(Left) Metallica. (Proper) Weapons N’ Roses. (Pictures Courtesy Getty Photos)
So, there’s this soccer recreation taking place in Southern California this weekend.
Perhaps you’ve heard of it? It’s the NFC Championship, pitting the San Francisco 49ers vs. the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
Understandably, the matchup has sports activities followers going wild in each Northern and Southern California, for the reason that winner will transfer on to the Tremendous Bowl on Feb. 13 on the identical stadium.
The 49ers have owned the Rams lately. But, it’s mighty onerous to beat a high quality soccer group thrice in the identical season — which is what the Niners shall be trying to do.
It’s the second large NorCal-SoCal playoff battle to occur over the previous few months, following the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat of the San Francisco Giants within the Nationwide League Division Collection final fall.
In honor of the large recreation, we determined to provide you with our personal SF/LA matchup. Solely we’re veering away from the gridiron to deal with one of many few subjects that’s much more attention-grabbing than soccer.
Sure, in fact, we're speaking about music.
We’ve provide you with two tuneful Dream Groups, that includes a few of the all-time best bands for every metropolis, and now it’s time to make the handoff to readers. We’re making the case for every act as impartially as we will, then leaving it to you to vote for whether or not San Francisco or Los Angeles deserves to win the trophy.
First, let’s clear up a couple of logistics points: We’re taking part in somewhat unfastened with the geography, stretching past strict metropolis limits to incorporate neighboring areas. Additionally, we’re defining the band’s house as being the place it was situated when it launched its first album. Lastly, we tried to be inclusive right here and draw from a lot of totally different genres. We didn’t need to simply provide you with a listing of nice basic rock bands from every space (though that checklist would certainly be bountiful).
Prepared? Right here we go! Bear in mind to vote on your alternative of finest music metropolis.
Los Angeles Music Dream Crew
The Doorways
Jim Morrison and firm took the world by storm with “The Doorways” — one of many best debuts in music historical past — offering their decidedly darker spin on the counterculture hippie motion in 1967. It was defiantly Sundown Strip, not an oz of Haight-Ashbury to be discovered, and it was the beginning of one thing completely magical.
Definitive SoCal tune: “L.A. Lady” is a should for any late-night glide down over Mulholland.
Eagles
Initially shaped as Linda Ronstadt’s backing band, the Eagles flew off on their very own and managed to succeed in wonderful heights as they scored one hit file after one other. The group took Laurel Canyon people/nation, added bits of rock and pop, and turned it into one thing that labored equally effectively on Prime 40 AM and rock-oriented FM stations.
Definitive SoCal tune: “Lodge California,” in fact. However factors for “Life within the Quick Lane” as effectively.
The Go-Go’s
Having gotten its begin on the L.A. punk scene within the late ’70s, the Go-Go’s transitioned into MTV darlings following the discharge of the mighty 1981 debut “Magnificence and the Beat.” The group helped pioneer the New Wave pop-rock sound, whereas inspiring numerous different younger ladies to choose up guitars and write their very own songs.
Definitive SoCal tune: “We’ve Received the Beat” earns the title, partially due to its use within the memorable opening sequence of “Quick Instances at Ridgemont Excessive.”
N.W.A.
It’s one of the crucial talented-packed teams of all time — proper up there with the Beatles, CSNY or, actually, anyone else you need to point out. It’s the band that gave us Eazy-E, Ice Dice and Dr. Dre — three of probably the most iconic hip-hop artists of all time — in addition to Arabian Prince, DJ Yella and MC Ren. Immediately, each teen on the planet appeared to find out about Compton, California.
Definitive SoCal tune: “Straight Outta Compton” served as a blueprint for West Coast gangsta rap.
The Seaside Boys
The band’s music was a calling card to all these residing east of the Golden State, beckoning them to rethink no matter they have been beforehand doing — and wherever they have been beforehand residing — and as a substitute decide up a surfboard and transfer to sunny Southern California. Yeah, so blame Brian Wilson for why these freeways are so congested and housing costs are so excessive.
Definitive SoCal tune: Decide one. Anybody.
Weapons N’ Roses
We might’ve gone in lots of totally different instructions when it got here to selecting a hard-rock act to symbolize L.A. Actually, each Motley Crue and Van Halen would’ve been glorious decisions. But, we’re going GNR as a result of no band balanced excellence with Sundown Strip swagger higher than Axl Rose and firm did throughout their heyday.
Definitive SoCal tune: It’s a tie between “Paradise Metropolis” and “Welcome to the Jungle.”
