Nils got his break at 19, playing guitar for Neil Young.
Connells got serious MTV play time with 74-75 and took that song to number 1 in a lot of foreign markets.
Partial to Dillon Fence of course but liked their older stuff better. They had a shot when they opened for Hootie's tour after Hootie hit it big; when that failed to take off that was the end for them.
100% agree on Nada Surf, they have a brilliant catalogue. Their last album is one of my favorite by any group in last 10-15 years; saw them for first time at Cat's Cradle and it was fantastic. Matthew Caws is massively underrated.
Currently, the Temperance League out of Charlotte deserves greats things to happen, just a tremendous rock and roll band and their album The Night Waits is one any music fan should check out.
Sadler Vaden from Drivin N Cryin is doing well as guitarist in Jason Isbell's 400 Unit but obviously Kevn Kinney was the heart of that band.
FWIW I still see Connells and D n C pop up on satellite radio.
Whiskeytown is the greatest band ever from NC and few people know their stuff unless you dig Alt Country.
Jeffrey Dean Foster is another very talented local (W-S), his albums with the Pinetops are some of my favorites.
6 String Drag is back and making great music.
Sex Police had one great album, one okay album and third was crap which was good time to hang it up.