I need YOUR help

headnugg · Post: # 11731Post **headnugg** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 6:03 pm

So I just started a great new job working at a Music Production and Booking company in Boston, Waltham actually, Pretty Polly Productions. These guys are one of the biggest companies in Boston, particularly in booking colleges. I consider myself very educated when it comes to music, but there is one important genre that I'm lacking in - Indie Rock. Indie is what's hot now, so when I'm asked what I think of a band, or can I recommend a band I don't want to look like an ass, but the fact is I really don't know shit about indie rock.

Can you guys school me? I know there are peeps on here that listen to that kind of shit, any help would be MOST appreciated.

What bands do you like/love? Who's hot right now? Who's buzzin' and could become the next big thing? Is there a website that kinda catalogues all the different bands in this genre? Or even a site that provides lots of MP3's? Any good blogs anyone can recommend?

I want to try and hear as much of this crap as I can so I can really get a grip on this indie thing.

Thanks in advance.

Even if you can just recommend a certain CD chances are I can snag it somewhere.

my shows this weekend:

FRI: Wood Bros/Grace Potter @ NEU
SAT: Roger Waters at Greatwoods
SUN: KC & the Sunshine Band Free show at Gov't Center (I'm working it)

Dan · Post: # 11732Post **Dan** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 6:23 pm

Broken Social Scene
Built To spill
The Shins
Band of Horses
the decemberists
belle and sebastian
Andrew Bird
Of Montreal
Rogue Wave
Nada Surf
The Flaming LIps
Sufjan Stevens
Rilo Kiley
Block Party
Cat Power
Fiest
Electric President
kings of convience
MY MORNING JACKET
Apollo Sunshine
Piebald
The Books - not really but check them out
secret machines
Spoon
Yo La Tengo

my brain is dead now

francis · Post: # 11733Post **francis** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 7:07 pm

ac/dc

tim · Post: # 11734Post **tim** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 7:53 pm

first off, congrats on the new job, sounds like a killer gig! i guess it might be important to remember that the "indie" scene is about a varied as the "jamband" scene in terms of it's content(God i fucking hate labels). anything from straight up pop, punk, noise rock, dj's, folk singers and hip-hop can fit under the umbrella. it's also just as pretentious as about any other "scene" out there! don't worry though, with a little bit of time and effort you can fake it like everybody else....

good websites to check a bands' music out,

http://www.3hive.com/
http://www.myspace.com/

popular websites/blogs with news and more mp3's,

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/
http://youaintnopicasso.blogspot.com/
http://www.stereogum.com/
http://www.brooklynvegan.com/
http://www.cokemachineglow.com/

prominent labels,

sub pop
young god records
matador
kill rock stars
arts and crafts
paw tracks

some bands and artists dan didn't mention that "indie" kids seem to dig,

ted leo and the pharmacists
islands(and nick diamond's former band the unicorns)
animal collective
pavement(also see stephen malkmus' solo stuff)
arcade fire
black dice
akron/family
mates of state
silver jews
art brut
dungen
neko case
architecture in helsinki
the national
the light footwork
tapes 'n tapes
bonnie prince billy
M.I.A
LCD soundsystem
devendra banhardt
the dears
neutral milk hotel(now defunct)
wolf eyes
wolf parade
deerhoof
bishop allen
jenny lewis

get to know your friends

and your enemies

and always remember- it's not what you know, it's what you know before everyone else!

francis · Post: # 11735Post **francis** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:19 pm

i guess with working with this company, pitchfork would be a good way to go to 'catch up' on indie rock..

add to the list: elliott smith

Dan · Post: # 11736Post **Dan** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:44 pm

mr. smith has been gone

GeMeNeYe · Post: # 11737Post **GeMeNeYe** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:59 pm

Anything mentioned above that you wanna hear? Go here, seriously:

http://hype.non-standard.net/

GeMeNeYe · Post: # 11738Post **GeMeNeYe** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:01 pm

Elliot Smith stabbed himself in the heart with a knife in 2003. Terrible loss. Amazing music.

Dan · Post: # 11739Post **Dan** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 11:32 pm

it wasnt the heart, he stabbled himself in the stomach

headnugg · Post: # 11740Post **headnugg** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 10:09 am

thank you everyone!

This is a great start, I'm currently checking out all these links and will look into the bands, though many I've already heard......M.I.A. is awesome, but indie rock? I don't know......I dig the Secret Machines and obviously MMJ, but again is MMJ indie rock? I guess that's where "indie" and "jam" are kinda the same, tough to really categorize, some "jam" people would probably consider MMJ a "jamband." But anyway, there's lots of stuff to check out and I thank you all for that.

We're booking a huge tour, called the Verizon Campus Invasion tour, with the All American Rejects headlining and two other bands. The middle band just dropped out and it's causing a lot of stress in the office. I think it happened on my first day because they asked me if I could come up w/an idea for a replacement band in that price range, etc. I really didn't know what to say. Imagine if I had presented them with a legit solution on my first day! So that's a big reason I need to educate myself. I suggested Deadboy and the Elephantmen. Anyone ever check them out?

My associate had never heard of them. I kicked myself later that night for not suggesting the Slip. I did the next day and the owner said they wouldn't fit into the bill, but said he loved them and then said "that song about the kids who have the birthdays in December is amazing." And I said, "Oh, Children of December, yah that's a great song." SO at least I tried......

Anyone else who hasn't posted, feel free to......and everyone else if anything comes to mind, post away!

Dan · Post: # 11741Post **Dan** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 10:59 am

punk rockers - on the softer side is tha AAR

get on that side

headnugg · Post: # 11758Post **headnugg** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:46 am

One more request if anyone has the time:

What are some essential indie albums that have been put out in the last few years?

YOu know, like a great album, that everyone agrees is great, critics, fans, etc., an album that is already considered great even if it just came out. An album that people would say is a "must hear".......

Thanks.......

francis · Post: # 11762Post **francis** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 12:25 pm

Dan wrote:mr. smith has been gone

so you can't listen to him?

these are just some recent ones..

sufjan stevens - illinois
broken social scene - broken social scene
wolf parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary
devendra banhart - cripple crow
the decemberists - picaresque
any wilco; just because they rock and everyone should like them.

others:
elliott smith - xo
neutral milk hotel - both albums (On Avery Island and In An Aeroplane Over The Sea)
sunny day real estate - diary
broken social scene - you forgot it in people
at the drive-in - in/casino/out
modest mouse - lonesome, crowded west
texas is the reason - do you know who you are?
the dismemberment plan - emergency & i

don't feel like adding anymore.

headnugg · Post: # 11765Post **headnugg** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 4:48 pm

thank you sir

Dan · Post: # 11766Post **Dan** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:01 pm

francis wrote:
Dan wrote:mr. smith has been gone
so you can't listen to him?

I believe Mr. headnugg is a booking agent or of that source and its kinda hard to book the greatest artists who have perished. I would love ot suggest Nick Drake and would have loved to see him yet I never got the chance.

-im not trying to be a dick

Dan