10000 Maniacs

With literate lyrics, melodic arrangements and a distinctly independent spirit, 10,000 Maniacs helped shape the college-rock sound that fed into alternative radio. Founded in Jamestown, New York, in 1981, the band built a devoted following with songs that pair thoughtful storytelling with bright, layered pop-rock. Its catalog includes the buoyant “These Are Days,” the sharp-edged “What’s the Matter Here?” and a memorable cover of Patti Smith and Bruce Springsteen’s “Because the Night,” recorded for MTV Unplugged. Today, founding members and longtime collaborators continue to bring that richly crafted songbook to the stage, where familiar melodies meet the band’s enduring spirit of discovery.