indie pop

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Similar to: twee • gs • asian garage • indiepop • c86 • 5432fun • low fi • mellow tunes

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Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid ’80s, with its roots in the Scottish bands on the Postcard Records label in the early ’80s such as Orange Juice and Josef K and the dominant UK independent band of the mid eighties, The Smiths. While the term ‘indie’ had been used for some time to describe artists on independent labels (and the labels themselves), the key moment in the naming of the genre was the release of NME’s C86 tape in 1986. Although featuring a wide range of bands including Primal Scream, The Pastels, and The Shop Assistants, it over time became shorthand for a genre known by a variety of terms. Initially it was dubbed ‘C86’ (after the tape itself), the more ambiguous Indiepop, Cutie or a term coined by John Peel: shambling bands. Retrospectively the term; Twee was used, initially ironically, due to what commentators called the “revolt into childhood” of its followers.

Musically its key characteristics were jangling guitars, a love of sixties pop and often fey, innocent lyrics. The UK label Sarah Records and its most popular band The Field Mice, although more diverse than the label indicates, were probably its most typical proponents. It was also inspired by the DIY scene of punk and there was a thriving fanzine, label and club and gig circuit. Scenes later developed in the United States particularly around labels such as K Records. Genres such as Riot Grrrl and bands as diverse as Nirvana, Manic Street Preachers, and Belle and Sebastian have all acknowledged its influence.
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Events

indie pop gigs in United States • view all

September 2008
Sunday 7 September 2008
Ben Folds

Nashville Symphony Orchestra

 Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Nashville, United States

25 people attending
5 shouts

October 2008
Thursday 9 October 2008
Cat Power

Appaloosa

 Palladium Ballroom
Dallas, United States

40 people attending
5 shouts

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