10 Some Good Indie Rock Music Bands You Should Be Listening To

Here are 10 lesser-known indie rock bands that are definitely worth your time. These bands are making great music and deserve your attention!

Introduction

We all know that there are countless indie rock bands out there vying for our attention. But with so many options, it can be hard to know where to start. So we’ve compiled a list of 10 up-and-coming indie rock bands that we think are worth a listen. From catchy pop hooks to lo-fi bedroom anthems, these bands have something for everyone. So put on your headphones and get ready to discover some new music!

1) The Paper Kites
2) The Naked and Famous
3) Two Door Cinema Club
4) Lord Huron
5) Hozier
6) The Paper Kites
7) The Head and the Heart
8) Of Monsters and Men
9) Mumford & Sons
10) Local Natives

The 1975

The 1975 is an English indie rock band from Manchester, consisting of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Matthew “Matty” Healy, lead guitarist Adam Hann, bassist Ross MacDonald, and drummer George Daniel. The band’s origins trace to them all being students at Wilmslow High School in Cheshire. They started playing together as teenagers under the name Drive Like I Do, before changing their name to The 1975 and signing with Dirty Hit and Polydor Records in 2012.

The 1975’s debut album was released on 2 September 2013 and peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart on 8 September; it was preceded by their debut single “Chocolate”, which entered the UK Singles Chart at number 19 the week before release. Four singles were released from the album: “Sex”, “Robbers”, “Girls” and “Settle Down”. Their self-titled second album was released on 26 May 2016 and debuted atop the UK Albums Chart and gave the band their first UStop 10 entry with the single “The Sound”. The album also included singles “UCT” or Ugly People for Pretty People”, which charted within the top 25 worldwide. On 15 May 2018, it was announced that The 1975 would headline Reading & Leeds Festivals in August 2018.

The Paper Kites

Melbourne-based five-piece The Paper Kites are one of those bands that maintain a candlelit, homey feeling no matter how popular they become. The group specialize in gorgeous, lilting indie-folk anchored by Sam Bentley and Christina Lacy’s Hospitable lead vocals, but on their new album twelvefour they broadened their sound considerably. The record is an ambitious concept album, with each song taking place at a different hour of the night – and it somehow manages to be both restless and lulling, dreamy and complex. There’s a darkness to it as well – something that speaks to the insomnia that often comes with falling in love. It’s one of the most arresting listens of the year.

The Staves

If you’re a fan of indie rock music, then you’ve probably heard of The Staves. This three-sister band from Watford, England, has been making waves in the music industry since their formation in 2009. Since then, they have released two studio albums, “Dead & Born & Grown” (2012) and “If I Was” (2015), both of which received critical acclaim. Their music has been described as “wistful folk-tinged pop”, and they have been compared to such acts as Fleet Foxes and First Aid Kit. If you’re looking for some good indie rock music to listen to, then make sure to check out The Staves.

The National

The National is an American rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in 1999. The band consists of Matt Berninger (vocals), Aaron Dessner (guitar, keyboards), Bryce Dessner (guitar), Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums).

The Joy Formidable

The Joy Formidable is a Welsh rock band, formed in 2007 in Mold, Flintshire, Wales. The band consists of Ritzy Bryan (lead vocals, guitar), Rhydian Dafydd (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Matt Thomas (drums). They have released four studio albums: A Balloon Called Moaning in 2009, Wolf’s Law in 2013, Hitch in 2016, and AAARTH in 2018.

The Naked and Famous

The Naked and Famous are an indie rock band from Auckland, New Zealand, formed in 2007. The band consists of Alisa Xayalith (lead vocals, keyboards), Thom Powers (guitar, vocals), Aaron Short (synthesizers), David Beadle (bass) and Jesse Wood (drums). The band’s first two albums, Passive Me, Aggressive You (2010) and In Rolling Waves (2013), have sold over 1 million copies worldwide. The Naked and Famous were ranked at No. 39 on MTV’s 2011 list of “The Best 50 Music Videos Since the Beginning of MTV.” In 2013, the group won two New Zealand Music Awards for “Best Group” and “Best Pop Album.”

The Pixies

One of the most iconic and influential alternative rock bands of all time, the Pixies formed in 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts. The band consisted of Black Francis (lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist), Joey Santiago (lead guitarist), Kim Deal (bassist, backing vocalist) and David Lovering (drummer). The Pixies were known for their loud-quiet-loud dynamic and for Francis’ surreal, cryptic lyrics. They released five studio albums before breaking up in 1993. In 2004, the Pixies reunited and continue to tour today.

Modest Mouse

Formed in 1993 in Issaquah, Washington, and currently based in Portland, Oregon, Modest Mouse is an American indie rock band signed to Epic Records. The band’s original lineup consisted of singer/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy. Since being founded, Modest Mouse has released six studio albums: This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About (1996), The Lonesome Crowded West (1997), The Moon & Antarctica (2000), Good News for People Who Love Bad News (2004), We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (2007) and Strangers to Ourselves (2015). Apart from Brock and Green, other current members include multi-instrumentalist Tom Peloso, guitarist Jim Fairchild and percussionist Lisa Molinaro.

The band’s debut album by Up Records was highly acclaimed by critics due to its unconventional song structures and lo-fi aesthetic; however, it failed to gain any significant commercial attention. On her album review for AllMusic, Heather Phares stated: “Though their sound is anything but polished or immediately accessible… Modest Mouse’s full-length debut is one of the most striking albums of 1996”. The band achieved mainstream success with their fourth album Good News for People Who Love Bad News which peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 chart. The single “Float On” peaked at number two on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and won a Grammy Award for Best Independent Music Performance in 2005.

In 2008 they got e nominated again but this time they won best Alternative music performance for their song Dashboard!

Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire is a Canadian indie rock band, consisting of husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, along with Win’s younger brother William Butler, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara. The band’s current lineup also includes former core member Sarah Neufeld. The band came to prominence in 2004 with their critically acclaimed debut album Funeral. Their second studio album, Neon Bible, won them the 2008 Meteor Music Award for Best International Album. Their third studio album, The Suburbs, was released in 2010 to critical acclaim and commercial success. It received many accolades, including the 2011 Grammy for Album of the Year.