After yesterday’s post searching for the mythical Best Band from each of the fifty states (well, states beginning with A-M) there’s been some great discussion of the project over on the message boards, including a Canadian version. I’ve made some edits to the original post to incorporate acts that boardies noticed I’d overlooked.

Onward!

Nebraska Bright Eyes. I took heat for all the precious little indie acts on the first list, but in this case, I can’t find a single decent Nebraska band pre-311. Except Zager & Evans! That would have been a forward-thinking pick.  Like, 517 years forward.

Nevada Panic! at the Disco. It hurts me to overlook the Killers, especially since Brandon Flowers is Mormon, but I figure I’ll make that karma back at the Utah entry.

New Hampshire The Shaggs, baby! If you’ve never read it, check out the awesome New Yorker piece Susan Orlean wrote on the Shaggs.  I think it’s online.

New Jersey Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. As with California, the quintessentially “New Jersey” band (sorry, Bon Jovi!) is actually a pretty great one, thus saving me from having to choose between, say, the Four Seasons, the Shirelles, and Yo La Tengo.

New Mexico  The Shins (see Idaho).  Even though they’re now in Portland (see Alaska).

New York  The Velvet Underground.  This one was murder.  The best bands in any genre you can think of were probably born in New York.  Steely Dan?  Sonic Youth?  The Drifters?  Blondie?  Kiss?  Public Enemy?  The Ronettes, Rascals, or Ramones?  But since most of those bands (at least the post-1970 ones) never would have existed without the Velvets, the Velvets it is.

North Carolina  Superchunk?  Archers of Loaf, Ben Folds Five, and Squirrel Nut Zippers are also possibilities here…I can’t find too many candidates that pre-date that scene.

North Dakota  The White Foliage.  Apparently.  It’s a pretty short list.

Ohio  The O’Jays are so Cleveland.  I’m going with a classic choice like them (could have been the Moonglows too) so as not to have to choose between the Raspberries and Guided By Voices, both very dear to my heart.

Oklahoma  The Flaming Lips.  As a wise man once said, “You know, I’ve never been a big fan of alternative music, but these guys rocked the house!”  Points if you went Hanson as well, but Hanson doesn’t use confetti machines and bunny costumes at their shows like the Lips do.

Oregon The Dandy Warhols, I guess.  All the great Portland bands started up someplace else.  (I was momentarily tempted by the Decemberists or Paul Revere & the Raiders…Everclear not so much.)

Pennsylvania  The Roots, because they’re awesome, and because hip-hop is totally underrepresented here.  And because Hall & Oates are a duo and I’m still iffy about that.  And because Bill Haley and His Comets dressed funny on stage.  And to ensure that Ween or Live or Poison will never, never make this list.

Rhode Island  Throwing Muses, unless Talking Heads count.

South Carolina  The Marshall Tucker Band, by process of–well, not elimination, because there were almost no bands to eliminate.  Almost had to go Hootie here (see Iowa and Missouri) but then something exploded in my head.

South Dakota  Indigenous.  When I first saw their name, I was afraid it was skinhead ska of some kind, but nope–these guys are full-blooded Siouxs, playing the blues.  (Bliouxs?)  Way to represent.

Tennessee  Big Star!  Greatest American band in the history of history, but if you’ve never heard of them, you can (1)  pretend I said Booker T and the MGs, and then (2) go download some Big Star.

Texas  Buddy Holly and the Crickets, thank goodness, so I don’t have to choose between some great Austin band like Spoon and some great real-Texas band like ZZ Top.

Utah  The Osmonds, man.  What, I’m supposed to pick some vaguely remembered rock act like The Used over Utah’s greatest ever claim to pop culture fame?

Vermont  (Deep breath…) Phish.  I know!  But that’s all there is up there.

Virginia  Okay, I’ll be damned if I’m going to put Phish and Dave Matthews Band right in a row.  Screw you, jam bands.  Does the Carter Family count?  Fine, GWAR then.  GWAR could chew Dave Matthews up and spit him out.

Washington  Nirvana, of course, but you know what, it wouldn’t even have to be grunge.  The Ventures, the Posies, Modest Mouse, Sleater-Kinney, Death Cab…

West Virginia  Crack the Sky.  I know, I’ve never heard of them either, but did your possibly-West-Virginia-founded prog-rock band record Rolling Stone’s Album of the Year in 1975?  I didn’t think so.

Wisconsin  Violent Femmes.  Two separate Wisconsinites contacted me yesterday pleading with me to choose the Femmes–or, failing that, the BoDeans.  Oh ye of little faith!

Wyoming  The Lillingtons.  Or semi-successor band Teenage Bottlerocket.  Who the hell cares, it’s Wyoming.

Bonus Pick: D.C.  Fugazi!  Everything ends better with Fugazi.