If mainstream pop ain’t your thing, chances are, you could be thirsting for some indie music, which by the way is sworn by some hipster snobs as “real” music. Well if that’s the case, you better get ready for some head-bopping, pit moshing action on June 3! From the energetic choruses of Anberlin, to the lush, breathy vocals of Copeland, these 2 aforementioned US-based indie rock bands will grace the very first concert presented by local label Wake Me Up Music (WMUM) in their 3-part series.

Come on down to this indie rock concert and be part of Singapore’s indie history-in-the-making! Before you could ask how, let UrbanWire show you the perfect way of fitting into the indie culture and become a true-blue “hipster/indie kid” (or at least enough to fool people to think that you’re one anyway).

First off, know your bands.

And what better way is there than to start off with the 2 featured bands of the concert, Anberlin and Copeland?

Any self-respecting indie kid would tell you that to be experts in indie rock, you’ve got to know some of the bands’ history, and it’s the depth that matters, not the breadth. In this case, the first step of course is to know the band members.

The Florida-native band, Anberlin, is led by singer Stephen Christian and consists of 4 other members – Joeseph Milligan and Nathan Strayer (guitar), Deon Rexroat, (bass guitar), Nathan Young (drums).The group has gained much indie street-cred since their debut back in 2002 when they were signed on to Tooth & Nail Records.

They have since released 3 full-length albums, from the charming, praise-worthy debut, Blueprints for the Black Market, to the more mature, energetic sounding sophomore, Never Take Friendship Personal, and the “progressively adult” Sounds of Cities released earlier this year.

Indie musicians pride themselves as being extremely experimental and non-conforming to society’s trends. The word “indie” speaks for itself, meaning “independent” from the mainstream.

Take Copeland for example. The Atlanta-based quartet, Copeland, formed by lead singer Aaron Marsh (guitar and piano), Bryan Laurenson (guitar and piano), James Likeness (bass and vocals) and Jonathan Bucklew (drums).

Refusing to compromise the sound of their current album, In Motion, the band took on the tedious challenge of using untraditional and innovative recording techniques, striving to make every song unique from each other. Each song was painstakingly dissected, rearranged and mixed; every little detail, right down to singular guitar tone, was relentlessly scrutinised.

The result? An ace record that has since won over numerous music critics and music lovers worldwide.

Next, get familiar with the local indie scene.

You can’t be a convincing hipster if you don’t know your Plainsunset from your Sonic Edge.

Well, if you don’t, there’s no need to worry (but then again, you should be ashamed of yourself).

The above mentioned are 2 of the more popular bands signed by local indie label Wake Me Up Music (WMUM), which happens to be the organiser for this event.

The event, aptly named Wake Me Up Music Presents, aims to celebrate “the contagious energy associated with the local indie punk rock scene” according to WMUM.

True to the spirit of the indie scene, this event also aims to provide a platform for homegrown independent bands to shine, with selected bands acting as tour supports for the 2 bands, performing alongside them.

The ones who got lucky are Vertical Rush, Marchtwelve, The Fire Fight Now, now, you might want to ask “why would I want to pay to see local bands?” (Yes, ticket charges apply. See details below.) The problem with many Singaporeans is that they don’t support their local music enough.

But on the flipside, by supporting the most obscure and unheard-of bands, you can build better credibility as a hipster!

Last tip: Looking “indie”

And the great thing about being a hipster is that you don’t have to worry about not looking the part because being “indie” is all about standing out and not conforming to any groups.

Ironically, there is indeed a way of achieving the “indie look”. A safe bet would be band tees, dark jeans and a pair of Converses or Vans. But whatever floats your boat, just wear whatever you’re comfortable in and enjoy the show!

When:3 Jun 2007
Time:1830hrs – 2230hrs
Where:The Glass Pavilion, Far East Square
Tickets:$50 (presale special for first 200 – SOLD OUT)
$60 (presale – available from Straits Records 22 Bali Lane, Drums Resources B1-13 Excelsior Hotel & Shopping Centre & Propaganda Machine #03-10A Far East Plaza)
$80 (at the door)

Pictures courtesy of WMUM