Blind Melon were NOT from LA. They were (for the most part) from around West Point, Mississippi. I went to school at Miss. State in Starkville, MS (which is about 10 miles from West Point) and I met members of the band there. I was completely unaware of their fame until my little brother told me about this great new band he'd heard about on MTV called Blind Melon. I was like, "Blind Melon? There's a band that plays in Starkville called Blind Melon. I've been at parties with those guys; you must be wrong."
Bands from the southeast typically go to places such as LA to "make it", because there is no way to "make it" in BFE, MS. Blind Melon is one of a number of good bands from my neck of the woods that happened to "make it", and I am sure that there are many more great bands from everyone's neck of the woods that didn't (or haven't) make it; so support your local music. You never know who might end up on MTV.