Are We Seeing a Rock Revolution?
drew0
Posts: 943
My friend and I were discussing the other day, and I think we may be seeing a music revolution that is putting rock & roll back to at least mainstream relevancy in America.
To me, it appears that a lot of bands that must have us have known to be good have started to get a lot of widespread credibility, appeal, and coverage. Friends that are into good music, but don't necessarily listen to anything outside of the main acts, have begun listening to a lot of bands like this (Wilco, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, My Morning Jacket, Arcade Fire).
Then, there are bands that have just emerged but seem to sound promising. These happen a lot, but for some reason I have faith in some of the most recent bands (MGMT, Silversun Pickups, Gaslight Anthem).
Then, there are a lot of bands that were previously huge across seas are finally starting to make its way into America (Killers, Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys, Muse).
I'm talking about: Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys, Wilco, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, My Morning Jacket, Arcade Fire, The Killers, MGMT, The Mars Volta, Silversun Pickups.
It seems that, 4-5 years ago, the state of rock music was entirely underground. Now, we've seen a couple bands grow into arena acts (White Stripes, Killers, Muse, Kings of Leon, Arcade Fire, MMJ, Wilco --- the first four are, and the last 3 are borderline; Arctic Monkeys are elsewhere). Hell, Yeah Yeah Yeahs just got placed as the replacement for Beastie Boys at Lollapalooza...I just noticed that Arcade Fire had played Shoreline, Red Rocks, and Hollywood Bowl on their last tour. It is the first time in over a decade or so that we've seen quality acts rise to the arena level. In 2005, I was worried there would never be a band worth seeing play the Mellon Arena ever again....
To me, it appears that a lot of bands that must have us have known to be good have started to get a lot of widespread credibility, appeal, and coverage. Friends that are into good music, but don't necessarily listen to anything outside of the main acts, have begun listening to a lot of bands like this (Wilco, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, My Morning Jacket, Arcade Fire).
Then, there are bands that have just emerged but seem to sound promising. These happen a lot, but for some reason I have faith in some of the most recent bands (MGMT, Silversun Pickups, Gaslight Anthem).
Then, there are a lot of bands that were previously huge across seas are finally starting to make its way into America (Killers, Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys, Muse).
I'm talking about: Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys, Wilco, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, My Morning Jacket, Arcade Fire, The Killers, MGMT, The Mars Volta, Silversun Pickups.
It seems that, 4-5 years ago, the state of rock music was entirely underground. Now, we've seen a couple bands grow into arena acts (White Stripes, Killers, Muse, Kings of Leon, Arcade Fire, MMJ, Wilco --- the first four are, and the last 3 are borderline; Arctic Monkeys are elsewhere). Hell, Yeah Yeah Yeahs just got placed as the replacement for Beastie Boys at Lollapalooza...I just noticed that Arcade Fire had played Shoreline, Red Rocks, and Hollywood Bowl on their last tour. It is the first time in over a decade or so that we've seen quality acts rise to the arena level. In 2005, I was worried there would never be a band worth seeing play the Mellon Arena ever again....
Pittsburgh 6/23/06
Madison Square Garden 6/25/08
Madison Square Garden 6/25/08
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But before long, it'll only be rock and roll, but we'll like it.
Let's get the shit that they call mainstream out (Nickelback, Creed) and bring in the real rock bands that you listed in.
"Becoming a Bruce fan is like hitting puberty as a musical fan. It's inevitable." - dcfaithful
In all honesty, I think that, if anything, we're seeing a mid-late '80s. A lot of really good artists that are underground and "college" oriented (Sonic Youth, Pixies, REM, My Bloody Valentine) that will influence and lay the groundwork for an explosion (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, Rage).
Call me crazy, I just see a lot of parallels between right now and the '90s.
Madison Square Garden 6/25/08
Just a thought :idea:
http://inthepresenttense.blogspot.com/
I also noticed this. PJ is actually getting attention again, DMB actually released a good and relevant record, Rage/Smashing Pumpkins/Jane's/AicC are back together, Phish is back....
