Music folks, what is Indy rock?

scottmandue · 03-11-2006, 07:32 AM

On Saturdays there is almost no one in the office so I play the Internet radio at my desk. I see a channel for "indy rock", what is the origin of indy rock?

My best guess that it originated from Indianapolis much like grunge rock came out of the pacific northwest.

Am I right or wrong?

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

there's a reason it's unsigned. Ghey.

rjp

scottmandue · 03-11-2006, 08:36 AM

If I was a sissy I would edit out the Indianapolis reference from the original post.

Indy-pedant okay I get it... as if anyone is really independent.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Actually means unsigned to a major record label, not unsigned completely. There are thousands of "independent" labels or imprints, you can start your own label in your bedroom for $3.00 if you have a CD burner and some blanks. Oh yeah, you need some music that no one owns to put on them.

Just like the term "independent film", (same meaning/no major studio backing), it has lost most of its meaning as smaller entities have been acquired by the big corporations, (or have joint ventures), there are still truly independent operators but it has changed. The Sundance film festival, (the grand daddy of indy film fests), has been polluted pretty badly from big business wanting in on the innovative product, same w/ music. I could go on for pages about why this is bad, but I'm probably boring you already.

"Indy Rock" as it is used in 2006 as a radio programming format is pretty meaningless, I mean it implies a certain playlist but it might as well be from Indianapolis for its connection to true independent rock. You will hear U2 and Coldplay on these stations, (about as indy as General Motors), then some token local music, etc...