Rage In opposition to the Machine
Extra nice bands have come out of Los Angeles than another metropolis in America. (Though, New Yorkers clearly would possibly take situation with that assertion.) There are such a lot of acts that might’ve simply made the final spot on this checklist — from the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield to Los Lobos and Crimson Sizzling Chili Peppers. But, we’ll wrap up our L.A. Dream Crew with Rage, which ranks as one of the crucial highly effective bands of all time.
Definitive SoCal tune: Why decide? We’ll simply take heed to “The Battle of Los Angeles” album from begin to end.
San Francisco Music Dream Crew
Grateful Useless
Jerry Garcia actually by no means signed as much as be the posterchild of the ’60s counterculture motion, however his beloved band nonetheless managed to take action a lot to unfold the Haight-Ashbury vibe across the U.S. and effectively past for many years. Musically, the Useless was a melting pot of various kinds and concepts — very like that of San Francisco itself.
Definitive NorCal tune: The band was identified for its epic jams, however the just-over-two-minute blast of studio magic generally known as “The Golden Street (To Limitless Devotion)” says ’60s-era San Francisco so splendidly.
En Vogue
It’s virtually unfair to deliver Oakland into the combo, provided that the most important metropolis within the 510 has a music historical past has wealthy as any within the Golden State. But, we’ll proceed to play by the principles and embody these splendidly “Funky Divas,” who delivered a few of the finest R&B/pop tunes of the ’90s — together with “My Lovin’ (You’re By no means Gonna Get It)” and, with assist from Salt-N-Pepa, “Whatta Man.”
Definitive NorCal tune: “Free Your Thoughts,” and En Vogue tunefully reminds us, the remainder will comply with.
Sly and the Household Stone
The band wasn’t kidding when it picked the title of “A Complete New Factor” for its 1967 debut. Actually, the group’s high-flying, genre-defying mixture of funk, soul, pop and rock modified music for good — and for the higher. The group had an virtually unfathomable affect on generations of musicians to return — from Prince and (solo star) Michael Jackson to numerous hip-hop acts.
Definitive NorCal tune: “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” is psychedelic soul energy at its most interesting.
Metallica
The very best-selling Bay Space band of all time remains to be going sturdy after 40 years within the enterprise, discovering modern methods to attach with followers and persevering with to deliver the firepower on the reside stage. Plus, it’s most up-to-date album — the double-disc “Hardwired … to Self-Destruct” — is well its finest providing of the twenty first century. In fact, L.A. has a declare on this band as effectively, provided that Metallica truly obtained its begin within the Metropolis of Angels earlier than shortly shifting north to the Bay.
Definitive NorCal tune: Robust one. However we’re going with the instrumental “(Anesthesia)-Pulling Enamel” because it so clearly demonstrates the towering expertise of late, nice Castro Valley native Cliff Burton.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
CCR rivals the Doorways (and even the Beatles) relating to creating one of many best catalogs within the least period of time. What this El Cerrito band was in a position to accomplish in 5 years is simply staggering — releasing seven albums that collectively comprise a few of the most interesting rock songs ever recorded. The band’s eclectic mixture of kinds, from blue-eyed soul and Bayou boogie to ’50s rock and ’60s psychedelia, looks like one thing that might’ve solely occurred within the Bay Space
Definitive NorCal tune: We love “Lodi” (and Stockton as effectively).
The Useless Kennedys
Gross sales figures and Broadway ticket receipts say we must always’ve gone with Inexperienced Day to symbolize Bay Space punk. But, actually, neither of these two indicators are very punk rock. So, we’ll go together with the far-superior Useless Kennedys, whose 1980 debut “Recent Fruit for Rotting Greens” can be our decide for finest punk rock album of all time. The Kennedys’ biting but mental commentary, wit and sarcasm, mixed with razor sharp guitar work and driving rhythms, actually distinguished this San Francisco band from the rest, earlier than or since.
Definitive NorCal tune: “California über alles” takes no prisoners. Simply ask Jerry Brown.
Jefferson Airplane
We tried onerous to restrict the variety of ’60s bands on our S.F. checklist — which was certainly troublesome given the Metropolis by the Bay’s musical dominance in the course of the second half of that decade. But, we actually weren’t going to go away off Grace Slick and firm, whose good “Surrealistic Pillow” offered the last word soundtrack to the Summer season of Love.
Definitive NorCal tune: Must go together with “Volunteers,” because it brings again such vivid reminiscences for us of 1 glowing San Francisco day spent watching Jefferson Airplane carry out a free live performance in Golden Gate Park.