I think it could also be due to festivals? With the emergence of Bonnaroo, Rothbury, All Points West, Outside Lands, Mile High, Lollapalooza, Langerado, Austin City Limits, bands are much more able to get known through similar audiences.
Madison Square Garden 6/25/08
Two things jump out at me.
1) The internet. What the internet has done over time is sliced and diced demographics up. It's a lot easier now to find bands you'll be interested in no matter how small they are or where they are from, and I feel there are going to be far more smaller groups and much fewer large - super groups (which, has already happened). This is why 3 day, 5 stage all day festivals have become so popular. Because so many bands in this generation cannot sell out an arena tour ... yet, a well balanced festival will have far more acts people have heard of and are interested in than they would of have they come up with this concept 20 years ago. The internet has also dramatically changed the methond on which we acquire and listen to music, which, has changed how bands distribute their music.
2) Blogging. This feeds into #1. It's amazing to me that there are so many blogs working overtime to try and find the next big thing ... and they will do this while ignoring not only the bands from a previous generation (life the aforementioned AC/DC, or even Pearl Jam) but, they'll even shun perfectly good bands that have been around for just 4 or 5 years. People want something bright, shiny and new. People want to call attention to themselves. They aren't going to do that by telling you Interpol's third album is probably their best, Interpol is so very 2004 ... they need to give you something you've never heard of, something to draw you in. Most of these bloggers are so damn full of themselves, trying to make a name for themselves that they really are more interested in what will draw eyes than good music.
So, is there a revolution? Yeah, but I think it started at the beginning of the decade, and, it's more of a metamorphasis than a revolution.
"I don't believe in damn curses. Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass." --- Pedro Martinez
Whats interesting is that bands these days regularly sell their tunes to a tv show, or movie, or major corporation, and continue to be respected both by fans and critics. Thats bizaare to say the least.
Modest Mouse and The Shins are two of the big bands in this rock revolution, and both have sold their tunes to some pretty sketchy companies, Budweiser and Mcdonalds respectively. But both bands continue to be flagship new movement bands.
Another issue is when did this new movement start? It seems to me, things in music started to change in 2003 2004 with the release of Postal Services Give up, Death Cab's Trans and Modest Mouse's Good News and The Shins Chutes too Narrow. Arcade Fire's Funeral in 2004.
Ultimately, I too feel a sort of shift in music, and to be honest, I cant see it dying out anytime soon. Bands that are new movement bands, big bands of the moment seem to be in everything right now. You had Joanna Newsom in The Strangers, and Band of Horses in Zombieland to name a few, and things only seem to be getting bigger for these bands. There doesnt seem to be a negative effect for these bands, in fact, as far as I can tell this indie movement or new rock revolution seems to be doing something bizaare in an age of shrinking cd sales, the indie rock scene is expanding and growing.
I do think this movement or scene or whatever you want to call it rivals any other music movement, and as I said, I really dont see it ending anytime soon.
In the past what seemed to kill a movement or scene was the mainstream coming in and exploiting it and sucking all of the cash out of the thing they could. Well we have seen this happen, increasingly since 2003. From The OC on the media has continued to embrace and exploit indie rock, and now in 2009 I see the movement as strong as ever.
Pitchfork, Stereogum, and Brooklyn Vegan are 3 other huge reasons why we see this rock revolution, with Pitchfork especially being an essential way these days, that bands get hype, exposure and press. People dont tune into MTV anymore to read about the new "it" band, they instead log on, and visit Pitchfork.
I have seen a ton of these bands, whether thats Iron and Wine, Death Cab, Bright Eyes, Arcade Fire, Fleet Foxes, Cave Singers, Swell Season, Band of Horses, Cat Power, Modest Mouse, Wolf Parade, Josh Radin, and on and on, and I continue to feel a vibe at these gigs that feels special, and it often feels like there is something happening, something important. Its that unnameable feeling that you and a bunch of other people are witnessing a special moment in history. I imagine, one would get the same feeling at a Hendrix show in the 60's, or something like that.
