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Music: Ask the indie professor | guardian.co.uk
www.guardian.co.uk/music/series/ask-the-indie-professor
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Why do people crowd surf? Does it matter where on your body you position your AAA pass? What is the link between Protestantism and the Pains of Being Pure At Heart? UCLA's professor of anthropology (and huge indie rock fan) answers your questions
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Ask the indie professor: What do we mean by folk?

Devendra Banhart? James Yorkston? Mumford and Sons?! Our indie prof asks who is the folkiest of them allIs the folk thing finished yet?Alex Kapranos via TwitterFolk originates from the German word &#...

07 mar 12

Ask the indie professor: Is performing the classic album live a good idea?

What does playing a much-loved album in its entirety do for the band? And does it matter, if the audience is getting its pleasure buttons pressed?Question: @indiegodess Musicians playing a perceived ...

29 feb 12

Ask the indie professor: why do Americans think they invented indie?

For years, Americans never used the term indie, preferring to label the likes of Bush alternative. But things changed ...Why do so many Americans think they invented indie? SimianBaffinThere has neve...

28 jul 11

Ask the indie professor: Why do people talk at gigs?

Last week, the Guardians Film&Music editor had a gig ruined for him by people rabbiting on. But why do some concertgoers insist on chatting through a performance? Our prof has a theory ...I think @in...

12 jul 11

Ask the indie professor: Is All Tomorrows Parties really different?

With festivals becoming increasingly corporate, no wonder people love an event where you can play poker with the artistsIndie professor, will you please explain the appeal of this Mays ATP – Id love ...

27 apr 11

Ask the indie professor: Why the big fuss over Coachella festival?

Coachella not only benefits from a picturesque location, perfect climate and plum position on the calendar, it can also embellish your cyber identity. Whats not to like?Why do people make such a big ...

13 apr 11

Ask the indie professor: Why so many bad band names?

Last weeks SXSW festival was full of terrible band names – about 173 of which used the words crystal, wolf or kids. Why? And how can bands make their names better?How come so many bands at this years...

22 mar 11

Ask the indie professor: Is there a link between indie music and Gnosticism?

The idea that you can increase your social status by possessing hidden knowledge could explain indie fans who pride themselves on knowing every chillwave releaseOn your lecture tour of the UK, what w...

14 mar 11

Ask the indie professor: Is food the new indie rock?

Indie fans have much in common with foodies, from seeking out the rarest material to stressing about the means of productionDear Wendy,Is food the new indie rock? Rachel R, via email As rock has rece...

18 feb 11

Music Weekly podcast: Matt Berry and the indie professor

In this weeks podcast Alexis talks to comedian Matt Berry about his music project. Youll probably know him as Douglas Reynholm in Channel 4s The IT Crowd, or if youve got an even longer memory, he wr...

14 jan 11

Ask the indie professor: How loud is too loud?

Is it always a sound engineers fault when a gig leaves you deafened? More likely the badly designed venue, stupid microphones and over-enthusiastic guitarist are to blameWhy do so many sound engineer...

11 jan 11

Ask the indie professor: Why are there so many white indie bands?

There is much debate concerning the ethnic make-up of indie bands. But is it really a problem? And if so, why does nobody complain about the same problem in country music or hip-hop?Why are there so ...

04 jan 11

Ask the indie professor: My top 10 gigs of 2010

From concerts in former Masonic temples to turning down the chance to sing Joy Division songs with Hooky ... its a hard life being an indie professor but someones got to do itHey there indie professo...

22 dec 10

Ask the indie professor: Why do so many bands drink Red Stripe?

You might think nothing about the beer you guzzle at gigs. But your choice may reflect indies rejection of bourgeois valuesWhile alcohol is rejected in hardcore punk it is celebrated i...

29 nov 10

Ask the indie professor: Why do bands want indie cred?

Its often vital for new artists to be seen as indie. But this label has little to do with how independent they are, and it never didThe indie professor is looking for more questions to answer. Please...

23 nov 10

Ask the indie professor: Where are the girls in the music industry?

Its not easy being exiled in guyville. Women face special challenges in a male-dominated and sexually charged profession"Why do you presume all bands and their tour drivers are dudes in your arti...

10 nov 10

Ask the indie professor: The dos and donts of touring

Touring is so much fun! Well, as long as you never complain. Or go to the toilet. Or eat. Here are the profs 10 golden rulesMy band is about to go on tour. Do you have any advice for us?Anonymous, vi...

02 nov 10 1 person likes this

Ask the indie professor: Why it matters where you stick your guest pass

Slap an AAA badge on your chest and you might as well be shouting: Im new to this backstage lark! Instead, watch how professionals use subtle techniques to parade their passesI think the festival wri...

19 oct 10

Ask the indie professor: What does your gig T-shirt say about you?

Were you thinking of wearing that T-shirt you just bought at the merch stand? Woah! Stop right there! Youre about to commit an indie faux pas!Whats the ethics for wearing a bands T-shirt to one of th...

04 oct 10

Ask the indie professor: Why have audiences stopped dancing?

What happened to all the moshing at indie shows? The indie professor reckons its down to people protecting their iPhones ...I grew up on a diet of live gigs around the north-west – the Stone Roses, t...

28 sep 10

Ask the indie professor: How many musicians does it take to plan a tour?

None. Bands just need a great booking agent and theyll go far. And a few musician jokes along the way wont go amiss either ...How does a band plan their tour schedule? Besides the obvious answer of w...

21 sep 10 1 person likes this

Ask the indie professor: Why the best indie is depressing, local and unpopular

Next time you hear a band singing about this town, simply tell you friends that this embodiment of the local is merely an expression of the puritan and romantic philosophies integral to indie music. ...

14 sep 10

Ask the indie professor: Are gender stereotypes still present in indie music?

Indie likes to pride itself on having an enlightened sense of gender relations. But that doesnt stop female audience members from being groped at showsIve often thought that indie kids try to purport...

01 sep 10

Ask the indie professor: Why does Reading festival rock?

You like Reading festival because of the music, right? Wrong! According to our indie professor, you may also get a kick out of the mud, sweat and fearsIve lived in Reading my whole life and have neve...

24 aug 10

Ask the indie professor: why shout for a song the band will never play? | Wendy Fonarow

When a guy yells for an obscure B-side the band havent played in 17 years, he isnt talking to them; hes talking to youHi Prof ;-)At almost every gig an audience member will shout the name of a partic...

16 aug 10

Ask the indie professor: Will Kings of Leons Sex On Fire ever go away?

Bad news, readers. According to the prof were all doomed to listen to Caleb Followills godawful sex whine forever … Dear indie professor, will Peter Bjorn & Johns Young Folks and Kings of Leons Sex O...

10 aug 10

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