California

Arizona

50 Bands 50 States

Arkansas

All-Time Best Band: Black Oak Arkansas
All-Time Best Solo Artist: Johnny Cash
Best New Band: Gossip

If Skynyrd wore spandex, played their instruments in barrels of sludgy motor oil, and were led by a choogly, boogie-woogie bonehead straight outta Spinal Tap, they’d have been Black Oak Arkansas, named for frontman “Big Jim Dandy” Mangrum’s hometown. | Man in Black Johnny Cash’s balls were steelier than the jailhouse doors at San Quentin and Folsom prisons. The original gangsta rapper boasted in song about shooting a dude just to watch him die, years before Suge Knight hung people out of hotel windows. | Lesbian punk-bluestress Beth Ditto of Gossip could swallow six Gwen Stefanis and spit four of them out for breakfast. (She’d save the other two for sustenance through a long winter, where they’d play cards inside her with a couple of Janis Joplins.)

Video: Johnny Cash
Video: Black Oak Arkansas

Download: The Gossip, "Listen Up" (mp3)

Listen: Black Oak Arkansas, "Jim Dandy"

Listen: Johnny Cash, "Folsom Prison Blues"

California

Arizona

4 of 51

Comments

Re: Arkansas

Not to be all PC or whatever, but why must everyone mention Beth Ditto's weight when discussing the Gossip? Do we talk about it every time we mention Gnarls Barkley or the beloved Pixies? She has so much energy live to boot that that should not be the first thing on everyone's minds. I'm an overweight female and look up to her. Last time I checked, I didn't eat six people for breakfast. Or anything, actually. I suppose you'll just tell me to shut up and go eat a cake or two. I know this 50 states project must have been a massive undertaking (but not as massive as Beth, right? Am I right?) but to sum the Gossip up as such is simply lazy and inappropriate.

By spooted on 07/01/2008 at 8:08:18

Re: Arkansas

Saying that someone can eat someone for breakfast is not saying that said person is fat; it means that said person is awesome. I don't think Gossip really counts as an Arkansas band, however. .

By chrissomatic on 07/06/2008 at 4:32:06

Re: Arkansas

Puhleeeeze - Black Oak Arkansas?  Someone was really lazy with their research.  What about Evanescence????  And Johnny Cash may have been born in AR, but I certainly don't think of him as an "Arkansan".  Glen Campbell,  - yes -  but we won't mention him. AR has so much good local music -- HoHum, Damn Bullets, Chris Denny to name just a few of many-- that I'm sure you will be hearing about in the near future. Keep that "best new band" category open. And - are you sure Gossip is from Arkansas?    

By jfalco7 on 07/30/2008 at 11:53:51

Add a Comment