Yes, these are just 'local' and musical breadcrumbs over the last 4 decades. But foraging for and sourcing your own musical treasures makes the outcome sound sooooo much more pleasurable... than sum algo telling you what you should hear next; based on what you are currently listening to (the old 'fish versus fish-hook' dilemma).....That's "locally famous", though, not "nationally famous". Every provincial region has these artists, it's not really what OP means...
After racking my brains a little bit, I did think of a few bands that were fairly popular around LA and SoCal while I was going to school there in the 80's, that may not have made as big an impression nationally or abroad. At least not at that time.
The Dickies were a local punk band that played alot of gigs around LA. Since they didn't really come from poor roots (like some punk-rockers in the UK), my recollection is that they were not taken as seriously (and possibly even somewhat loathed ) by some of the more hard-core punk crowd at the time. But they opened or closed for alot of other groups. And the tickets to their shows were usually pretty cheap. So I saw them performing a number times at various venues around LA. And the shows/performances were usually pretty fun.
Fishbone was another fairly popular local group on the LA club circuit in the 80's, who also opened (or closed) for other groups. And I also saw them several times.
Both bands prided themselves on being "live acts", as I recall. Fishbone combined elements of ska, funk and metal though with their punk-ish style. Whereas The Dickies took their cues more from traditional punk rock groups, like The Sex Pistols and folks of that ilk.
Both bands are still active I believe. So you can probably still see them perform live. I'll have to poke around a bit though to see if I can find any decent videos of them performing.
The Dickies were quite big in the UK for about six months. I saw them in Edinburgh around 1980. Their cover of Paranoid was classic but the Banana Splits theme was probably more representative. Good energy but a bit puerile ...The Dickies were a local punk band that played alot of gigs around LA
I saw Fishbone in '89 when taking a semester in London. Fantastic, crazy amount of energy show! My buddy and I got lost trying to find the venue. We were sure we were close and found some dudes smoking a joint and cigarettes down what seemed to us a tiny street or through alley. When we asked them if they knew where the venue was, the one guy paused for awhile and said, "Sure. Follow this out the other end and the entrance is right there." Then they all laughed when we got about 30 feet away. Of course it was them! But we were too embarrassed to walk back and laugh with them at our cluelessness. I remember the opening act was Lesbian Dopeheads on Mopeds, which was the drag alter ego of Gaye Bikers on Acid. Fun timesAfter racking my brains a little bit, I did think of a few bands that were fairly popular around LA and SoCal while I was going to school there in the 80's, that may not have made as big an impression nationally or abroad. At least not at that time.
The Dickies were a local punk band that played alot of gigs around LA. Since they didn't really come from poor roots (like some punk-rockers in the UK), my recollection is that they were not taken as seriously (and possibly even somewhat loathed ) by some of the more hard-core punk crowd at the time. But they opened or closed for alot of other groups. And the tickets to their shows were usually pretty cheap. So I saw them performing a number times at various venues around LA. And the shows/performances were usually pretty fun.
Fishbone was another fairly popular local group on the LA club circuit in the 80's, who also opened (or closed) for other groups. And I also saw them several times.
Both bands prided themselves on being "live acts", as I recall. Fishbone combined elements of ska, funk and metal though with their punk-ish style. Whereas The Dickies took their cues more from traditional punk rock groups, like The Sex Pistols and folks of that ilk.
Both bands are still active I believe. So you can probably still see them perform live. I'll have to poke around a bit though to see if I can find any decent videos of them performing.
Unknown Known? Like how would I be able to know that people in Zanzibar <?> have heard of LesClaypool; to recommend them Primus?The <?>, virtually unknown to the rest of the world!? Which world? Narnia? Zork?
Would a rudimentary way to answer this question of "Artists you like who are famous in your country but who are virtually unknown to the rest of the world" be to tell them to watch every episode of David Grohl's (FooFighters/Nirvana) 2014 HBO mini-series titled "Sonic Highways"?
Yes, these are just 'local' and musical breadcrumbs over the last 4 decades. But foraging for and sourcing your own musical treasures makes the outcome sound sooooo much more pleasurable... than sum algo telling you what you should hear next; based on what you are currently listening to (the old 'fish versus fish-hook' dilemma).
The Dickies, virtually unknown to the rest of the world!? Which world? Narnia? Zork?
"Unknown Unknown" example: We all should at least taste some 'reggaeton' but I was told never to recommend it to a PuertoRican...
I guess I meant outside of punk music. Maybe I've missed something, but I don't think they became as well known, generally speaking, as some other SoCal groups from that same timeframe, like yer Red Hot Chili Peppers, and yer No Doubts, for example. Since I haven't been outside the US much though, I don't really know.
The Dickies were quite big in the UK for about six months. I saw them in Edinburgh around 1980. Their cover of Paranoid was classic but the Banana Splits theme was probably more representative. Good energy but a bit puerile ...
Yes, classic stuff! 'Go Girl Crazy' was required listening in '77 - '78 in the UK too.The Dictators - Search And Destroy
Taylor Swift perhaps, but I doubt the average European would know any of those names. I certainly don't know any of their music except George Strait. Most Europeans knowledge of Country music is probably limited to Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash and that's about it. The more musically adventurous may know of Hank Williams and other 'classic' country acts. Alt-country/Americana like Gillian Welch or Lucinda Williams is probably more well known over here.I would assume that alot of folks know at least some of the more popular country artists abroad, like yer George Straits, yer Blake Sheltons, yer Taylor Swifts, yer Kelly Underwoods, yer Miranda Lamberts, yer Lady A's, Keith Urbans and what have you.
Taylor Swift perhaps, but I doubt the average European would know any of those names. I certainly don't know any of their music except George Strait. Most Europeans knowledge of Country music is probably limited to Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash and that's about it. The more musically adventurous may know of Hank Williams and other 'classic' country acts. Alt-country/Americana like Gillian Welch or Lucinda Williams is probably more well known over here.
"Unknown Unknown" example: We all should at least taste some 'reggaeton' but I was told never to recommend it to a PuertoRican...
Haven't heard of her either ... ;-)Carrie Underwood
Yes they've all had the occasional hit and are known but I doubt it's more than once a decade throughout any of their careers. There are pockets of interest in Country here and there of course - I think it's more popular in Sweden for example (e.g the aforementioned First Aid Kit) - but it's just not a thing for the wider public.They'd probably know Kenny Rogers and Willie Nelson as well. But what about somebody like Garth Brooks