The Roots’ Questlove, left, and Black Thought perform during the South by Southwest Music Festival on Saturday, March 18, 2017.
(Jack Plunkett / Jack Plunkett/invision/ap)
Philadelphia: The City of Brotherly Love did not feel all that loving during my two visits, but there’s no denying Philly’s rich musical legacy. It includes Patti LaBelle, Todd Rundgren, The Roots, Hall & Oates, Jill Scott, McCoy Tyner, Erykah Badu, Lee Morgan, King Britt, Dr. Dog, Jim Croce, Christian McBride, David Bromberg, Chubby Checker, Bilal, The Stylistics, Santigold and Boyz II Men. Then again, Philadelphia also produced such lightweights as DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Circa Survive, Diplo, the hair-metal bands Cinderella and Britny Fox, and the list goes on.
Matt Skiba, from left, Travis Barker, and Mark Hoppus of the musical group Blink-182 arrive at the 59th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, in Los Angeles.
(Jordan Strauss / Jordan Strauss/invision/ap)
San Diego: America’s Finest City has a multitude of aces up its collective sleeve. Singer-songwriters who blossomed here include Tom Waits, Chris Hillman, Oscar-nominee Andra Day, Jack Tempchin, Jewel, Steven Bishop, Rosie Flores, Michael Franks, AJ Croce, Julieta Venegas, Gregory Page, Adam Lambert and Steve Poltz. The list of notable bands to come out of San Diego ranges from Nickel Creek, blink-182, the Beat Farmers, Greyboy Allstars and Rosie & The Originals to Switchfoot, Rocket from the Crypt, Pinback, Iron Butterfly, P.O.D. and Gary Puckett & The Union Gap. Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron is a San Diego native, while the band’s singer, Eddie Vedder, got his start in music here. Add in the array of jazz greats here — Charles McPherson, Mike Wofford, Holly Hofmann, Gilbert Castellanos and Peter Sprague are just some examples — and, well, sorry, Philly.
Winner: San Diego
Philadelphia has an edge when it comes to major hip-hop talent and to the most famous homegrown record label (the R&B and disco-championing Philadelphia International). But San Diego’s past and current crop of diverse musical talent still wins, no matter what season.
— George Varga
