The Grasshoppers

A teenage garage band from Minnesota, the Grasshoppers didn't attract much nationwide notice during their four-year run in the 1960s, but they scored a regional hit and were a popular live attraction during their heyday. Playing upbeat rock & roll with Beatles-style pop hooks and plenty of jangle in their guitars, the Grasshoppers focused on covers, like many of their peers on the teen club circuit of the day, but they also had a capable songwriter in guitarist Ben Hamar, who gave their originals a distinct melodic voice. The Grasshoppers only released one single during their original run, but in 2023, decades after they broke up, the BeatRocket label added an additional 14 songs to their legacy with the archival release Let It Be That Way.