THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

  • 16 Jul 2025, 12:18
  • Welcome, Guest
Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars  (Read 8243 times)

muteKi

  • Guest
Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« on: 13 Oct 2007, 19:22 »
This thread is a sort of a challenge. I want you all to post any bands from any time period in any rock-related genre (some jazz, etc. influence is okay, but it must be in the context of some rock) that did not use guitars or used them very sparingly. Good ones are recommended.

I'm honestly quite curious as to how many of them exist. I mean, I'll allow the use of guitars on songs but it can't ever really be the focus of the song -- other instruments, that is, bass, organ, piano, brass sections, etc. have to be more of the emphasis. ABSOLUTELY NO GUITAR SOLOS.

This is for at least one album for the band. If they have like one or two songs that incorporate an acoustic on another album or something or occasionally throw in a electric guitar lick or something on one, that'll be okay.

It's not that I have anything against guitars, I just want to see how many bands got by without using them much.

Here's the first offering:
Manfred Mann - Chapter Three (Vol. 1) 1969
http://www.mp3reactor.org/download/rock/Manfred-Mann-Chapter-Three-Vol-1-1969-4461/

P.S.: Metal bands with distortion violins as the main instrument instead of guitars are okay too. I just want a paradigm shift, something kinda' different.
Logged

Johnny C

  • Mentat
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 9,483
  • i wanna be yr slide dog
    • I AM A WHORE FOR MY OWN MUSIC
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #1 on: 13 Oct 2007, 19:24 »
Death From Above 1979, your new favourite band.
Logged
[02:12] yuniorpocalypse: let's talk about girls
[02:12] Thug In Kitchen: nooo

stale

  • Emoticontraindication
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 60
  • plantmonster
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #2 on: 13 Oct 2007, 19:27 »
Maybe Mates of State counts. Usually just piano/organ, drums, and 2 vocalists. Or maybe Ben Folds counts?
Logged
wind howls through our new haircuts
the water rushes 'round
forevermore we shall pass along this way

muteKi

  • Guest
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #3 on: 13 Oct 2007, 19:38 »
Quote from: Johnny C on 13 Oct 2007, 19:24
Death From Above 1979, your new favourite band.

So they did Pull Out with just drums and bass? That's fairly impressive.
Logged

sean

  • Vulcan 3-D Chess Master
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3,730
  • welp
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #4 on: 13 Oct 2007, 19:46 »
Judgement Day

http://myspace.com/stringmetal

They're a metal band that uses only violin, cello, and a drumkit. It's pretty cool stuff.
Logged
Quote from: tania on 30 Mar 2011, 22:13
- 20% of canadians are members of broken social scene

Johnny C

  • Mentat
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 9,483
  • i wanna be yr slide dog
    • I AM A WHORE FOR MY OWN MUSIC
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #5 on: 13 Oct 2007, 20:02 »
Quote from: muteKi on 13 Oct 2007, 19:38
So they did Pull Out with just drums and bass? That's fairly impressive.

No, they did every song with just drums, bass and the occasional keyboard.

I had the pleasure of seeing them live before they broke up. Magnificent set.
Logged
[02:12] yuniorpocalypse: let's talk about girls
[02:12] Thug In Kitchen: nooo

muteKi

  • Guest
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #6 on: 13 Oct 2007, 20:33 »
I figured, it's just that Pull Out is the song I really know of theirs, from the YouTube thread.
Logged

pilsner

  • Scrabble hacker
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,449
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #7 on: 13 Oct 2007, 22:30 »
In that case you are going to lose it when you hear Black History Month.  I wish I were you so I could hear them again for the first time.
Logged

E. Spaceman

  • GET ON THE NIGHT TRAIN
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2,630
  • The Sonics The Sonics The Sonics The Sonics
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #8 on: 13 Oct 2007, 22:53 »
that song is just so good.
Logged
Quote
[20:29] Quietus: Haha oh shit Morbid Anal Fog
[20:29] Quietus: I had forgotten about them

Caspian

  • The Tickler
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 931
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #9 on: 13 Oct 2007, 23:20 »
Methadrone!!!!!

