A question for the music fans

[Robert Pearce]

I recently attending a concert by The Police. While listening to the opening band "Fiction Plane" (fronted by Sting's son Joe Sumner) I got to thinking about other mainstream 3 piece bands with the same 2 guitar/ 1 drum setup. I was disappointed at how few I could come up with:

• The Police
• ZZ Top
• Blink 182
• Greenday

I know I'm missing tons of bands. How many can you list off the top of your head? No fair googling or perusing your CD/MP3 collections.

Robert

[lets_roll]

hmmm... maybe mainstream ain't my thing but how about Shellac (Steve Albini et al) and (re-formed) Dinosaur Jnr....

tricky question though....

[ehaflett]

Tough question, so my answer is break away from the mainstream, Robert! I often get tired of the guitar/bass/drum/vocals formula and reach for some Morphine. They invented and perfected the sax/bass/drum/vocal formula. Great stuff you should check out. A bit dark but give it a shot.

[jeff jacobs]

@ehaflett said:

Tough question, so my answer is break away from the mainstream, Robert! I often get tired of the guitar/bass/drum/vocals formula and reach for some Morphine. They invented and perfected the sax/bass/drum/vocal formula. Great stuff you should check out. A bit dark but give it a shot.

I love Morphine. Really have to dig the sax. I makes my wine glasses vibrate when it's cranked.

[boofredlay]

Although not at all mainstream I really like Dave Douglas' Tiny Bell Trio. The instrumentation is Guitar, Drums and Trumpet. Odd combination I know but it works, or rather, they make it work well.

[Paul Russam]

Big Country: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Country
Runrig: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runrig
Not too sure about the head count though

What about
The Who ?
Pink Floyd ?

[Jeremy Nicholls]

How can you forget Cream?

jeremy

[Robert Pearce]

I guess this was a little tougher than I thought. After some discussions with friends (in bands) we also came up with:

• Triumph
• Goo Goo Dolls
• Led Zeppelin (debated since there are four of them, but Robert Plant did not play a major instrument)
• The Who (same debate)

Jeremy - Apparently we all forgot about Cream. Good call.
Paul - I hadn't considered Pink Floyd, but with Roger Waters gone they work for me.

I'm not familiar with Shellac or Dave Douglas, but I'll give them a listen. As far as threepiece bands (aside from the make up listed above), I'm a big fan of Ben Folds Five.

[FormalyKnownAsMartin]

What do you think about

• The Sharp http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sharp
• Stray Cats http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stray_Cats
  or the progressive-rock trio
• Rush http://www.rush.com/

[ehaflett]

Do I get extra points for mentioning the White Stripes? Only 2 members.

[Will03]

speaking of odd bands, has anyone ever caught 'Death From Above 1979'? its a 2 person band, a bass guitar (who will loop and mix his own samples live) and a drum player, whom also does all the vocals, pretty sweet stuff!

correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't the sex pistols also a 3 person band?

and everyone here raise your hand if you're a Dave Mathews Band fan!

[juju]

@ehaflett said:

Do I get extra points for mentioning the White Stripes? Only 2 members.

H3ll yeah! Make that 3 members then.

[brianb]

You missed George Thorogood & the Destroyers
BrianB