Photos from Vagrant Records Indie rock quintet Saves the
Day appears on the Vagrant America tour.
By Chris Moriates
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
The early ’90s brought the triumph of the independent
music scene, as Seattle grunge rockers Nirvana changed the musical
world. The current mainstream market is prime for another indie
jolt, as bands seem to be increasingly deciding to go the
independent label route.
Vagrant Records, an indie label stationed in Santa Monica,
recently hosted a U.S. tour titled Vagrant America, which featured
independent bands and played at crowded venues on almost all of its
cross-continental stops.
If the sold-out shows and success of tours, such as
“Vagrant America,” is any indicator, then the major
labels better buckle their seat belts.
“The indie scene is really beginning to blossom into
something amazing,” said Chris Carraba, frontman and
songwriter for Vagrant Records’ acoustic guitar-driven group
Dashboard Confessional. His band joined Reggie and the Full Effect,
Saves the Day and other independent bands for the Vagrant tour.
The growing acceptance of indie rock has helped make it possible
for bands to make names for themselves through this less-taken
path.
 Photos from Vagrant Records Chris
Carraba, appearing with backup players on tour, is the
sole member of acoustic rock band Dashboard Confessional.
“I don’t know if five years ago, a group of indie
bands could sell-out venues like this. The scene is really
growing,” said Carraba.
Some credit indie rock for creating music that is more emotional
than the typical radio fare.
“Indie music seems to come straight from the heart instead
of straight from the studio,” said John Albertine, who
attended the Anaheim and Hollywood performances of Vagrant
America.
It has become the age-old question for every emerging rock
group: “Should we go major or indie?” Although major
labels can offer much more exposure, there are still many different
reasons that bands chose the independent path.
“I think “˜TRL’ and all that is great, I mean,
as long as people are enjoying music that’s cool with
me,” Carraba said. “But I just am not ready for that
whole thing. Bands have different reasons for going indie,
though.”
Carraba said that he finds it difficult to perform personal
songs in front of crowds, even in smaller venues.
“Yeah, it’s really hard every night,” he
said.
Indie bands usually have more freedom to play intimate venues
and have more crowd interaction.
“While playing a huge arena might be a really cool ego
rush, there is something even better about playing intimate
venues,” said Suzanne Glass in her article “Ten Reasons
to be Thankful That You Are Indie.” “Being able to see
and interact with the crowd is priceless. It will help build your
fan base and make your gigs more fun.”
The relative success of bands like Face to Face, The Get Up
Kids, Pavement, Saves the Day and Dashboard Confessional provide a
glimpse into the future of this genre.
“Major labels take few risks and sign few artists who fall
outside the arbitrarily defined limits,” Glass stated in her
article. “But as an indie, I can choose to make unique music
that expresses my artistic spirit, even if the majors don’t
think it’s “˜commercial’ enough.”
The new indie revolution has not come yet, but with the current
relative success of the genre, it may be right around the
corner.