Hello Musicsubmit Artist,

Okay, so we got a little flak for the last 2 months’ newsletters, showcasing Kings of Leon and Buckcherry as “indie” rock bands that fought their way to the top the hard way.   

Thanks for the feedback – points well taken – the Kings were signed to a label very early on and were lucky enough to tour with U2.  Buckcherry – a long stretch to “indie” – wrote mostly commercial hard rock songs with plenty of help behind them along the way…

SO – in the interests of keeping this newsletter geared toward our core audience – the DIY artist in any genre – we’re showcasing 3 bands you’ve all heard of, but probably only recently by the mainstream. Another common thread between the bands is the lack of clear radio hits in any point of their long careers.  Rather, their wide repertoires of songs and albums, along with touring and performing before a loyal fan base  are what propelled each band through the decades.

Wilco

The “Alt-Country-Indie-Rock” band Wilco has been around since at least 1994 – actually the band came together after the breakup of Uncle Tupelo, an alt-country band formed in 1987.  Wilco frontman and core
member Jeff Tweedy, who only recently has become a recognizable figure from mainstream press and TV performances, has been in the music business for over 25 yrs.   Tweedy and his previous band Uncle Tupelo
didn’t get a major label offer until 1992, a full five years after 200-days-a-year touring and selling 15,000 records with no radio hits.

  When Wilco formed in 1994, the band was soon picked up by Reprise Records, but again the lack of commercial hits prompted the label to drop the band,  and Wilco was left to shop their 4th record to another label.   Of course, Nonesuch Records picked them back up, and the band went on to release 3 more albums and collect a few Grammys.  Wilco’s most successful album, 2002’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, has sold (only) 600,000 records, not exactly huge numbers for a major label.  But the band has enjoyed a consistent and loyal following that was slowly accumulated from the early days in the 80s.

Modest Mouse

The Seattle- based indie rock band Modest Mouse originally formed in 1993, near the height of the Alternative Rock mania that produced other, much more famous bands from the area.  Given that pressure ( or lack of, if Nirvana is seen as a once-in-a-generation band), Modest Mouse released two full-length albums and a steady stream of EPs in 7
years, all on small indie labels K Records and Up Records – basically friends’ studios.  During this time Modest Mouse gradually built up a following that grew each year, until 2000 when they were signed to Epic Records.  Still, it would be another 7 years of albums, EPs, college radio airplay and constant touring before they hit it big, releasing the platinum-selling “We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank”.

Cursive

Although still not extremely well known, the band Cursive has been around since 1995, forming in Omaha, Nebraska.  Since then, and due largely to Cursive’s cult following, the city of Omaha and staple indie label Saddle Creek Records have managed to carve their own indie niche, the new genre “Omaha Sound”.  Cursive has released no fewer than a dozen albums, EPs and compilations in their 14-year (and still going) history , proving that a steady stream of new music and tours, without the help of radio hits,  are the perfect ingredients for a full musicians’ career.  Cursive’s style and approach to their music and the music industry has paved the way for many other indie bands from all over.

About this series:   
Every month MusicSUBMIT will profile a music group that took the long road to fame.  The purpose of the articles is to highlight early band struggles, challenges, and the gradual pace of a growing fan base on the path to success...

The Indie Venue Bible is a directory of live music venues.

It is in electronic (.pdf) format and lists 32,000 venues and 3,500 booking agents in US and Canada.

The listings are arranged by area, making it easier for you to route and plan your tour.