What bands make up today's indie scene?

Jazzman23 · #1 01-21-2008, 06:40 PM

You all know it. Bands being weird seemingly just for the sake of being weird. Cool, simple basslines, weird but stylish guitar, and vocals...i dont really know how to explain the vocals. Weird like the guitars I guess. Oh yea, and keyboards.

What bands are at the front of today's indie scene? I cant think of many besides Tokyo Police Club (who lived in the suburbs just 20 minutes away from where i live!)

gweimer · #2 01-21-2008, 07:46 PM

Yeah, you got it right. The indie scene is rife with bands that only know 12 songs, don't care if they are popular, and are happy to play for their 5 friends for free. Way too many bands in that scene have no idea how to present an entertaining show. Nor do they even care.

That's not to say that there aren't good bands out there. You just have to look for them. The band that I love in the indie scene here in Ohio is Red Dahlia, based out of Athens/Columbus.

Bruce Lindfield · #3 01-22-2008, 02:21 AM

The Indie Scene has always been British, first and foremost!!

So - Arctic Monkeys,Franz Ferdinand,Kaiser Chiefs,Kasabian,Doves,Super Furry Animals etc. etc. - loads and loads of well-known Indie bands in Britain!

*smb · #4 01-22-2008, 02:24 AM

The Horrors (a very love 'em or hate 'em band - I love 'em)

RiddimKing · #5 01-22-2008, 02:29 AM

The Indie Scene has always been British, first and foremost...

Except of course for Arcade Fire, The Flaming Lips, Tegan and Sarah, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Dandy Warhols, The Killers, Broken Social Scene, Death Cab for Cutie, The New Pornographers, Sufjan Stevens, Sigur Ros, The Mars Volta...etc. etc.

Bruce Lindfield · #6 01-22-2008, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiddimKing

The Indie Scene has always been British, first and foremost...

Except of course for Arcade Fire, The Flaming Lips, Tegan and Sarah, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Dandy Warhols, The Killers, Broken Social Scene, Death Cab for Cutie, The New Pornographers, Sufjan Stevens, Sigur Ros, The Mars Volta...etc. etc.

I'm not keen on any of those, apart from a few Sigur Ros tracks - although most of them are too long and boring!

SKATE RAT · #7 01-22-2008, 02:45 AM

there are hundreds of different "indie scenes" check out college radio & fanzines,

Bruce Lindfield · #8 01-22-2008, 02:55 AM

The term "Indie" started in Britain in the 1980s - when there was an upsurge of "post-punk" independent record labels - this lead to the Indie Charts and that's where the term came from.

So it was bands like Orange Juice, Aztec Camera, Teardrop Explodes, Echo and the Bunnymen,Joy Division, who started out on small labels and exploded with the Smiths and Stone Roses etc.

mattofash · #9 01-22-2008, 03:26 AM

Most of the stuff that is classed as indie over here I think sucks to be honest, but if your signed to a indie label does that make you indie? Even if its a different style of music to what is considered indie

Bruce Lindfield · #10 01-22-2008, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattofash

Most of the stuff that is classed as indie over here I think sucks to be honest, but if your signed to a indie label does that make you indie? Even if its a different style of music to what is considered indie

I think "Indie" has got into a rut because of what you describe - so when it started in Britain there was a common "post-punk" spirit about the scene.

But now - it's like - how do you define "Indie"? - well there is no real definition, so it's only if you are like the bands that went before, that you get called this.

So that means by definition, Indie bands sound like previous bands and anything different is unclassifiable, so gets lost in the general 'wash' of musical styles .

So Indie ends up being only bands that are basically fairly close copies of bands that have gone before ....stuck in a rut!

Jonyak · #11 01-22-2008, 05:51 AM

um... as far as I know indie means you are an independant artist... no label.

barbarbass · #12 01-22-2008, 05:59 AM

Someone above said the Indie scene has always been British -- yeah, that's true. However, the one that comes to mind for stylish vocals, and weird arrangements, is Blonde Redhead. They're a trio, and Amedeo Pace and Kazu (I've forgotten her last name) switch off between keys, bass, and guitar; twin brother Simone Pace is on drums. They're incredible -- switching between airy pop, to sweaty, grinding trip-hop in the middle of songs, sometimes. Very easy on the ear, but fascinating, as well.

Bruce Lindfield · #13 01-22-2008, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonyak

um... as far as I know indie means you are an independant artist... no label.

No - you're wrong there - it was about Independent Record Labels - like Rough Trade,Factory etc. - not one of the big corporate giants!

In the 80s when this started - there was no way to make money apart from releasing records - no internet !!

An independent artist then, meant broke and homeless!!

kaputsport · #14 01-22-2008, 06:25 AM

Ok, so AMERICAN Indie bands are different then....

So, independant American acts that make up the scene on this side of the pond...

I gotta give it to these guys hands down... Zelazowa.

Big Shout out to Ian (bass/vocals), Travis (drums), Kyle (guitar) and Brian (guitar/vocals).

They have played over 400 shows in 1 1/2 years, with no label, no backing... Just on pure drive. They are going to Europe here soon. Incredible guys. I cannot speak bad about them at all. I will say it was cool that they knew who I was before I met them...

JustOpenYourMind · #15 01-22-2008, 06:40 AM

try the bands on those labels:

http://www.tomlab.com/

http://www.saddle-creek.com/

http://www.arts-crafts.ca/

They all have bands that are really big in the undergroung indie scene

punkbassistfc · #16 01-22-2008, 12:14 PM

Indie means nothing these days, just like the word punk, Everybody is Indie these days. Even bands on major labels are considered indie these days, such as BRMC.

Jazzman23 · #17 01-22-2008, 05:39 PM

just go by my definition of it then

but yea, indie is pretty much the new "rock" eh? so broad

PunkerTrav · #18 01-22-2008, 05:44 PM

Frog Eyes.

Jazzman23 · #19 01-22-2008, 07:12 PM

lol...i don't know if i'd go that far. Arctic monkeys are awesome (although live....nothing special). Tokyo police club has its moments.

But I really dislike the whole weirdness thing. If you do it well (modest mouse comes to mind), its really cool. But its like most bands are just coming up with the weirdest chord changes and note choices for no reason. Maybe just to depress people.

I wonder whats going to be the next "scene"?

nysbob · #20 01-22-2008, 07:14 PM

Indie is a term that really doesn't mean anything other than you're not on a major. It's not a music term as much as a business term.

And I'd have to disagree with he previous poster. Some are very much worth your time...they're just kind of obscure because...well...they're indie.