Old Fart Question: What are kids listening to these days?

[basss]

I've been asked to coach a rock band at a school that I teach at. The students range from 10 to 18 years old. What new rock music should I be considering as repertoire ? I'm familiar with classic rock and most of what was popular through to the late 90's but have been a jazz head since then and not paying much attention. I'll be incorporating that stuff but want to throw in a few newer bands that tweens and teens are listening too now. Obviously it has to be age appropriate and family friendly.

[newwavefrank]

Ask the kids, but I can tell you that the 16 year olds in my neighborhood that play guitar listen to Deep Purple, Zeppelin etc

[Surly]

Originally Posted by newwavefrank

Ask the kids, but I can tell you that the 16 year olds in my neighborhood that play guitar listen to Deep Purple, Zeppelin etc

Yeah me too. They also like The Scorpions and hair metal.

For what most kids like, I'd say look up whoever just played at the Warped Tour. That may be in the right direction.

[Roy Vogt]

Paramore, Muse, the Killers, Michael Jackson is incredibly popular. That's a start.

[basss]

Thanks - I haven't actually started teaching there yet so I can't ask the kids. I know they are hip to the older stuff too but I thought it would be good to at least know some of the newer bands.

[seventhson]

Green Day and the Ramones are always popular for "School of Rock" type songs. My 13 old daughter wants me to teach her the Cars tune "Just What I Needed".

[greekorican]

I think if you are dealing with kids that want to play rock, they are going to be into classic rock. That's what I got into when I started playing guitar (a year before picking up bass), and it seems like thats what most of my guitar-playing friends listen to. When I played guitar I really liked Ozzy Osbourne...

Seems like everyone I know that plays guitar knows a ton of songs that are in Guitar Hero. Blink 182 and Weezer are very popular with them as well.

[RobertPaulson]

look at whatever songs are on the newest guitar hero. sad but true.

[brentonkim]

Whatever's hip.

[basss]

Originally Posted by RobertPaulson

look at whatever songs are on the newest guitar hero. sad but true.

I actually get students thanks to that damn video game. Never played it myself. Thanks so far all and keep 'em comin - it's helpin lots.

[SactoBass]

Throw a little AC/DC at 'em. That outta shake things up a bit.

[Andysalina5]

Something with a funky bass line

[thedrones]

These are all amazing bands, some newer than others. Trust me, I'm 16, haha.
Wavves

Best Cost

Arcade Fire

Broken Social Scene

The Gaslight Anthem

Japandroids

No Age

The Strokes

[Surly]

Slipknot just came to mind.

[psychotiger]

Originally Posted by newwavefrank

Ask the kids, but I can tell you that the 16 year olds in my neighborhood that play guitar listen to Deep Purple, Zeppelin etc

+2 I just polled my twin 17-year-old sons, both hell-a-talented (if I can say so myself) multi-instrument musicians. When playing in rock bands, one plays lead guitar while the other plays set. They suggested starting off with a historical perspective and moving to current genres. They said something like "start with blues then early RnR like Chuck Berry... 60's with Hendrix, Joplin, Beatles, Stones, Creedance, Clapton etc... then 70's Skynyrd! Free Bird! Pink (Floyd not the girl), Kiss, Aerosmith whatever, late 70's-80's punk and new wave like Elvis Costello, Ramones, Police and stuff... Not AC/DC ( Me: Why not ACDC? Them: They're just kind of silly.)... then (as they start to lose interest) Grunge, Pearl Jam, STP.... newer stuff like DMB, John Mayer, Paramore (sic?), The Killers. Me: What about screamo and any of the (fill-in-the-blank)-cores? Them: see ACDC. They said to also poll your students if you can be flexible with the curriculum.

Sounds like a fun class! Wish I had that opportunity in high school. Good luck!

Clif

Edit: And my apologies to ACDC, screamo, and ____-core fans. These were just opinions, no offense meant.

[MRDOOM]

truely great music never goes away. I'm 18 and alot of my favorite music was made before I was born.

NOT everyone likes Bieber and Gaga.

[Andysalina5]

Originally Posted by psychotiger

+2 I just polled my twin 17-year-old sons, both hell-a-talented (if I can say so myself) multi-instrument musicians. When playing in rock bands, one plays lead guitar while the other plays set. They suggested starting off with a historical perspective and moving to current genres. They said something like "start with blues then early RnR like Chuck Berry... 60's with Hendrix, Joplin, Beatles, Stones, Creedance, Clapton etc... then 70's Skynyrd! Free Bird! Pink (Floyd not the girl), Kiss, Aerosmith whatever, late 70's-80's punk and new wave like Elvis Costello, Ramones, Police

I totally agree. Starting off with the blues teaches the basic principles of music and encourages improv and spontaneity, something bands nowadays lack severely. Just my two cents

+1 on the Floyd by the way, its hard to get them right, even more so than say led zeppelin or the beatles.

[basss]

I'm good with the classic rock, blues, history of rock and more contemporary stuff like RHCP, Metallica, Greenday etc. through the 90's. There is another teacher teaching the same class who is programing songs by Yellowcard, Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift for example in addition to classic rock. I've heard some of these names but am not familiar with the music. Just looking for an overview of contemporary (i.e. rising to popularity later than say the year 2000) rock/pop artists popular with teenagers - but am open to any ideas!

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by RobertPaulson

look at whatever songs are on the newest guitar hero. sad but true.

Absolutely. Which means a LOT of kids are listening to a LOT of the same stuff the old farts listen(ed) to.