Indie Bassists

[joshmickelson]

Indie is about as specific as jazz. You can spot an indie band when you hear it, just like you know what classical or jazz sounds like, but that is where 'indie' stops being descriptive.

By the definition of indie, an indie bassist would be any bassist who plays for a band signed by an independent label. You can't characterize his/her sound by that definition alone.

I disagree to your jazz comparison actually. I would compare the general blanket term of "rock" with jazz.

semantics have no place in rock...hahah

 

[thombo]

what bands have been mentioned that people would take issue with?

for me, i know an "indie" when i hear it... i know the term is meant for bands that take a non-major label, non-mtv, Fugazi-type approach, but it seems that it has evolved beyond that. if being "indie" was about being a band that takes an unaffiliated, diy approach, we could easily add plenty jazz artists (Dave Douglas, MMW, John Zorn, etc), but we aren't. i think that it has a certain "devil may care" type sound, where the bands are trying to convey the sound in their head, as opposed to appealing to an audience. other than that, i don't know quite how to explain it.

 

[The Jake]

i think that it has a certain "devil may care" type sound, where the bands are trying to convey the sound in their head, as opposed to appealing to an audience.

That sounds better than any definition I've heard.

The thing I really dig about most of the indie music happening right now is that the majority of it has a certain raw, unpolished tonality while the bands still execute the notes with precision; it's together, but it's kind of not... if that makes any sense.

 

[engedi1]

Great thread! It hit me like a flash of lightening this morning that Brian Ritchie of the Violent Femmes is one the coolest bass players, Indie or otherwise. To me Violent Femmes is the poster child for Indie Rock. Acoustic guitar, acoustic bass guitar, snare drum with brushes. Could there be an odder ensemble outside of maybe Morphine? (another bass player not to overlook BTW)

 

[mizmor]

Anyone here like medicine? Not much in the bass dept, but a good band nonetheless.

engedi1, Beat Happening seems like a poster indie band as well.

 

[Thorsoundcore]

when i think of indie,i think brand new.garrett tierney is their bass player,and he's pretty good at it.uses p basses.

 

[Simon Johns]

"Rainbo Conversation" was before my time, I'm sorry to say, but I played it many times on stage.
On the record was Richard Harrison, who also played "Diagonals".

Here is a video of us. I'm playing with my fingers, which was rare for me, but was right for this song:

For the record, Andy Rourke is one of my favourite bass players. I think he has an amazing imagination for what a bass line should do, and he had a great stance!