TWo bass players, a drum machine and some synths, excellent stuff that's a bit like Jesu I guess.
Their split with Nadja is really hard to find but really freaking excellent.
Logged

KharBevNor

  • Awakened
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 10,456
  • broadly tolerated
    • http://mirkgard.blogspot.com/
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #10 on: 14 Oct 2007, 00:23 »
Rick Wakeman. Apocalyptica. Procul Harum. Invasion of the Mutant Space Bats of Doom.

Some other bands probably.
Logged
[22:25] Dovey: i don't get sigquoted much
[22:26] Dovey: like, maybe, 4 or 5 times that i know of?
[22:26] Dovey: and at least one of those was a blatant ploy at getting sigquoted

http://panzerdivisio

Hat

  • GET ON THE NIGHT TRAIN
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2,536
  • bang bang a suckah MC shot me down
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #11 on: 14 Oct 2007, 01:46 »
What is that band that is just heaps of dudes with keytars?

Them.
Logged
Quote from: Emilio
power metal set in the present is basically crunk

RockabillyLove

  • Guest
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #12 on: 14 Oct 2007, 06:49 »
Logged

a pack of wolves

  • GET ON THE NIGHT TRAIN
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2,604
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #13 on: 14 Oct 2007, 08:28 »
Pale Horse - Two bassists, drummer, two vocalists. Slow, heavy, amazing.
Lightning Bolt - Bass with a couple of guitar strings and drums. They sound like Lightning Bolt.
Trencher - Bass, shitty little Casio keyboard and drums. They sound a little like The Locust, but better.
Logged
Quote from: De_El
Next time, on QC Forums: someone embarrassingly reveals that they are a homophobe! Stay tuned to find out who!

Ernest

  • Scrabble hacker
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,471
  • Buy my book!
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #14 on: 15 Oct 2007, 10:31 »
LIGHTNING BOLT
Logged
Quote from: voidSkipper on 14 Jun 2008, 03:30
Where I come from, we usually just shorten that to "yee-haw!"

Misereatur

  • Duck attack survivor
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,839
  • Quicksand my butt
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #15 on: 15 Oct 2007, 12:48 »
Quote from: a pack of wolves on 14 Oct 2007, 08:28
Lightning Bolt - ... They sound like Lightning Bolt.

I love this description.
Logged
Quote from: KharBevNor on 20 Feb 2008, 18:41
FREE JAZZ ISN'T FREE!

I am a music republican.

analogthought

  • Guest
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #16 on: 15 Oct 2007, 13:05 »
There's a an awesome band from California called Foot Village. Super crazy, thrashy, noisy rock music with only drums and vocals.
http://myspace.com/footvillage
Logged

KharBevNor

  • Awakened
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 10,456
  • broadly tolerated
    • http://mirkgard.blogspot.com/
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #17 on: 15 Oct 2007, 15:16 »
Logged
[22:25] Dovey: i don't get sigquoted much
[22:26] Dovey: like, maybe, 4 or 5 times that i know of?
[22:26] Dovey: and at least one of those was a blatant ploy at getting sigquoted

http://panzerdivisio

KharBevNor

  • Awakened
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 10,456
  • broadly tolerated
    • http://mirkgard.blogspot.com/
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #18 on: 15 Oct 2007, 15:49 »
I really don't know what to say.

Actually, I do. He should have probably not killed himself, and also probably should not have made music.
Logged
[22:25] Dovey: i don't get sigquoted much
[22:26] Dovey: like, maybe, 4 or 5 times that i know of?
[22:26] Dovey: and at least one of those was a blatant ploy at getting sigquoted

http://panzerdivisio

mediumrare

  • Emoticontraindication
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 56
  • buhh
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #19 on: 16 Oct 2007, 13:30 »
Though their rockyness could be disputed (they simmer more than they boil), Morphine are an excellent band with rock based songs played by a jazz based band.

I mean, baritone saxophone, 2-stringed fretless bass. The sound they make is just like.... tastey.

(also, being new to the board, I'm not sure how obvious a suggestion that is, but someone said DFA so I'm assuming I'm all right).
Logged

Scandanavian War Machine

  • Older than Moses
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4,159
  • zzzzzzzz
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #20 on: 16 Oct 2007, 13:37 »
I am going to second The Dresden Dolls, Lightning Bolt, and Morphine.

