel
Peak Years: 1964-1970
Hood: Greenwich Village via Forest Hills, Queens

These folkies set the world on fire with their impeccable harmonies and the brilliant songwriting of Paul Simon. Firmly rooted in New York, Simon’s highly literate lyrics were brought to life by Garfunkel’s angelic voice. “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” from 1970 is one of rock music’s most rousing and touching (not to mention ambitious) songs and was one of the decade’s biggest hits. The duo’s 1981 reunion concert in Central Park drew over 500,000 people and has become a watershed event in the history of the hallowed space.

The Velvet Underground
Peak Years: 1965-1972
Hood: Lower East Side

At the nexus of music and visual art, the Velvet Underground depicted New York’s underbelly in vivid detail. Songs like “Heroin” and “Lady Godiva’s Operation” showed a side of the city far removed from the glitz and glamour of Broadway. Their influence on indie music is massive and is still heard today, especially in fellow New Yorkers, the Strokes.

The Ramones
Peak Years: 1976-1985
Hood: Bowery via Forest Hills, Queens

Some peg them as the first true punk band, kick starting a worldwide phenomenon that still lives on today. From the dingy little club known as CBGB’s, the Ramones blasted their fast, primitive, four chords gems for all to hear. Each one adorned with candied melodies, inane lyrics, and a boatload of attitude.

Chic
Peak Years: 1977-1980
Hood: West 54th Street

Led by the incomparable Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, Chic came to define the decadent disco era of late 1970’s Manhattan. They were the kings of Studio 54, disco’s Taj Mahal. Their funky, bass heavy, synth driven hits (like “Le Freak” and “Good Times”) got lots of rumps shakin’. “Aaa, freak out!”

Run DMC
Peak Years: 1984-1988
Hood: Hollis, Queens

Bringing hip hop to the masses, Run DMC might not have been the first, but they were certainly the biggest. With 1986’s “Raising Hell,” and a collaboration with Aerosmith, Run DMC ushered rap out of the ghettos and into the suburbs. Every successful hip hop group that followed owes them a debt of gratitude.

The Strokes
Peak Years: 2001-?
Hood: Lower East Side via Upper West Side

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, there’s no denying that the Strokes put New York City rock music back on the map with their 2001 debut, “Is This It?” Overhyped, yes. But their tasty, ragged garage band hooks and Television and Velvet Underground-inspired cool, captivated audiences around the world. Dubbed the “saviors of rock and roll” and adored in England, the Strokes’ swagger is all Big Apple.

——-
Who defines New York for you?

Comments (23)

Add a Comment

COMMENTS (23)

Nadia said:

I’m sorry but to have such a list and not include the Beastie Boys should be considered a sin.

Douglas said:

To be fair to Elliot, although the Beasties are NYC to the hilt, Run DMC, it can be argued, are just as important and influential. Although not as long lasting, their impact cannot be denied and since they came before the Beasties, I think he was right to pick them. The list is nice and varied, no 2 bands from the same category. Well done.

bk native said:

beasties or gtfo

conradsalvador said:

I love the Beasties, but you guys are to young to understand the impact that RUN-DMC had on music in general. First rap group to be on MTV, first rap group to be sponsored by a sneaker company, played Live AID, and went to South Africa to fight apartheid.

Ask the Beasties who came before them and inspired all three of them. They will point to Run, DMC, and Jam Master Jay (RIP). I saw them when they did the Together Forever Tour at Madison Square Garden back in the day, and guess who was the headliner?

RUN-DMC.

Check this out: http://www.beastiemania.com/whois/run_dmc/

christian said:

SONIC YOUTH!!!!!

lgb said:

sonic youth??????

Don Jardine said:

…no Talking Heads?

asfar said:

no Beasties or TMBG noob

JudgeIto said:

Of course this is a subjective list, but seriously, hold on…you guys are complaining abou the lack of the Beasties? What about the inclusion of CHIC? Of all the bands that came out of NY, CHIC?!

Bands that should have been on the list before Chic: Wu Tang Clan, Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions, Sonic Youth, New York Dolls, Talking Heads, Sick of it All, The Cramps, They Might Be Giants, Antharax, Interpol, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blondie, a Tribe Called Quest, and the Bad Boy Records Crew.

Hana Hou! said:

yah there can only be one rap group!

punk and rap stabbed disco and left it for dead…wtf is “chic”?

keanon said:

hey sonic youth, thanks for “alternative music.”

Erik said:

WHERE’S KISS??????!!!!!

Gotham Night said:

Since when has NY been Gotham? Never was, isn’t now..

Also if NY has produced the most artists… then this is a sad list.

BTW you forgot KISS.

Hilly Kristal said:

Cro-Mags.

Richard J. Anderson said:

No Talking Heads?! Shame on you.

john said:

The Lovin’ Spoonful
The Left Banke
The Rascals

james Woods said:

Wow dude, I seen bands in local bars that will blow them away.

JT
http://www.FireMe.To/udi

pablo said:

has anyone even heard of TV on the Radio>> CHIC, really??? CHIC?

KG2V said:

I’ll 3rd The Talking Heads, and add in Blondie

pannonica said:

T e l e v i s i o N

Kiss were from the ‘Gyland and were never any good anyway.

Gotham Night: According to the OED, although “gotham” was originally coined in 1460 and referred to a proverbial village, the second sense indicates that it applies to two cities: New York (first used by Washingotn Irving in 1807) and Newcastle, England (first used by John T. Brockett in 1825).

Music Quiz said:

Great legends listed. But anyways the list is too long.

Nadia said:

I wasn’t trying to to boot off Run DMC. I hadn’t realized that you were trying to only choose one artist per genre.

Gotham?s Greatest: The Best Big Apple Bands said:

[...] read more | digg story [...]

Gotham’s Greatest:6 Best Big Apple Bands

Recent Entries