The Best Indie Rock Bands in Seattle
Contents
Check out our list of the best indie rock bands in Seattle. From up-and-coming artists to established acts, these are the best of the best.
The Best Indie Rock Bands in Seattle
The best indie rock bands in Seattle are a great way to enjoy the local music scene. The bands on this list are all well-known and respected in the Seattle music community. They offer a variety of sounds and styles, making them the perfect choice for any music lover.
The Cave Singers
The Cave Singers are an indie folk band which formed in Seattle, Washington in 2007. The band currently consists of Pete Quirk (vocals, guitar), Derek Fudesco (bass, guitar) and Marty Lund (drums). The band has released five studio albums, Invitation Songs (2007), Welcome Joy (2009), No Witch (2011), Naomi (2013) and Banshee (2016).
Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes are an American indie folk band formed in Seattle, Washington. The band consists of Robin Pecknold (vocals, guitar), Skyler Skjelset (guitar, mandolin), Casey Wescott (keyboards, accordion), Christian Wargo (bass, vocals), and Morgan Henderson (multi-instrumentalist). Pecknold and Skjelset met in kindergarten and began making music together when they were teenagers. The band released their first self-titled album in 2008 to widespread critical acclaim and commercial success. Their second album, Helplessness Blues, was released in 2011 to even greater success. In 2014, the band released their third album, Crack-Up, to critical acclaim. The band is currently on hiatus.
The Head and the Heart
The Head and the Heart is an American indie folk band from Seattle, Washington. The band was formed in the summer of 2009 by Josiah Johnson (vocals, guitar, percussion) and Jonathan Russell (vocals, guitar, harmonica), who met while open mic-ing at Minor’s Place in Seattle’s University District. The duo recruited Tyler Williams (keyboards), Charity Rose Thielen (violin, vocals), Chris Zasche (bass), and Kenny Hensley (drums) to form a full band. The group signed to Sub Pop Records and self-released their self-titled debut album in 2010.
Since forming, The Head and the Heart have released three studio albums: Let’s Be Still (2013), Signs of Light (2016), and Living Mirage (2019). The band’s first two albums charted on the Billboard 200 chart: Let’s Be Still debuted at No. 106 and peaked at No. 39, while Signs of Light debuted at No. 5. The Head and the Heart has toured extensively throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
The Local Scene
The local indie rock scene in Seattle is thriving. There are a ton of great bands that are making a name for themselves. In this article, we will take a look at some of the best indie rock bands in Seattle. We will also talk about what makes them so great.
The Moondoggies
The Moondoggies are a Seattle-based band that formed in 2004. The band’s sound has been described as a mix of country, folk, and indie rock. The Moondoggies have released three studio albums, the most recent being 2013’s Tidelands. The band has been praised for their ” hypnotic blend of country, folk, and classic rock.”
Pickwick
Pickwick is a band from Seattle that has been making a name for themselves in the local scene. They have a unique sound that blends indie rock and soul, and their live shows are known for being high energy and full of positive vibes. If you’re looking for a band to get you moving, Pickwick is definitely worth checking out.
Ravenna Woods
Ravenna Woods is a five-piece band from Seattle, WA. Their music has been likened to “a cross between Neil Young and My Morning Jacket” and has been described as “cinematic folk rock”.
The band’s debut album, Ghost Notes, was released in 2015 to critical acclaim. It was named one of the best albums of the year by The Seattle Times and KEXP, and was hailed as a “stellar debut” by NPR Music.
Ravenna Woods has toured extensively throughout the US and Europe, sharing the stage with such artists as The Lumineers, Band of Horses, Typhoon, and The Head and the Heart.
The Music
The Shins are an American indie rock band from Albuquerque, New Mexico, formed in 1996. The band consists of James Mercer (vocals, guitar, keyboard), Yuuki Matthews (drums), Jon Sortland (drums), Mark Watrous (guitar, keyboard), and Casey Foubert (bass). The Shins have released five studio albums: Oh, Inverted World (2001), Chutes Too Narrow (2003), Wincing the Night Away (2007), Port of Morrow (2012), and Heartworms (2017).
The Cave Singers – “Seaweed”
The Cave Singers are an indie folk band which formed in Seattle, Washington in 2007. The band consists of Pete Quirk (vocals, guitar), Derek Fudesco (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Marty Lund (drums, percussion). The band has released five studio albums. Their first album Invitation Songs (2007) was recorded in one week. Despite receiving positive reviews and airplay on NPR, the album sold only 3,000 copies in its first year. The band’s second album Welcome Joy (2009) peaked at #38 on Billboard’s Top Heatseekers chart, and #6 on the Top Independent Albums chart. Their third album No Witch (2011) chartered on three Billboard magazine charts.
The Cave Singers’ music has been described as “a rustic brand of Americana that draws equally from country, folk and blues traditions”, with Allmusic’s Mark Deming describing the band’s sound as “a warm bath of rich acoustic guitars, simmering electric keyboards, and gently rolling drums”.
Fleet Foxes – “White Winter Hymnal”
Fleet Foxes are an American indie folk band formed in Seattle, Washington. The band came to prominence in 2008 with the release of their self-titled debut album Fleet Foxes. The album was praised for its harmony-rich song craft and elegant use of counterpoint, and it was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Folk Album at the 51st Grammy Awards.
The group’s second album, Helplessness Blues (2011), reached number four on the Billboard 200 and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Folk Album at the 54th Grammy Awards, winning the award for Best Recording Package. The band released Crack-Up (2017), their first album in six years, to critical acclaim.
“White Winter Hymnal” is a song by American indie folk band Fleet Foxes, from their 2008 self-titled debut studio album. Written by Robin Pecknold, the song was released as a single on November 25, 2008, on Sub Pop Records. It peaked at number 51 on the UK Singles Chart and received positive reviews from critics.
The Head and the Heart – “Lost in My Mind”
The Head and the Heart is an American indie folk band from Seattle, Washington. The group’s debut album, The Head and the Heart, was released in 2011 through Sub Pop. The album was produced by Ryan Hadlock and features the singles “Down in the Valley”, “Lost in My Mind”, and “Rivers and Roads”.
The Conclusion
After much deliberation, we have come to our conclusion — the best indie rock band in Seattle is The Head and the Heart. With their unique blend of folk, rock, and Americana, they have captured the hearts of music lovers all over the world. If you’re looking for an amazing indie rock band to listen to, look no further than The Head and the Heart.