Three great bands. Some of my favorites, actually.
Logged
Quote from: KvP
Also I would like to point out that the combination of Sailor Moon and faux-Kerouac / Sonic Youth spelling is perhaps the purest distillation of what this forum is that we have yet been presented with.

Lummer

  • Duck attack survivor
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,561
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #21 on: 16 Oct 2007, 14:12 »
Emerson, Lake And Palmer.

Bass, Drums and noodly prog-geek keyboard.
Logged

mediumrare

  • Emoticontraindication
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 56
  • buhh
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #22 on: 16 Oct 2007, 14:22 »
Wait, awful oversight in my last post: early Nomeansno, before Andy Kerr joined. And actually, there's a fair bit of their later stuff that uses guitars in such a way that it's still what you're looking for.
Logged

mfpole

  • Furry furrier
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 152
  • Whats it going to be, eh?
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #23 on: 16 Oct 2007, 18:16 »
« Last Edit: 16 Oct 2007, 19:43 by mfpole »
Logged
i am the operator with my pocket calculator

Inlander

  • coprophage
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7,152
  • Hug your local saintly donkey.
    • Instant Life Substitute
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #24 on: 16 Oct 2007, 19:28 »
Quote from: mediumrare on 16 Oct 2007, 13:30
Morphine . . . I'm not sure how obvious a suggestion that is

I was just about to suggest 'em myself!
Logged

muteKi

  • Guest
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #25 on: 16 Oct 2007, 23:02 »
Quote from: Lummer on 16 Oct 2007, 14:12
Emerson, Lake And Palmer.

Bass, Drums and noodly prog-geek keyboard.

Ah, yes, of course.
Logged

onewheelwizzard

  • GET ON THE NIGHT TRAIN
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2,558
  • Ha! Fool ...
    • http://www.livejournal.com/users/onewheelwizzard
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #26 on: 16 Oct 2007, 23:56 »
Skeleton Breath.
Logged
Quote from: sean on 09 Mar 2011, 22:17
also at one point mid-sex she asked me "what do you think about commercialism in art?"

Ernest

  • Scrabble hacker
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,471
  • Buy my book!
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #27 on: 17 Oct 2007, 13:46 »
Quote from: muteKi on 16 Oct 2007, 23:02
Quote from: Lummer on 16 Oct 2007, 14:12
Emerson, Lake And Palmer.

Bass, Drums and noodly prog-geek keyboard.

Ah, yes, of course.

stop recommending crap, people
Logged
Quote from: voidSkipper on 14 Jun 2008, 03:30
Where I come from, we usually just shorten that to "yee-haw!"

Luke C

  • Beyond Thunderdome
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 557
    • http://www.john87.com
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #28 on: 17 Oct 2007, 14:40 »
Keane.

*ducks to avoid missles being thrown*

Not that I'm a fan they just came to mind.
Logged
"These capitalists generally act harmoniously and in concert to fleece the people, and now that they have got into a quarrel with themselves, we are called upon to appropriate the people's money to settle the quarrel." Lincoln in 1837

mediumrare

  • Emoticontraindication
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 56
  • buhh
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #29 on: 17 Oct 2007, 15:17 »
Fuck, Keane came on the radio in my shop today and while explaining to a workmate how impossibly dull and worthless a band they are I thought of this thread, and how they stand in a stark contrast to the other suggestions.
Logged

Johnny C

  • Mentat
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 9,483
  • i wanna be yr slide dog
    • I AM A WHORE FOR MY OWN MUSIC
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #30 on: 17 Oct 2007, 16:43 »
Quote from: Flaming Ostrich on 17 Oct 2007, 13:46
stop recommending crap, people

Lester Bangs loved ELP.
Logged
[02:12] yuniorpocalypse: let's talk about girls
[02:12] Thug In Kitchen: nooo

Johnny C

  • Mentat
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 9,483
  • i wanna be yr slide dog
    • I AM A WHORE FOR MY OWN MUSIC
Re: Interesting rock-ish bands that don't use guitars
« Reply #31 on: 17 Oct 2007, 18:03 »
Quote from: tommydski on 17 Oct 2007, 16:51
And look what happened to him.

He was lionized?
Logged
[02:12] yuniorpocalypse: let's talk about girls
[02:12] Thug In Kitchen: nooo
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »