Popular Culture’s Auditory Phenomenon of Alternative and Indie Rock

By Caleb Feliz

The popular culture of today has been inclining a healthy trend for one of music’s most compelling strains. Alternative and Indie Rock has assumed its place as a potent factor in musical popularity. The genre is represented by many notable groups and artists, including Muse, Weezer, Arcade Fire, Modest Mouse, The National, and Interpol. Many of these bands are returning from hiatuses, such as Arcade Fire in their return album Everything Now, that began in the early 2000’s, the last peak of Indie Rock popularity.

Indie and Alternative rock have had a reputation that has associated it with the stereotypical hipster of today (glasses, beanies, flannel, etc.). Even with several notable bands having spent time on ice for a spell in the new millennia, the perspective of popular culture has certainly included this genre of music as a part of it throughout this past decade. Indie and Alternative rock have held its place here in popular culture as a resident that still pays rent in the 2nd decade of the 21st century and may even move into a bigger place on the next floor.

Many groups of the Alternative and Indie Rock genre are participating in a great experiment of modern music. Groups like CHVRCHES are using synth-style tune designs in ways that can be considered unconventional, yet resulting in the hit-or-miss chord-striker that will earn the listeners attention and tapping foot.

Nicole Walker, Class of ’21, states that the Alternative and Indie rock genre “is kind of the music I listen to.” She tends to tune in to artists like NateWantsToBattle. Walker also said she doesn’t really favor any other genre over Alternative rock.

Alyssa, Class of ’20, states her specs’ on the artists of the genre. “Pierce the Veil, Panic! at the Disco, Twenty One Pilots (…) Andy Black (…) MCR [My Chemical Romance] (…) Fall Out Boy…” She also says the only other genre she tends to favor next to Alternative and Indie Rock is K-Pop.

Ace Wegner, Class of ’19, stated “I listen to the Classic Rock, so all the old bands like Led Zeppelin, ACDC, stuff like that. I mostly listen to Nothing More…” Wegner also states she listens to the group Front Bottoms.

With bands of the genre returning from hiatus and a surge of some apparent popularity as a part of mainstream culture (from what I could tell in my perspective), it can be speculated that Indie Rock is making a climb to the oligarchical top of musical popularity with a re-definitive, innovative style.