Indie rock

The music commonly regarded as indie rock is descended from what was known as alternative rock during the 1980s; this name refers to the fact that it was an alternative to mainstream rock. Alternative bands of the time, in turn, were influenced by the punk rock and New Wave movements of the 1970s and early 1980s. During the first half of the 1990s, alternative music, led by grunge bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam, broke into the mainstream, achieving commercial chart success; shortly thereafter, the alternative genre became commercialised, as mainstream success attracted major-label investment and commercially-oriented or manufactured acts with a formulaic, conservative approach. With this, the meaning of the label "alternative" changed away from its original, more countercultural meaning, and the term "indie rock" fell into greater use.

Recent trends in the United States

In the last few years Omaha, Nebraska has been noted by various observers and fans as the unofficial capital of indie rock in the United States; some comparisons have been made with Seattle's role in the grunge scene of the early 1990s and in the indie scene of today, by such bands as Modest Mouse. This is largely due to the Omaha-based Saddle Creek Records, which is home to several highly regarded indie rock acts, most notably Bright Eyes and Cursive. Bright Eyes singer/songwriter and Omaha native Conor Oberst, who started the label, has been called the "King of Indie Rock" by Rolling Stone magazine, although his "indie cred" is often less than high. Some publications such as Spin magazine are now claiming Montreal as North America's indie rock capital, due to bands such as The Arcade Fire, and The Unicorns. Portland, Oregon has also become a hot spot for indie bands, being the home of such acts as The Decemberists, The Dandy Warhols and Elliott Smith.

Related Topics:
Omaha, Nebraska - Seattle - Grunge - Saddle Creek Records - Bright Eyes - Cursive - Conor Oberst - Rolling Stone - Spin magazine - Montreal - The Arcade Fire - The Unicorns - Portland, Oregon - The Decemberists - The Dandy Warhols - Elliott Smith

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New York City (notably the neighborhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn) has also been cited as a major scene for recent indie rock music with such bands as The Walkmen, TV on the Radio, Interpol, the Strokes, the French Kicks and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Los Angeles' indie scene is mostly centered in the gritty Koreatown and the bohemian Silverlake areas of the city, which have given rise to such bands as Moving Units, Autolux, the Midnight Movies, the Movies, Giant Drag, Icebird, and the Blood Arm. The Washington, DC area has also re-emerged as a hotbed of indie music. The area gained notoriety in the 1980s when it became one of the flagship cities of the American hardcore punk movement, with bands such as Minor Threat, Government Issue and Rites of Spring. All of these bands were on Minor Threat frontman Ian MacKaye's own record label, Dischord Records. Now the city is re-emerging as a hotbed of indie rock acts, namely MacKaye's own Fugazi, as well as Q and Not U, Dead Meadow, Decahedron, and The Evens.

Related Topics:
New York City - Williamsburg, Brooklyn - The Walkmen - TV on the Radio - Interpol - The Strokes - The French Kicks - Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Los Angeles - Moving Units - Autolux - The Midnight Movies - The Movies - Giant Drag - Icebird - The Blood Arm - Washington, DC - Hardcore punk - Minor Threat - Government Issue - Rites of Spring - Ian MacKaye - Dischord Records - Fugazi - Q and Not U - Dead Meadow - Decahedron - The Evens

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