O.T. The Clarks

[Pittbaseball11]

People still like them in Pittsburgh? Stumbled across a couple of songs of theirs, remember them being definitely relevant in 2008 or so at the latest. Are they still relevant? Among the "these guys suck but they're from my city so I love them" bands, I always thought they were actually reasonably good. Hoped they would gain a little more relevance, actually, but apparently they haven't. Have they gained much traction in the city? Always have rooted for them.

I'd imagine that WDVE still plays them pretty consistently, at the very least, but that's damning with faint praise.

 

[geeman2001]

At least as good as the Goo-Goo Dolls, Gin Blossoms, and Matchbox 20, which are their contemporaries ... but simply didn't get the one big breakout song / video those guys luckily stumbled upon. Otherwise, much the same. I enjoyed a few of their live shows in the 90's. Kudos to them for being able to make a living off music.

 

[pittiswhereiamfrom]

Geeman, you're serious?

 

[geeman2001]

Geeman, you're serious?

Uhhh... yes?

All those groups were similar groups to the Clarks, local bar band types in their 2nd tier cities, but lucked into bigger hits. Those songs (Iris, Hey Jealousy, et al) were no better or worse than Clarks songs. Not awful if you like that kind of thing, but certainly not better.

 

[pittiswhereiamfrom]

Millions of people disagree with you. Also not sure that you "luck" into hits. Surely some of the members of those bands "lucked" into being with quality writers and performers.

The Clarks had every opportunity to have a national hit and they didnt. Penny On The Floor ain't that good. Each of those bands had at least three national hits. Also each of those bands can sell more tickets in Pittsburgh.

Opinions are wonderful things, but you can't argue success. Being a complete homer is fine, but let's try not to be completely ignorant.

 

[geeman2001]

Millions of people disagree with you. Also not sure that you "luck" into hits. Surely some of the members of those bands "lucked" into being with quality writers and performers.

The Clarks had every opportunity to have a national hit and they didnt. Penny On The Floor ain't that good. Each of those bands had at least three national hits. Also each of those bands can sell more tickets in Pittsburgh.

Opinions are wonderful things, but you can't argue success. Being a complete homer is fine, but let's try not to be completely ignorant.

Geez. Sorry, Mrs. Rzeznik.

I didn't say the Clarks were better. Just that they were no worse. It's jangly pop rock, how you slice it. "Hey Jealousy" could easily be a Clarks Song. "Cigarette" could have been a Gin Blossoms song. The singer of the Clarks could have just as easily substituted for Rob Thomas to that Santana song ... would it have been any different?

The fact that those other groups must have better AOR management in their record companies is about the only difference. Some dude at their record company had better connections to get it placed on chain radio stations than the Clarks did.

 

[pittiswhereiamfrom]

Geeman, you are consistent with your odd opinions.

I didn't say you said they are better. I said that the Clarks are not as good as the three you mentioned. You are wrong on every account and every bit of evidence supports that.

Now when it comes to personal opinion; you can think the Norwin High School stage band is better than the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and that's your gig. But when you speak of it as truth, then you are just arguing to hear yourself argue.

 

[Pitt is #1]

Decent band but just didn't do it for me. I'm guessing many feel the same or they would have made it.

 

[passedout]

I'm not a big "music guy", but just wondering how many other "Pittsburgh bands" made it "big"? A couple of solo artists have made it big, Wiz Khalifa and Christina Aguilara recently, Perry Como and Bobby Vinton in the past. But I guess as far as bands go, is AntiFlag the biggest?? or Rusted Root --- jesus... Or is the biggest BAND from Pittsburgh still The Vogues? Am I forgetting a really good band from Pittsburgh?

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

They haven't been the same since the added the 5th member - the older gentleman. And occasionally someone else joins. They were much better in my opinion when it was just the 4 of them playing. No pre recorded stuff, just 4 guys playing their music.

And I agree with Geeman. They clearly didn't have the huge success of the other bands he mentioned but at one time their music was right on par. Not everyone hits it big - in fact relatively few do. In the late 80s early 90s there was a metal band around here named Triple X that was as good as some of the stuff on the radio at that time and maybe better. Musically they were better than poison, warrant etc (although that might not be saying much). They just never got that big break.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

I have nothing against The Clarks but they've never done anything for me. They've always seemed incredibly average on every level. However, a lot of more popular rock bands are equally as average.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

In her younger days, my wife used to be one of the half dozen or so folks who ran the South Side Summer Street Spectacular and she worked with The Clarks on several occasions. She always talks about what great guys they were and how kind they always were, so they have that going for them.

However, like me, she was never a big fan. It was just too tame and pedestrian. We each prefer something a little less produced/safe.

 

[mdpitt]

I have seen the Clarks play a few times over the years and I always have the same opinion. I really think they are talented and when they sing other people's hits they cover, they add their own spin and it sounds great and original. If you have ever heard them sing Prince's 1999 you know what I am saying here. As far as their own original music, it has never done a thing for me.

They are making a living playing music on their own terms. They can work as much or as little as desired. 99% of the population can't say.

 

[pittdan77]

They immortalized the Fayette County Fair. That has to be worth something.

 

[Big J 1200]

I've been a fan for years, but always thought of them as a Pittsburgh band and never thought of them breaking it big.