NRBQ

NRBQ is a highly-acclaimed rock band, purveyors of a unique brand of "omnipop" since 1967. The abbreviation "NRBQ" stands for New Rhythm and Blues Quartet (originally Quintet), although a 1982 article in Creem magazine suggested a different meaning: "Nothing Really Beats Quality". And though they can easily pack a nightclub or theater in most cities, the lack of "commercial" success has led many fans to lament that "NRBQ" could also mean "No Records Bought in Quantity."

Related Topics:
Rock - 1967 - Abbreviation - Creem

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The band's music, a rollicking blend of everything from stomping rockabilly to Beatles-influenced pop to Thelonious Monk-inspired jazz, has attracted fans as diverse as Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Keith Richards and Penn and Teller. NRBQ songs have inspired cover versions by Bonnie Raitt, Los Lobos, and Dave Edmunds, among many others. In addition, they served as the unofficial "house band" for The Simpsons for the season 10-12 period in which NRBQ fan Mike Scully was head writer and executive producer, contributing several songs and even appearing in animated form during one episode.

Related Topics:
Rockabilly - Beatles - Pop - Thelonious Monk - Jazz - Paul McCartney - Elvis Costello - Keith Richards - Penn and Teller - Bonnie Raitt - Los Lobos - Dave Edmunds - The Simpsons - Mike Scully

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NRBQ's devoted following has been stoked by years of legendary live shows. The band never works with a setlist, so fans never know what songs they may hear. A former staple of the group's gigs was "The Magic Box", a mysteriously-painted crate into which fans could drop slips of papers with requests on them. The band would play whatever songs they drew out of the box. The results could be anything from a sublime version of the Beach Boys' "Caroline No", to a discordant and nearly traumatic "Jingle Bells".

Related Topics:
The Beach Boys - Jingle Bells

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However, all of this rampant admiration from their peers and fans has never resulted in chart-topping success. More than once, NRBQ has garnered a major-label record deal, only to be dropped after one or two albums, due to poor sales. The situation is largely due to the cluelessness of the pop music scene, but the band's supremely eccentric sense of humor, while beloved by fans, hasn't helped their commercial potential, either. Over the years, the group has played festival sets while wearing pajamas, hired professional wrestler Captain Lou Albano as their manager, and exploded Cabbage Patch Dolls on stage.

Related Topics:
Captain Lou Albano - Cabbage Patch Dolls

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