I think for me, the moment I became aware that this was a full blown movement and revolution in rock, was when I saw Arcade Fire live for the first time. 3 years later, and I still have never seen a band and audience in sync with each other so much. I have yet to see another show that rivals that intensity. The story I always tell is that, when they played Wake Up, for the finale, I looked behind me, and up in the balcony, and people were just going insane, literally. The balcony looked like it was gonna tumble to the ground. And the whole vibe of Funeral to me, seemed like this was music for our generation. They spoke to us and for us.
I spent a good decade from 1994 to 2004, despondent, and angry that grunge had ended. Angry that bands no longer had the same feeling of the grunge scene. Angry that the passion and intensity of those days seemed to be completely nonexistant anymore.
What I found however, was that grunge is never coming back, unfortunatly. Grunge forms the soundtrack to my entire childhood and their were many great bands, and great albums released in those years. But I also found out that their are some mindblowing bands releasing music right now, today, tomorrow, next week, and that they sound entirely different than Kurt and Ed. Yet, their music is as inspiring and life changing as Pearl Jam and Nirvana are and were.
What I found were bands that now, as we speak continue to soundtrack my life, this time its the soundtrack to the lovely time called the 20's!
These are important and relevant bands, creating works of art that bend your mind. These are the Dylan's and Elvis's of our generation. The longing and scariness of adult life, well thats Transatlanticism. The soul crushing feeling of modernity. Havent you heard? Thats Silent Alarm. The soundtrack to the end of the world, what to put on the stereo as the world crashes around you? Obviously thats Funeral. Feeling like you dont belong, and dont fit in? Thats this one over here Im Wide Awake and its Morning. Need to listen to music that soothes and blows you away? Yeah I have that one over here, its under a pile of books, but its called Our Endless Numbered Days. Want to get your post modern computer dance on, and listen to music created via laptop? Thats the well played and worn out cd I have over to my left here, its Give Up. Want to listen to a band that challenges you to think about what music is, and makes music that leaves the listener smarter after a spin? Thats a classic sir, its Deloused in the Comatorium. Did you just graduate from college and you now feel that feeling of uncertainty and "lostness", I've got the antidote, sir, and its Boxer. Are you a history buff, and someone who doesnt mind music that talks a little about religion? I know just what you need, this is a favorite of the masses, Chicago.
This lends into the new age of distribution.
Bands put their songs in commercials, on ESPN, on tv shows, in movies as product placements ... not for the money they'll get.
The radio is dead, or on life support at best. Best way to get your music heard is to be where the ears are, and that is NOT on the radio ... and certainly not on MTV anymore.
"I don't believe in damn curses. Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass." --- Pedro Martinez
I agree 100 percent my point is just that this is a 180 from anything in rock history. Some people today, still think that any band that does any of that is a sell out. And lets be honest, Fugazi are to be worshipped, they have pulled off probably the only case in music history of a band that has never sold out in any way shape or manner.
That said, these days, like you said, there is no MTV videos anymore, and radio is nonexistant, and rolling stone and spin all stopped being relevant years ago. So what do you do?
I think any band that wants to get exposure these days must sell their music to a tv show or commercial or movie.
I have talked about it all the time: when was the last time a friend said "hey I just heard this great song on (insert your favorite radio station here). And then compare the response one gets when bands are played on some of the hottest and most watched shows currently, like say a band's song is played on Grey's Anatomy, or Scrubs or whatever. The response is overwhelming, with hundreds and thousands of people flocking to you tube to check out said band.
I have studied rock history and am facinated by it. And as I pointed out, this current movement is unique. Rock seems completely tied up in debachery and hedonism and bad behavior. And with good reason, as some of its figureheads in the past have been wild men or women. But the current scene, the current movement, doesnt seem made up of heroin addicts or cocaine users or drug users. it doesnt seem like these bands are inviting young women onto their bus' at each venue.
