Are you Hootie?

[staxman]

One of the things I'm digging about my new subscription to itunes music is looking up music you remember fondly, but never got around to purchasing. If you are from South Carolina and are a hardcore University Of South Carolina soul man like me(the real USC), you're gonna have a soft spot for Hootie and the Blowfish-- a little bit country, rock, pop and soul all rolled into one. There was kinda of backlash against these guys when they became an "overnight sensation" with their"Cracked Rear View" multi-million selling album and the stink about quoting some lines from Dylan's "Idiot Wind" in one of their songs-- but to me, they will always be that great bar band in Five Points near the USC campus in Columbia, SC gigging around the state for 10 years prior to stardom. Say what you will about the band, but these guys loved gigging, playing original tunes, and respected their fans. So, I raise a glass on this beautiful Washington state afternoon-- a Carolina boy far from home- to Hootie & the Blowfish!



Great lyrics in this one, I think:


A cover they used play back in the day(it makes my eyes get misty with nostalgia) that they used in a Jim Carrey movie:

 

[Deebs3]

Yeah I still listen to Hootie, it's good stuff.

 

[archetype]

Long ago, at the peak of band fame, Darius Rucker sat for a lengthy interview with IIRC Rolling Stone Magazine. I can't find the text online, but from my feeble memory I can condense, paraphrase, and summarize what he said:

- We write, play, and sound like we do, because that's us. We don't create a musical product aimed at maximum sales, money, and success: this is honestly us and what we do. We enjoy writing and playing easygoing, everybody's music.

- We know this success is a fluke, because we're not as good as our success. "We're no Grateful Dead." We're happy for the success and we'll ride it as long as it lasts. It's going to end. After it ends, we'll be just as happy being a bar band playing the same music, becuase that's who we are and what we like.

I think they were a good band, with great pop songs, that happened at the right time. I think their music still stands up as good stuff that resonated with hearts and minds.

 

[Milspec]

Rucker has a voice that will always carry him along, no matter what. They hit at the right time, much like Smashmouth did before them, but they will not disappear. They are a good band and have the right attitude.

 

[staxman]

Long ago, at the peak of band fame, Darius Rucker sat for a lengthy interview with IIRC Rolling Stone Magazine. I can't find the text online, but from my feeble memory I can condense, paraphrase, and summarize what he said:

- We write, play, and sound like we do, because that's us. We don't create a musical product aimed at maximum sales, money, and success: this is honestly us and what we do. We enjoy writing and playing easygoing, everybody's music.

- We know this success is a fluke, because we're not as good as our success. "We're no Grateful Dead." We're happy for the success and we'll ride it as long as it lasts. It's going to end. After it ends, we'll be just as happy being a bar band playing the same music, becuase that's who we are and what we like.

I think they were a good band, with great pop songs, that happened at the right time. I think their music still stands up as good stuff that resonated with hearts and minds.

Great post, archetype! Exactly what I was tryin to convey--thank you for sharing!

 

[DeanEVO_Dude]

Cracked Rear View is one of my all-time favorite albums. It got me through some tough times in my life.

 

[gridlock]

My last two bands did a couple of their songs. The songs always went over well with our audience. Plus I liked them,

 

[Brad Pittiful]

nope

 

[tubedood]

I like him, and the band in general. Some great catchy melodic tunes came from that group. He seems to be doing well in the country music sector as well.

 

[bowman]

I liked them. To me, Darius was kind of like Kenny Loggins:
Loggins & Messina? - Yes!
Kenny Loggins solo? Eh.
Hootie & the Blowfish? - Yes!
Hootie (Darius) solo? - Eh.

 

[HoodieMcFoodie]

Are you Hootie?

No, I'm Hoodie.

From what I've seen they're not bad...

 

[staxman]

Another cool factoid about Hootie & the Blowfish is, early on, the band had their bassist, Felber--who is a Finance major, form the band into a corporation which pooled the songwriting credits and monies to create payouts and health insurance for the band well into the future.

 

[Speedfish]

Saw them play at the Russel House long before the became famous. My friend Frank was convinced that these guys were going to be big! I thought they were mediocre at the time. Guess he was right.

 

[staxman]

Saw them play at the Russel House long before the became famous. My friend Frank was convinced that these guys were going to be big! I thought they were mediocre at the time. Guess he was right.

Russell House !! Now you're bringing back a flood of memories!

 

[EsquireOK]

Saw them play at the Russel House long before the became famous. My friend Frank was convinced that these guys were going to be big! I thought they were mediocre at the time. Guess he was right.

It's not one or the other. "Big" and "mediocre" go hand in hand all the damned time.

 

[boris bubbanov]

Another cool factoid about Hootie & the Blowfish is, early on, the band had their bassist, Felber--who is a Finance major, form the band into a corporation which pooled the songwriting credits and monies to create payouts and health insurance for the band well into the future.

There you have it.

I just knew there had to be one good thing about that band.

I'm just gonna leave that, right there.

 

[6String69]

I saw them open for Big Head Todd.

 

[Dan R]

No. In Charleston, SC that is not popular. The road to the North Charleston Colosseum is named Darius Rucker Blvd. I keep it to myself but never have been a fan.

 

[Recce]

Yes, I like to play Wagon Wheel. It is a little past Hootie but I still like it. When I get frustrated trying to play something I am having trouble with I spin up Wagon Wheel for a while.

 

[Dan R]

Yes, I like to play Wagon Wheel. It is a little past Hootie but I still like it. When I get frustrated trying to play something I am having trouble with I spin up Wagon Wheel for a while.

Now I know why I can't stand Hootie and the Blowfish. Thanks for the reminder. Just put bullet in my head and call it a day before I ever hear one note of that again.