In the nineties, indie rockers were more than music they listened to. An entire culture evolved around this unique group. They were a soft-spoken breed prone to wearing undersized T-shirts with ironic slogans. They considered themselves nerdy and dressed the part. They tended to be pale and thin and were very fond of black glasses with thick plastic rims. They loved Yo La Tengo and Stereolab and were usually in bands themselves.
Indie rock boys had crushes on Asian women who had bodies like fifteen-year-old boys. Indie rock girls liked superskinny boys with unkempt hair. Indie boys prided themselves on being fragile and sickly-looking. Indie women prided themselves on their knee-sock collections and the fact that even they were tougher than the average indie boy. Both were too shy and awkward to even make a first move, which might help explain why the breed is dying out.
Needless to say, Hipsters who match this description are everywhere, but the indie movement has become fractured, and people tend to define themselves in more specific terms. Hipsters are now more likely to say they are into a specific style of music like emo or alt-country than to classify themselves as 'indie'. Characteristics of the indie rocker are still especially prevalent in Loners, WASHes, UTFs, Maxwells and Polits.
Though icons like Steve Malkmus made being wimpy an attribute, Hipster men today rarely revel in the fact that they are weak, even when they are. They say they are into boxing or begin eating lots of steak to embrace their macho side. Likewise, Hipster women are empowered by their sexuality and have grown tired of dating men who wear Girl Scout T-shirts. Both embrace sleaze culture and know that being PC is for baby boomers and jerries. In general, fans of indie music seem to have a little more edge these days. So with great fondness, we formally say farewell to the age of the indie rocker.
(by Robert Lanham)
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