Always a painful undertaking, my bi-yearly trip to pay my insurance bill did have a pleasant consequence today. A conversation with my agent about music, prompted by the tee shirt I was wearing, eased the fact that almost three thousand dollars would be deducted from my already meager savings.
Since he recognized the Elvis Costello album cover on my chest, the agent told me he liked most of the early records like My Aim Is True, Armed Forces and Get Happy. He then explained that he once played drums in an Elvis Costello cover band, and he in particular loved to play "Watching the Detectives."
That long extinct band lasted just a few months, he said, and as far as he knew there were no other such groups around. When I got home I made an unsuccessful internet search for that band, which he had identified as The Red Shoes after one of Costello's most famous characteristics.
That name made me think of other groups who referred to themselves as articles of clothing or accesories. Here are the nine I came up wth.
Plain White T's
The pop quintet hit it big with "Hey There Delilah" and they have been releasing power pop records like Big Bad World ever since.
The Jo Boxers
"Just Got Lucky" has endured as their most recognizable songs, many of which sparkle with that New Wave sheen from the Eighties.
Hollywod Argyles
Singles like the one about a cave man named Alley Oop made a star of this guy whose name is associated with socks.
Los Straightjackets
These guys were the dominant instrumental guitar band of the Nineties, cranking out albums blending metal, rockabilly and jazz.
Corduroy
Denim would seem a more likely pants material to inspire a band name, but this acid jazz quartet went with an even heavier material.
The Cardigans
Nina Persson fronted this Swedish band who had consistent chart success in the late Nineties, topped by "Lovefool."
The Psychedelic Furs
PETA might not be big fans of these "Pretty In Pink" musicians if their name did indeed refer to clothing or something to be worn.
Golden Earring
"Radar Love" made the Top Ten" but the Dutch rockers had to wait another twenty years to reach that mark again, when they scored with "The Twilight Zone."
Boots Randolph
Saxophone was relatively unknown in country music before Randolph showed Nashville that brass could enhance honky tonk tunes.