With 1960's rock, and with 90's grunge, and with 70's punk, all with common sense, you could sort of tell, "hey these musicians are really on a downward spiral, and are going to burn out". I dont get any sense of this movement ending anytime soon, which is again, a bizaare thing. If you accept that this new rock movement, came to mainstream attention, in 2003, or earlier as some have suggested with The Strokes, The Hives, and The Vines and all the THE BANDS, in 2001, the fact it has lasted through 2009 is pretty amazing.
And as I also pointed out, when was the last time a movement or scene, maintained credibility and popularity and relevance, when the mainstream media and bloodsuckers came out? Its always a matter of simple fact, a scene is underground, it gets big, slowly, slowly, slowly, then it hits mainstream audiences and then people come out of the woodward trying to exploit and make a quick buck. As I have pointed out, that started in 2001 or 2003. So this movement seems completely immune to any of the normal crises of identity that plagues most music scenes.
When Funeral came out, people started saying Montreal was the new Seattle. And it seems to have died down a bit. But again, what is rather remarkable is the fact the scene, the overall, overarching scene, isnt dominished by this. And I have no doubt, the next releases by Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Wolf Parade, Stars and the like will be huge hits.
While alot of these bands do have left leanings, and have sometimes played at political benefit shows, the politics seems in many ways non existant in the lyrics and the bands overall view of the world.
Sure there have been great political records by these bands, but the lyrics and the album themes of these records isnt political.
This music is from 2001-now, is being composed, written and recorded in some of the most political times in history. And alot of these bands arent really writing or making music that has anything to do with politics. Its political in how it ISNT political. Its essentially 1970's type rock, where you had Jackson Browne and others trying to come to terms with defining themselves, becoming themselves, in a corrupt, and dead world.
Sure Arcade Fire, Iron and Wine, Bright Eyes, and the like all have left wing beliefs, but their music is void of that, for the most part.
These bands arent out to change the world. They are out to provide the soundtrack to a world that is dying.
the girl i've been chasing is WAY into this scene. it concerns me. but she had a super strict religious upbringing, so i'm hoping it's just partly lack of exposure!
i would swear that once a while back you and i had a fiercely contentious debate about arcade fire, with you claiming it was all very political and me saying their music was remarkably un-political and you saw politics too much everywhere
The fact that they may be playing 20,000 seat arenas when album 3 is released is a major concern. Arcade Fire are a band that works because of its sound, its anthemic quality, and their ability as I said to connect to an audience and make them feel like, they are trying to save everyone's soul in that room. The walking in the crowd moments, the Wake Up in the middle of the floor moments, the moments where they play a song or two, after the show, in the lobby of the venue, ending the show and then continuing to play and walking out of the venue, still playing and then finishing their songs on the streets, these are things in many ways, that can only be accomplished with the audience they had after Neon Bible was released.
Have they gotten bigger? Will they get bigger?
I dont know if the same applies for any of the other borderline bands you mentioned, but it certainly is my main worry with Arcade Fire.
if pearl jam did it, so can arcade fire. i think they'll come through ok. remember the days of ed stage diving and climbing rafters and all in small clubs? the band managed to find ways to still build that kind of connection with a crowd after moving their show into arenas, and they're as powerful now as they always have been.
Haha. You may be right. I think Funeral is more personal. Neon Bible is obviously about the outside world and what it felt like to live in 2007. But no where in that record is the band telling you to go out and vote, or protest, or do whatever. There are no lyrics about Bush. Its sort of veiled politics. Intervention and Neon Bible the song are quite obviously about politics, but its written in such a way, that is understated and non preachy.
yeah, i don't remember what albums or songs were under discussion in that one. just thought it was funny.
and just to prove i'm not a dick that's always out to head hunt you, while i do think you might be a bit overstating/over-dramatizing things here, you are essentially right about the business of music. the way bands reach listeners, etc... all pretty spot on. i think it's a good thing. i think the whole sell out thing was always completely overblown.
