Raindogs

The Raindogs enjoyed acclaim from reviewers along with popularity on Boston's bar band scene, positioning them for wider success. Yet their roots rock approach failed to gain traction across the country, a situation compounded when their record company ceased operations following the issue of their sophomore effort. During the 1980s, Mark Cutler, who handled vocals and guitar, led the Schemers as frontman, with that act also coming close to achieving hits on the charts. Taking their name from a Tom Waits album, the Raindogs put out their first full-length record, Lost Souls, via Atco in 1990. Although likened to the styles of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, and Bob Dylan—a set of references that appeared promising—the enthusiastic coverage in the press combined with their strong local following proved inadequate for moving units. The group completed work on a second album, Border Drive-In Theater, issued in 1991, prior to Atco's closure. Following the subsequent dissolution of the band, acts sharing a comparable sound, including Counting Crows and the Wallflowers, soon achieved prominence on MTV and radio. Cutler issued his initial solo album, Gasboy, in 1995, an effort singled out as the Top CD of the Year by the Los Angeles Times. Skylolo came out as the next release in 1998. He subsequently assembled the lineup of Mark Cutler & Lexington 1-2-5, featuring Mike Tanaka on bass and Bob Giusti on drums, and they produced a self-titled debut record in 2000.