Vibraphone rock

StuntBacon · #1 05-21-2010, 05:07 AM

Does anyone know of any rock bands with vibe players, or even any rock songs with any vibraphones? I know a vibraphone player at my uni who would be interested in playing in a rock band, and I need some inspiration.

I know Frank Zappa uses vibes often, QOTSA used vibes on Rated R and Opeth used them on the second song on Ghost Reveries. Anyone have any to add?

Xylophones are also acceptable

Stinsok · #2 05-21-2010, 05:16 AM

It's old Pop/Rock--"Moonlight Feels Right?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCuQQ...aynext_from=ML

Buttoned shirt is not an option!

Tampabass · #3 05-21-2010, 05:19 AM

does jazz-rock fusion count?

If so, check out the late '60s/'70s stuff by Gary Burton (vibes), or Mike Mainieri's work (vibes) with Steps Ahead, or Dave Samuels' vibes and marimba work with Spyro Gyra

Hoover · #4 05-21-2010, 07:10 AM

Check out a band from San Francisco called Eskimo.
http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=2660

I have two of their albums, and saw them live in the early 90s. Fantastic.

ausf · #5 05-21-2010, 07:19 AM

Violent Femmes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y4Q_...eature=related

Rocinante_x1 · #6 05-21-2010, 07:27 AM

Check out The Mercury Project. They're awesome.

StuntBacon · #7 05-21-2010, 08:14 AM

These are all pretty good. Violent Femmes especially good, putting groovy solos into a relatively simple song.

Yes jazz fusion is fine, and keep coming up with suggestion from fusion. I am looking for something closer to the rock side of the spectrum. I'm also disturbed at how obscure these suggestions have been so far... there has got to be an obvious one that I'm missing.

lunarpollen · #8 05-21-2010, 09:03 AM

There were a lot of songs in the 1960's that feature vibes, not so much as a lead instrument as a chordal/harmony instrument, typically at the start of each chord. A lot of Motown tunes feature it, and stuff like the Four Seasons' "Working My Way Back to You Babe"

skwee · #9 05-21-2010, 09:49 AM

Yeah, vibes can act as the "keyboard" or "piano" part very nicely. My group has had success using them on Bjork, Tears for Fears, and PM Dawn covers.

PBassFunk · #10 05-21-2010, 09:54 AM

Think Brand X's percussionist played vibes?...

putsia · #11 05-21-2010, 10:11 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpI50sYI0pM

Hoover · #12 05-21-2010, 06:56 PM

"Under My Thumb", duh

StuntBacon · #13 05-21-2010, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

"Under My Thumb", duh

AARGH. KNEW there was an obvious one I was forgetting. Haven't heard much fusion, I know Brand X was a fusion band though. The only fusion album I've really heard are from Miles Davis, Jeff Beck, Weather Report and Mahavishnu Orchestra, as well as some solo stuff from Jaco.

Tampabass · #14 05-21-2010, 09:48 PM

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, new band that plays '60s/'70s R&B/soul/funk, sometimes uses vibes.

Tampabass · #15 05-21-2010, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StuntBacon

These are all pretty good. Violent Femmes especially good, putting groovy solos into a relatively simple song.

Yes jazz fusion is fine, and keep coming up with suggestion from fusion. I am looking for something closer to the rock side of the spectrum. I'm also disturbed at how obscure these suggestions have been so far... there has got to be an obvious one that I'm missing.

I'm not that big a fan of Spyro Gyra, as they're a bit too smooth for my tastes, but ... they're not exactly obscure: They're one of the few jazz-oriented acts who have scored pop-chart action. Their '79 debut went platinum, and "Morning Dance" from that album hit the Top 40.

(and a side note: my jazz group opened for one of their Tampa shows in the early '90s)

StuntBacon · #16 05-21-2010, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tampabass

I'm not that big a fan of Spyro Gyra, as they're a bit too smooth for my tastes, but ... they're not exactly obscure: They're one of the few jazz-oriented acts who have scored pop-chart action. Their '79 debut went platinum, and "Morning Dance" from that album hit the Top 40.

(and a side note: my jazz group opened for one of their Tampa shows in the early '90s)

Congratulations!

OK, I should have clarified, SOME of the suggestions were obscure, and I was showing concern because it doesn't look like popular music likes vibes. I actually never heard of that group before. Are they as smooth as, say, Steely Dan? They're definitely too smooth for me, but some of their songs are actually pretty good and they put on a good live show.

Also I bet there are loads of bands who reached the Top 50 in the 70s whom no one has heard of in my generation. Checked out Sharon Jones, that was great! Very retro indeed.

bongomania · #17 05-21-2010, 10:26 PM

Calexico has some fantastic vibe and marimba action in some of their songs. Also the "Las Vegas Grind" series of compilation CDs have some awesome burlesque and garage-rock tracks with vibe or marimba.

NateS · #18 05-21-2010, 10:35 PM

the mercury program is post rock with a vibraphone

wdinc01 · #19 05-21-2010, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassk81976

the mercury program is post rock with a vibraphone

+1. They're amazing. The keyboard player doubles up on vibes, and on the song You Give Me Problems About My Business the drummer also doubles up on vibes.

Hoover · #20 05-22-2010, 05:06 AM

Bill Bruford played vibes & xylophone on his 1977 solo debut album Feels Good To Me. Most folks would consider that "fusion" ...unless you're a fusion fan, and then for some inexplicable reason you scratch your head and don't know what to call it. I think Bill refers to that material as "instrumental rock".

I get the impression that the OP is looking for stuff that's unabashedly and unquestionably "ROCK'N'ROLL" with big loud distorted power chord guitars and pounding 4/4 drums and screaming hairy lead vocalists and, oh yeah, a vibraphone too. Not sure where to point you for that.