Rock evolves, it changes. People probably wouldn't have regarded 'Siamese Dream' or 'Ok Computer' as "rock" at one point, either. Although, I find this comment weird as I would consider Kings of Leon and Arctic Monkeys to be two of the most "rock" bands out of the bigger names right now. They're basic when it comes to their music, just straight guitar and hooks ... but I guess we can agree to disagree.
Madison Square Garden 6/25/08
According to Live Daily archives, they played Shoreline Amphitheater and Hollywood Bowl in 2007 along with some small (10,000) seat arenas. So, it looks like they've already reached that size in major markets. I wonder if anyone here can attest to how that turned out? I can maybe dig up a review of the concert, but it looks like it has already happened.
Madison Square Garden 6/25/08
I'm a fan of guitar riffs and i don't hear any coming out of kol, arcade fire, bright eyes. To me the best rock band out there might be the black keys. I don't like KOL new album, too much pop in the wrong way. Arcade fire always reminds me of bowie (which works for them and against them at times.) But i when i think of rock I need a liiiiiittle more edge than what they're throwing out there...i guess after looking at it, these bands are good rock acts but they're not what i think of in any terms as being rock and roll. I understand music changes with the times, but these groups don't really embody rock to me, and i may be outnumbered in this discussion, i have plenty of friends who would name 20 other acts ahead of the ones you listed as being involved in the music scene.
...arcade fire will not be big enough to be selling out 20,000 seat arenas. They're big..and unless this album totally strays away from their sound, and i know that bands need to progress and change, they will be a club act. They're isn't enough in their sound to intice that many people who don't get what they're about. just my two cents..
Madison Square Garden 6/25/08
Musical revolutions tend to come ever 20 years...
50's rock birth, 70's punk explosion, 90's grunge, 10's ??????
WE ARE DUE SOON!
While I agree pretty much 100% with your post, I don't believe Them Crooked Vultures will have that big of an impact on the rock scene as a whole. I think the average music listener who is still dependent on the radio or television for new material will totally miss this band. Hell, I saw them three nights ago and with the exception of my friend who went with me, I have had to explain to everyone I know who this band is.
things change. How many people 15 years ago, thought that Pj would be teaming with Target, and would be making music, at least on Avocado and especially Backspacer, that is as pop and mainstream as anything they have ever done?
Just the other day, I was in a car with a friend of mine, he is a top 40 kind of guy, if its not on the radio, he probably doesnt hear it, or so I assumed, he is also politically conservative. Anyways, Spearhead's Say Hey, came on the radio, and he was singing it. Spearhead is a group, that I got into in 2001, they were sort of a DeadHead type jamband back then, political of course. Now, you have Spearhead soundtracking The Wire, you have the Say Hey video currently number 9 on the Vh1 top 20 video countdown and you have as I said, my conservative country leaning friend, singing the lyrics to this song.
Things change my friend.
So while, I understand your point, music, especially now, its hard to keep it underground and unheard.
If this thing with TCV was going on ten years ago... I would say maybe. I was at there show last week and I thought to myself, "this is great... but it's not going to sell a lot." I don't think young music fans are into 8 minute monster songs with numerous tempo changes. I could be wrong. But the age thing might be an issue. This is from an article the Foos did for Entertainment Weekly in '07:
"But there's a more serious matter to deal with today: their forthcoming performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, which is causing the band some unforeseen stress.
Grohl: ''At first, [MTV] was like, 'We really want you to play.' Yay! Awesome, we'll play. Then a month later, [they say], we also need for you to jam with someone who's young because, well, you're old... So these are the people they'd want us to play with: Alicia Keys, Kelly Clarkson, T.I...''
You really think MTV is gonna want to promote a band of "old" guys?