Indie Band Lists - Does it Start With MySpace?

The Internet has clearly made it easier for bands toreally be about launching new bands. There is an
promote themselves and make themselves betterunsigned column but when you see that contains acts
known but people still have to find them. Sociallike The Darkness and Fatboy Slim, you start to lose
networking sites like MySpace or Facebook arefaith in it.
supposed to be the answer to this problem so let'sIt is still possible to find new indie bands but MySpace
see how good at finding indie bands MySpace really is.doesn't really help until you search through the musical
MySpace offers top ten artists of today for a numbersections and come to the indie section and here is
of genres and for today (August 27th 2008), the topwhere you can start to find some news about new
the indie bands were: Bloc Party, Bring Me Theacts. Some of the new acts featuring on this section
Horizon, Adele, Oasis, The Wombats, The Streets,include:
Kano, Chemical Brothers, Paul Oakenfold, Biffy Clyro.Flamboyant Bella:
That's quite an eclectic mix and to be honest, theres aIf you could imagine Kate Nash joining up with an indie
lot in that which would not pass for indie. It may giveband you would be close to the sound of Flamboyant
you a good starting point and with the rush release ofBella. They carry the excitement of youth and may
Bloc Party's new album you can tell why they rankwell be a tip for mainstream crossover although
highly but some of the choices are baffling to say themusical greatness is probably beyond them.
least.I Haunt Wizards:
The selection between 11 and 20 is probably moreWith a name like that you just know they are going to
stereotypical for indie featuring The Kills, Last Shadowhave a slightly electro edge and yes, I Haunt Wizards
Puppets and The Automatic amongst others. Thisare influenced by the electro 80s sound that appears
means you can find indie bands on myspace but youto be fashionable at the moment. Another bunch of
may need to do a bit more digging around for them.three crazy kids who may be worth checking out
How does MySpace defines Indie?soon before the musical fashion changes to something
What makes it more frustrating is that in the columnelse.
beside the indie acts is a mainstream column and notThe Filthy Youth:
far away from The Last Shadow Puppets are theWith a few more choruses these lads could be the
Arctic Monkeys. Yes, Sheffield's current finest maynew Fratellis as the guitar riffs and swagger are all in
have sold enough records to make them mainstream,place. Theres a cheeky 60s vibe running through their
but they remain an indie band. They are certainly moresongs and of the new bands listed so far, they appear
indie than Paul Oakenfold or Kano who made it intoto be the most equipped to become an indie favorite.
the top ten of the indie chart. Similarly, The Verve rankObviously, the beauty of MySpace is that once you
highly in the mainstream chart but nowhere on the indiefind a band there will be songs available for you to
column.check out right away. This is where these sites really
That said it's not as if it's telling you about any new orexcel and help listeners get involved with new bands
up and coming acts is it? All of these acts, indie or not,right from the off.
are major commercial artists when MySpace should