I like Joy Formidable, obviously. Used to like Arcade Fire back in the day. Smashing Pumpkins is rocking an indie sensibility right now.
I miss the days when it was just called "alternative". Can't we just call it alternative?
I guess because none of these listed bands are technically "independent" rock bands, they are all signed by somewhat large record labels.
I used to be all into the indie scene until it got overran by fedora-plagued hipsters. Asheville, NC (where I was born and still reside) is a huge artsy-indie city so I started WAY EARLY..
It's always about the music though. Do not get entangled in the whole fashion scene and persona given off by these indie people.. which seems to be elitist arrogance to be honest. Do not think that you "know good music" just because you listen to indie music.
That is NOT what it's about. It's about the music.
OP: Most attraction to "indie" music is usually driven by the unique lyricists and instrumentals that you simply cannot find on the "radio."
I believe that the "indie" genre has some of THE BEST musicians of our time.. and some of the worst..
Modest Mouse and Built To Spill somewhat started the "indie-grungie-rock" scene up in Seattle so if you haven't become trenched in knowledge of all thing's Modest Mouse and Built To Spill, you are not experiencing indie music to the fullest.
Minus the bear is good - favorite track is
Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse. Fun to learn on guitar as well, if you play...
Lately, I've been on a binge of Dinosaur Jr. and The Unicorns, these are two of my all-time favorite bands. Totally different but both are amazing and I
think they are still considered "indie" music..
Here are some of my favorite bands, random bands off the top of my head, that YOU NEED to add to your playlist(s):
Hockey Night
Iron & Wine
Love as Laughter
Mimicking Birds
The Mountain Goats
Explosions In The Sky
Broken Social Scene ( Go listen to them NOW) - tracks 7/4 or Cause=Time
Band of Horses
The Pixies (one of the greatest bands in history)
The Microphones
Pavement
The Velvet Underground
Weezer (do not second guess me! they are incredible..listen to the Blue Album)
The National
Iron Horse (folk covers mostly, but are THE BEST covers you'll hear..)
Indie died when Pavement split tbh.
Dinosaur Jr. trumps pavement, though they are still an amazing band, and have a very similar sound.